OCTOBER 23, 2015
For This I Have Jesus
The
Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. — Isaiah 49:13
Read:
Isaiah
49:13-20
There is rarely a problem-free season in our
lives, but sometimes the onslaught is terrifying.
Rose saw her entire family, except for her two
little daughters, slaughtered in the Rwandan Genocide of 1994. Now she is a
widow among many widows with little money. But she refuses to be defeated. She
has adopted two orphans and simply trusts God to provide for the food and
school fees for her family of five. She translates Christian literature into
the local language and organizes an annual conference for other widows. Rose
wept as she told me her story. But for every problem in her life she has one
simple remedy. “For this,” she said, “I have Jesus.”
God knows exactly what you are facing today.
Isaiah reminds us that God’s knowledge of us is so intimate that it is as if
our names were written on the palms of His hands (Isa. 49:16). We may sometimes
neglect the needs of others, even those who are closest to us, but God is aware
of every detail of our lives. And He has given us His Spirit to guide, to
comfort, and to strengthen us.
Think of the challenges you face at this
moment, and then write these words beside each one as a reminder of His
faithfulness and care: “For this, I have Jesus.”
Thank You, Jesus, for being near to me right now. I’m
grateful for Your faithfulness.
Life takes on perspective in the light of Christ.
INSIGHT:
The book of Isaiah is a book of extremes. In chapters 1–2 Isaiah
describes how far away from God the people of Israel have wandered. In chapter
3 he warns of the punishment and judgment that is coming because of their sin
and disobedience. Later he discusses God’s provision to bring them back to
Himself (ch. 4) and how much they will flourish despite the current and coming
disasters (ch. 49). In God’s eyes there is always hope for redemption,
restoration, and blessing. J.R. Hudberg
Source: Our Daily Bread 2015