September 11—Morning—Isaiah 25:4
"For you have been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is like a storm against the wall." — Isaiah 25:4
September 10—Morning—Song of Solomon 1:12
"While the king sits at his table, my spikenard sends forth its fragrance." — Song of Solomon 1:12
September 9—Morning—Jeremiah 50:20
"'In those days and at that time,' says the Lord, 'the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found; for I will pardon those whom I reserve.'" — Jeremiah 50:20.
September 8—Morning—Deuteronomy 1:6
"‘You have dwelt long enough at this mountain.’" — Deut. 1:6
September 7—Morning—Malachi 2:16
"For the Lord, the God of Israel, says that he hates divorce."—Malachi 2:16.
September 6—Morning—Luke 22:61
"And the Lord turned and looked upon Peter."—Luke 22:61.
To achieve the "perfect peace" spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, we must understand what it means to “stay one’s mind on God.” In Isaiah 26:3, "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you," the phrase "stayed on you" implies a steadfast, unwavering focus and trust in God. It is more than just occasional thoughts about God; it is a deliberate and continuous mental posture that centers on who God is — His character, His promises, His purposes, and His presence.
The Bible offers several important promises regarding "peace," which can be categorized into two types: objective peace and subjective peace.
Objective peace refers to peace that exists outside of a person’s feelings or experiences. It is a factual peace established by God and accomplished through Jesus Christ, regardless of personal perception or emotional state.
Human strength, like a fragile vessel, may seem solid and pleasing to the eye, but beneath the surface, it is prone to the slightest fracture. In youth, we may be deluded by the illusion of invincibility, thinking our own resolve and capacity are sufficient to chart the course of our lives. Yet, as years pass and reality sets in, we discern the fine cracks that expose our inherent frailty, reminding us that we are not as unbreakable as we once presumed.
- Jesus Christ's work was not to make us God's people; we were already God's people, chosen by God and given to Christ to be redeemed.
- Jesus did not come to make God love us; God already loved us, and that is why He sent Jesus to save us.
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I was reading Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones exposition of John 17:6 last night where he goes into more detail on this topic:
"thine they were, and thou gavest them me."
