16 June 2014
Judges 17; 18
Isaiah 40
1 John 1; 2
“MOUNT UP WITH WINGS LIKE EAGLES”
It is being said that this is a world for young people: meaning that the young people are growing up in a much different world and are being trained to cope with and make use of all the technological wonders of the 21st Century. Never before has the world changed so much in one generation. But most young people are living for the here and now. The attitude of most is - what experience is it possible to have this month, this year and maybe, next year?
We read in the book of Judges today of those living with the thought of what they could achieve now when “everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” [Judges 17:6] with the spirit that might was right as illustrated in Judges 18:21-26.
The reading in Isaiah 40 was such a contrast! But there was one part that wasn’t, Isaiah 40:6-8, where we read, “All flesh is grass and all its beauty is like the flower of the field, The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass.” Then in Isaiah 40:30 are words which particularly caught our eyes, “even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted” Why is this? Because their “way is hidden from the LORD”, they do not want to live in the sight of God, many are not even sure there is a God! Some do not want to believe he exists!!
But the wonderfully positive things that are written in this chapter arrested our attention that God “gives power to the faint and to him who has no might he increases strength … they that wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” [Isaiah 40:29,31]
When will this happen? Isaiah 40:10-11 tell us, “Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm (Jesus) rules for him; and his recompense is before him. He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those who are with young.” In one sense we are all young in the sight of God so we finish our thoughts with an apt quote from today’s N.T. reading, “little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.” [1 John 2:28]
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- DC
Thought for the Day 16 June 2014
"He was gentle. Compassion was his middle name. “Grace was poured into his lips”, and common people loved the man. He did not want to break the bruised reed, but rather to mend it, and use it. He would not crush out the smoking wick, but rather pour in the oil of his spirit to make it come alight again. His was not a contentious disposition, though he had sometimes to contend. He was a man of peaceable and gentle inclinations, who was happier in the quiet home at Bethany than when disputing in the Temple Courts. But he never shrank from duty because it was unpleasant; he never courted popularity; and "he loved the praise of God more than the praise of men". (See John 12:43)"
- L.W. Richardson
Sir, We Would See Jesus (1964)
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