Scripture Union Daily Guide 4 May 2024 (Saturday) Devotional Message
TOPIC: God Forsakes Not His Own
OPENING PRAYER: Help me dear Lord to meet with you as I meditate on your word in Jesus name.
SCRIPTURE READING: ISAIAH 50:1-11
1 Thus saith the Lord, Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.
2 Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.
3 I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.
4 The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.
5 The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
7 For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
8 He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.
9 Behold, the Lord God will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.
10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.
11 Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.
Question(s) for Reflection
* Q 1: What does the passage teach about God the Father, or God the Son or God the Holy Spirit?
We often complain when passing through challenging times even when it is due to our failing. Our actions have consequences and when the consequence comes, we should not blame God. Notice the main cause of Israel’s temporary rejection in vs.1c-3.
God’s people complained that God has treated them severely, but Isaiah clearly declared that they have themselves to blame. God has been like a husband and Father. He never divorced their mother or sold His children. Babylonian captivity was simply their making. The history of the people has been the slighting of God even when God gave His helping hand by sending His prophets to them, but these they ignored. See 2 Chronicles 36:16&17. When you too face calamities in life do you blame God for them?
Vs.4-9 may apply to the Prophet Isaiah himself who God used to write these messages to His people, or to God’s people when they turned in obedience to the Lord, or, and most importantly, the coming Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. This was perfectly fulfilled in Him. Lastly, identify how you could personally apply these as your way of life. God still speaks to us day by day. It is our duty to discipline our listening skills to hear Him.
* Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
Closing Prayer
Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus. Open our ears Lord and help us to listen.
Prayer for the week
* Pray for unity in the Body of Christ • Pray that rather than complaining and finding faults, the church will be more committed and strategic in evangelizing the lost souls • Pray that Christians will be positive influences with their words and characters
Offer a prayer of faith in line with John 8:36
One Year Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading Plan: Day 125- Psalms 1-2, 15, 22-24, 47, 68
NATIONAL PRAYER BULLETIN – Saturday May 04, 2024
PRAYER FOCUS
SUCF STAKEHOLDERS SUMMIT (EAST)
‘My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live, keep my teachings as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers, write them in the tablet of your heart’
Proverbs. 7:1-3
THANK GOD FOR:
* The successes recorded in SUCF nationwide.
* The direction he gives on how to win students on campus for Christ.
PRAY FOR:
* God’s presence and impartation at the summit for more fruitfulness in SUCF.
* Journey mercies for participants and greater grace for more exploits in SUCF Ministry.
* Pray for God’s abounding Grace upon the HOD, SUCF – Bro. Abraham Eyeroruma as he coordinates activities of the department.