Scripture Union Daily Guide 12 April 2024 (Friday) Devotional Message
Scripture Union Daily Guide 12 April 2024 TOPIC: God Chooses The Man He Uses
OPENING PRAYER: I open my heart to meditate on your word, teach me your ways oh Lord.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: ISAIAH 45:1-13 (NIV)
1 “This is what the LORD says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut:
2 I will go before you and will level the mountains ; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.
3 I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.
4 For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me.
5 I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me,
6 so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other.
7 I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things.
8 “You heavens above, rain down my righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness flourish with it; I, the LORD, have created it.
9 “Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, those who are nothing but potsherds among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘The potter has no hands’?
10 Woe to the one who says to a father, ‘What have you begotten?’ or to a mother, ‘What have you brought to birth?’
11 “This is what the LORD says— the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: Concerning things to come, do you question me about my children, or give me orders about the work of my hands?
12 It is I who made the earth and created mankind on it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts.
13 I will raise up Cyrus in my righteousness: I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild my city and set my exiles free, but not for a price or reward, says the LORD Almighty.”
Question(s) for Reflection
Q 1: What does the passage teach about God the Father, or God the Son or God the Holy Spirit?
Q7: What truth is God revealing to me in this passage?
DAILY GUIDE FOR TODAY 12TH APRIL 2024 MESSAGE
Occasionally, God uses very unexpected means to bring about His purposes. To rescue the children of Israel from their exile in Babylon, God raised a gentile Persian king, Cyrus. It was Cyrus who permitted the exiles to return to Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 36:22-23) and rebuild the temple (Ezra 5:13-17; 6:1-14). The same king would be used to punish unbelieving nations. God chooses which vessel to use for His tasks. He promises Cyrus victory (v.2) and riches (v.3). Notice in vs.4-6 the reasons God chose Cyrus to carry out these tasks.
Our God is sovereign. No one has a right to question Him on the choices He makes. He is above all and is all-knowing. We humans may not understand His ways. But He decides how best to accomplish His divine purposes.
Because we cannot tell who God may choose as His instrument for fulfilling His divine purposes in our world, we should not look down on any person. We should show respect for all persons no matter their beliefs or socio-political inclinations. We are all created by God and every human being is precious in God’s sight. How should God’s choice of Cyrus to lead the liberation of Israel affect our approach to the election of political leaders in our nations?
* Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
Closing Prayer
Lord, grant us grace to treat every human being with dignity knowing that we are all created in your image.
Offer a prayer of faith in line with Matthew 6:13
One Year Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading Plan: Day 103 -1 Samuel 18-20; Psalms 11, 59
NATIONAL PRAYER BULLETIN – Friday Apr 12, 2024
PRAYER FOCUS
PILGRIMS, CHILDREN, MISSION AND SCHOOL TRAINING THE TRAINERS (STEP DOWN) 11-14
“If thou put brethren in remembrance of these things; thou shall be a good minister of Jesus Christ… ” 1 Timothy 4:6.
THANK GOD FOR:
i. The privilege to be trained to be effective in the work of the master.
ii. His willingness to equip us in His service.
PRAY FOR:
i. The success of the T O T.
ii. Divine unction on the resource persons.
iii. The Lord will equip the participants for active service through the trainings.
iv. Travelling mercies for all participants.