This Day in History: 0000-07-31

July 31 – Isaiah 50:4-11 

The Sovereign Lord has given me His words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary. Morning by morning He wakens me and opens my understanding to HIs will. The Sovereign Lord has spoken to me, and I have listened. I have not rebelled or turned away. I offered my back to those who beat me and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard. I did not hide my face from mockery and spitting.
Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do His will. And I know that I will not be put to shame. He who gives me justice is near. Who will dare to bring charges against me now? Where are my accusers? Let them appear! See, the Sovereign Lord is on my side! Who will declare me guilty? All my enemies will be destroyed like old clothes that have been eaten by moths!
Who among you fears the Lord and obeys His servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the Lord and rely on your God. But watch out, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves by your own fires. This is the reward you will receive from me: You will soon fall down in great torment. 

Are we faithful servants of the Lord? Can we say, as the prophet Isaiah did, that the Sovereign Lord has spoken to us and we have listened? From this side of eternity, it’s not exactly an easy thing to do. Devoted followers of the Lord rarely have an easy life. Jesus even told us, “In this world you will have troubles…” Throughout history the prophets and disciples of God have been teased and ignored on the good days and beaten, tortured, and brutally killed on the bad ones. It’s tempting to check out and decide that only a fool would willingly sign up for something like that. 

The thing is, Jesus didn’t stop by warning us of the troubles to come, He added to it, “but fear not. For I have overcome the world.” We’re not living for this life. We’re living for eternity. Let’s remember that He who gives us justice is near. He has silenced our accusers and declared us righteous. Any trial we face here on this earth for the sake of His name will be a small price to pay when we’re standing before His throne, eternity with Him before us, desiring to have something to offer Him as we finally understand all He has done for us. In that moment, the only thing that will matter to us will be, were we obedient? Were we faithful? Did we spend our life in pursuit of Him? 

So let’s set our face like a stone, determined to do His will. As He is faithful, morning by morning, to wake us and open our understanding to His will, let’s be obedient. Let’s never rebel, or turn away, but patiently endure whatever cross He has called us to bear. Let’s remember that the Sovereign Lord helps us, so we won’t ultimately be disgraced. Let’s keep our eyes set on that eternal prize. Let’s never ever forget that we are His, and we will never be put to shame.