Isaiah declared that his God-given function in life was determined before he was born. God placed a “calling” upon him and was speaking to him while he was yet in his mother’s womb.

One of my greatest joys as a father and grandfather has been to observe God’s calling in my children and grandchildren. They each display tendencies and abilities that might be different from their siblings, but keys to their future life’s placement or function. How boring would it be if they were all the same.

Wise parents and grandparents observe and serve the giftings God has invested in their children by working with God rather than against him. Farbeit from us to try to shape their life according to our limited insights. They will find greater fulfillment in life when we complement and facilitate the God-given talents and abilities they display.

George Fredrick Handel’s parents wanted him to be a doctor. God created him to be a composer. Fortunately, they were made to acquiesce to God’s calling upon his life, and thereby permit Messiah to be composed.

READ/HEAR: Is. 49-51

All of God’s message through the Old Testament about want He wanted in a person’s life was demonstrated in the life of Christ. The popular phrase, “What would Jesus do?” is proof that people get it. Exactly! However Christ would have reacted is the way God wants it done.

Reading God’s Word and becoming familiar with the life and teachings of Christ is God’s method of instructing us on how to live.  [Matt. 5-7]  In addition, God gives us His Holy Spirit to live in us so He can coach us through life. He looks over our shoulder and says, “This is the way. Walk ye in it.”

READ/HEAR: Is. 46-48

The Lord is inviting all to come to Him for forgiveness and new life. Any form of life apart from Him is idolatry.

Tomorrow, I will attend a bicycle swap meet. Bike enthusiasts will gather to look over used bikes and parts like a big garage sale. To be a witness, I had a t-shirt made that says,

Please join me in prayer that I will be able to talk to someone who is spiritually hungry for the Lord.  Thanks!

READ/HEAR: Is. 44,45

Isaiah 43 is God’s encouragement to live without fear. The bottom line … God loves us and is with us. That’s what Immanuel means … God WITH us.

The mature Christian life is one of constant communion with the Lord. His name is ever on our lips. We take every little thing to Him in a conversational prayer. He becomes closer to us than anyone else, and is our trusted companion.

“If it had not been the Lord on our side … our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.”  [Ps. 124:1,8]

READ/HEAR: Is. 41-43

The prophet Isaiah declared that God has no equal. Everything we see as problems or challenges are total lightweights compared to the Lord. God fears no man, no political system, no nation … we should live our lives with this in mind.

The news, current trends in political philosophy, weather threats, or economic confusion all pale in consequence compared to God’s power and plan. We tend to allow what we focus upon to dictate our attitude. When we keep the Lord and His Word our prevailing focus, we navigate the challenges of life with the right perspective.

“I can do all things through Christ. He strengthens me!”

READ/HEAR: Is. 38-40

The king of Assyria taunted Hezekiah and the Jews when he marched upon Jerusalem. Hezekiah ran to the Lord and laid out his plea in prayer and humility. God vindicated his trust by smiting the Assyrian army … one angel smote 185,000 enemy soldiers in one night.

We have enemies that taunt us on occasion. As Hezekiah did, we should run to the Lord in prayer and lay out our petition. God is anxious to show us the power of His Name in such opportunities. Instead of defeats, He can turn them into mighty testimonies.

READ/HEAR: Is. 36,37

Isaiah 35 describes the coming kingdom of God. This text was used by Handel for a recitative from Messiah to portray the glorious characteristics of Christ’s reign. Only those redeemed by the sacrificial blood of Christ will reside there, and every aspect of life there will be completely pure and holy. It will be so different from what life now offers with its exhausting tension between the right and the wrong.

God’s Word is the only place we find the description of this kingdom. It generates hope for the future rather than the darkness we find all around us.

READ/HEAR: Is. 31-35

When the praise team at church begins singing and leading a congregational worship service, there is much more going on in the spirit world than we realize. God uses our praise to bring punishment upon our enemies. This principle is clarified in Isaiah 30:32. The Living Bible states it this way; “And when the Lord smites them (His enemies), His people will rejoice with music and song.”

This should motivate us as Christians to take the song service much more seriously. It also aims at refining our motives to make the music, realizing that our audience is actually in the spirit realm. It also points to the importance of spiritual tuning rather than just aural tuning.

“Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute upon them the judgment written: this honor have all his saints. Praise ye the Lord.” Ps. 149:6-9

READ/HEAR: Is. 30

Isaiah is filled with so many prophetic nuggets of truth that speak of the Messiah, the infilling of the Holy Spirit, end time destruction, keys to spiritual survival etc. It’s like a good potato salad that throws a synthesis of good tastes your way.  It’s like a piece of fine jewelry that combines different precious stones and metals to form a beautiful composite to be worn. It’s like a good summer sausage that lasts to give nutrition for many days to come.

God’s Word is to be consumed daily. It provides fuel to survive and structure to build our lives upon, all in a package of beauty.

READ/HEAR: Is. 25-29

Isaiah boldly prophesies the destruction of the earth. God, for sure, does not want us worshiping it. If heaven is His throne and the earth is His footstool {Is. 66:1], we see that the earth is an object that serves a useful purpose. Isaiah also said that the sin of its inhabitants has defiled it. There will be new heavens (skies?) and a new earth, and the former will be passed away and not remembered. [Is. 65:17]

What are we to do? We live here in the nasty now-and-now (as opposed to the sweet by-and-by) and we are good stewards. We take care of it, live on it, and use it … farming, real estate, hunting and fishing etc. We get right with God and wait expectantly for the future … heaven and earth.

READ/HEAR: Is. 20-24