- …at that time the Lord spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go, and loose the sackcloth from your waist and take off your sandals from your feet,” and he did so, walking naked and barefoot. Then the Lord said, “As my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and a portent against Egypt and Cush.. Isaiah 20:2-3 – Wow, am I right? If anyone ever says God will never place us in uncomfortable situations or won’t leave us in them for long, introduce them to these couple verses. What’s craziest though to me is that yes Isaiah walked naked for three years, but why? As a sign for someone else! It wasn’t like it was to teach Isaiah something, he was being used and put through all that so others would learn something. This is a lesson we as disciples need to understand. Sometimes we’ll find ourselves in struggles or uncomfortable situations for the sake of someone else’s growth in Christ, not just for ours. Of course we grow in those times too, but God can and will use you to help others grow and that may mean placing you in uncomfortable seasons. This is when we better really latch onto the mission. We are here to help people know about Jesus and His love for them. Let us then be fully open to whatever God may ask of us that could help someone know Him more. Don’t worry though, I highly doubt He’s asking any of us to do what He asked Isaiah! I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1221
- And the inhabitants of this coastland will say in that day, ‘Behold, this is what has happened to those in whom we hoped and to whom we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria! And we, how shall we escape?’ Isaiah 20:6 – God, through Isaiah, and through a very unique visual sermon example, made it clear to His people Judah that trusting in anything other than Him was a lost cause. Egypt and Cush were strong nations that in the midst of the Assyrian invasion Judah would look to for strength and rescue. Rather than turning to the Lord, who had demonstrated His power to them in mighty ways in their past, they would look for help from their surrounding nations. What though does God say will come about when these other “strong” nations come against Assyria? The would be taken captive and carried into exile naked and barefoot. Seeing the ones you were trusting in for rescue being treated as such would strip away any boldness and confidence you had against you enemy. If the enemy could do that to such a strong nation, what hope of escape do we have? Such is the reason we must place our hope in a strength stronger than anything of this world. We need someone to lean on and trust in that no power in their world can defeat. That someone is Jesus. No army can take Him down, no devil can hold Him down, and no death can defeat Him. When we trust in Jesus, our confidence will never be put to shame. Trust in the one that truly has the power over all. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2687
Daily DEVO 