SUNDAY MORNING COMING DOWN: THE PROPHET ISAIAH

ISAIAH WAS THE FIRST OF THE PROPHETS WHO PROVIDED GODLY GUIDANCE AND INSPIRATION TO THE KINGS OF ISRAEL FOLLOWING THE END OF THE ERA OF THE JUDGES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.  ISAIAH FORETOLD WITH AMAZING ACCURACY THE COMING OF JESUS CHRIST SOME 700 YEARS LATER.  HE SERVED AS A KEY PROPHET FOR APPROXIMATELY 60 YEARS AND WHILE REVERED FOR MANY YEARS, HE WAS ULTIMATELY KILLED BECAUSE OF HIS DEVOUT ALLEGIANCE TO GOD.  WICKEDNESS EVENTUALLY WON OUT FOR THOSE WHO WANTED TO LIVE ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN WISHES INSTEAD OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF GOD.  MAN'S SINFUL NATURE CAME TO THE FOREFRONT AND WITH IT, THE DEMISE OF THIS GREAT MAN. OH, THE JUDEANS CONTINUED TO GIVE BURNT OFFERINGS TO GOD, BUT THEIR HEARTS WEREN'T REALLY WHERE THEY NEEDED TO BE.

TODAY WE FIND OURSELVES IN SIMILAR CONDITION WHEN WE SO OFTEN FAIL AND SUCCUMB TO OUR DESIRES AND FORGET TO FOLLOW OUR CONSCIENCE AND OUR HEART, FAILING TO KEEP THE HEART OPEN TO THE GUIDANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  BUT FORTUNATELY WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT THE PEOPLE IN ISAIAH'S TIME LACKED: THE PROMISE OF FORGIVENESS, FOR JESUS CHRIST DIED ON THE CROSS TO FORGIVE US FOR OUR SINS.  THOSE VERY SINS WERE FORGIVEN THE MOMENT HE GAVE US HIS LIFE ON CALVARY'S CROSS.  ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS SINCERELY TAKE HIM UP ON HIS OFFER AND FOLLOW HIM  AND WE ARE SAVED.  IT IS THE ONE AND ONLY WAY TO INHERIT THE KINGDOM WITH HIM.

I HOPE TODAYS DEVOTIONAL WILL INSTILL IN YOU THE DESIRE TO READ THE BOOK OF ISAIAH FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT. THE BOOK STARTS WITH THE WORDS OF JUDGMENT FOR THE SINS OF THE PEOPLE (CHAPTERS 1-39) BUT THEN ADVANCES TO THE WORDS OF COMFORT AND THE PROMISE OF THE COMING OF THE REDEEMER AND HIS FUTURE KINGDOM (CHAPTERS 40-66).  THE SHOW, ORIGINATING TONIGHT AT 8 PM  WILL BE AVAILABLE AS OF SUNDAY MORNING ON DEMAND.  HAVE A BLESSED SUNDAY, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.