[Anglican Devotional 22 December 2023] Topic: In God Alone!
TOPIC: In God Alone!
READ: Isaiah 46:1-13 (NKJV)
- Bel bows down, Nebo stoops; Their idols were on the beasts and on the cattle. Your carriages [were] heavily loaded, A burden to the weary [beast.]
- They stoop, they bow down together; They could not deliver the burden, But have themselves gone into captivity.
- ” Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of the house of Israel, Who have been upheld [by Me] from birth, Who have been carried from the womb:
- Even to [your] old age, I [am] He, And [even] to gray hairs I will carry [you!] I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver [you.]
- ” To whom will you liken Me, and make [Me] equal And compare Me, that we should be alike?
- They lavish gold out of the bag, And weigh silver on the scales; They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god; They prostrate themselves, yes, they worship.
- They bear it on the shoulder, they carry it And set it in its place, and it stands; From its place it shall not move. Though [one] cries out to it, yet it cannot answer Nor save him out of his trouble.
- ” Remember this, and show yourselves men; Recall to mind, O you transgressors.
- Remember the former things of old, For I [am] God, and [there is] no other; [I am] God, and [there is] none like Me,
- Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times [things] that are not [yet] done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’
- Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken [it;] I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed [it;] I will also do it.
- ” Listen to Me, you stubborn-hearted, Who [are] far from righteousness:
- I bring My righteousness near, it shall not be far off; My salvation shall not linger. And I will place salvation in Zion, For Israel My glory.
THE MESSAGE:
One of the-most fundamental desires in our hearts always is the desire for security. However, we choose to look at it physically, spiritually, materially, economically or emotionally. We always have this deep desire to always feel secured. Our passage today juxtaposes between two different communities of peoples: Bel and Nebo on one hand, and God’s people on the other. Bel and Nebo tend to idolise and put their trust in things, such as their “beasts and livestock.” Beasts and livestock here represent the riches, achievements and successes the world could offer. Unfortunately for them, a time came, when they and their idols crumbled together and went into captivity (verse 2).
Our human achievements can only afford us limited security, because they are not meant to guarantee security for us, only God can. God alone has the capacity to sustain us from the first to the last of our breath. When you put your trust in things or in people or in any form of spiritual powers, they will all disappoint you. God alone has the power to guarantee security for you from your conception to old age. The Scriptures say, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm” (Psalm 20:7-8). Trust in the Lord!
PRAYER: Lord, be my security and protect me from all evils.
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