DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR TUESDAY AUGUST 2:
WORD OF WISDOM
"Legacy is not what we leave to our children but what we leave in them!"
___
DAILY DEVOTION
Justice vs. Mercy
"Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the
house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and
asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come;
and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him
safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his
father out, and intreated him."
Luke 15:25-28
While we know we should be gracious and forgiving toward others, there are
times when we want them to get what they deserve rather than receiving
mercy. Of course we want mercy for ourselves, but sometimes we are unwilling
to extend it to others. Jonah was like that. When God called him to go to
Nineveh and preach, he refused, because he knew that if they repented, God
would forgive them. "But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very
angry. And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not
this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto
Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to
anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil" (Jonah 4:1-2).
The reality is that a desire for others to get what they have coming reveals
a hardness in our hearts more than a commitment to justice. It is easy for
us to fall into the trap of the Pharisees, thinking that we are doing pretty
good as we are and don't really need God's grace and mercy. Yet the very
best that we do falls far short of God's standard of absolute righteousness,
and it is not our goodness but His grace that prevents our destruction.
Rather than proudly judging others who fall short, we should rejoice when
they receive God's forgiveness.
We need to show others the same mercy and forgiveness that God extended to
us when He saved us.
___
DAILY BIBLE READING
Isaiah 40-42Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
Israel's Punishment Will End
40 Your God says,
"Comfort, comfort my people.
2
Speak kindly to Jerusalem and tell her,
'Your time of service is finished.
You have paid the price for your sins.'
I, the Lord, have punished you twice
for every sin you committed."
3
Listen, there is someone shouting:
"Prepare a way in the desert for the Lord.
Make a straight road there for our God.
4
Every valley must be filled.
Every mountain and hill should be made flat.
The crooked roads should be made straight,
and the rough ground made smooth.
5
Then the Glory of the Lord will be shown to everyone.
Together, all people will see it.
Yes, this is what the Lord himself said!"
6
A voice said, "Speak!"
So the man said, "What should I say?"
The voice said, "People are like grass.
Any glory they enjoy is like a wildflower.
7
When a wind from the Lord blows on them,
the grass dies and the flower falls.
Yes, all people are like grass.
8
Grass dies and flowers fall,
but the word of our God lasts forever."
Salvation: God's Good News
9
Zion, you have good news to tell.
Go up on a high mountain and shout the good news.
Jerusalem, you have good news to tell.
Don't be afraid; speak loudly.
Tell this news to all the cities of Judah:
"Look, here is your God!"
10
The Lord God is coming with power.
He will use his power to rule all the people.
He will bring rewards for his people.
He will have their payment with him.
11
Like a good shepherd, he takes care of his people.
He gathers them like lambs in his arms.
He holds them close, while their mothers walk beside him.
God Made the World; He Rules It
12
Who measured the oceans in the palm of his hand?
Who used his hand to measure the sky?
Who used a bowl to measure all the dust of the earth?
Who used scales to measure the mountains and hills?
13
Who could know the Lord's mind?
Who could be his teacher or give him advice?
14
Did the Lord ask for anyone's help?
Did anyone teach him to be fair?
Did anyone teach him knowledge?
Did anyone teach him to be wise?
15
Look, all the nations in the world are like one small drop in the bucket.
If the Lord took all the faraway nations and put them on his scales,
they would be like small pieces of dust.
16
All the trees in Lebanon are not enough
to burn on the altar for the Lord.
And all the animals in Lebanon
are not enough to kill for a sacrifice.
17
Compared to God, all the nations of the world are nothing.
Compared to him, they are worth nothing at all.
People Cannot Imagine What God Is Like
18
Can you compare God to anything?
Can you make a picture of God?
19
No, but some people make statues from rock or wood,
and they call them gods.
One worker makes a statue.
Then another worker covers it with gold and makes silver chains for it.
20
For the base he chooses special wood,
a kind of wood that will not rot.
Then he finds a good wood worker,
and the worker makes a "god" that will not fall over.
21
Surely you know the truth, don't you?
Surely you have heard.
Surely someone told you long ago.
Surely you understand who made the earth.
22
It is the Lord who sits above the circle of the earth.
And compared to him, people are like grasshoppers.
He rolled open the skies like a piece of cloth.
He stretched out the skies like a tent to sit under.
23
He takes away the power of rulers.
He makes the world's leaders completely worthless.
24
They are like plants that are planted in the ground.
But before they can send their roots into the ground,
God blows on the "plants";
they become dead and dry,
and the wind blows them away like straw.
25
The Holy One says, "Can you compare me to anyone?
No one is equal to me."
26
Look up to the skies.
Who created all those stars?
Who created all those "armies" in the sky?
Who knows every star by name?
He is very strong and powerful,
so not one of these stars is lost.
27
People of Jacob, this is true.
Israel, you should believe it.
So why do you say, "The Lord cannot see the way I live;
he will not find me and punish me"[a]?
28
Surely you know the truth.
Surely you have heard.
The Lord is the God who lives forever!
He created all the faraway places on earth.
He does not get tired and weary.
You cannot learn all he knows.
29
He helps tired people be strong.
He gives power to those without it.
30
Young men get tired and need to rest.
Even young boys stumble and fall.
31
But those who trust in the Lord will become strong again.
They will be like eagles that grow new feathers.[b]
They will run and not get weak.
They will walk and not get tired.
The Lord Is the Eternal Creator
41 The Lord says,
"Faraway countries, be quiet and listen to me!
Nations be brave.[c]
Come to me and speak.
We will meet together
and decide who is right.
2
Who woke up the man who is coming from the east?
He called Justice to march with him.
He uses his sword to crush nations.
He uses his bow and conquers kings-
they run away like straw blown by the wind.
3
He chases armies and is never hurt.
He goes places he has never been before.
4
Who was able to make all this happen?
Who controlled the lives of everyone from the beginning?
I, the Lord, am the one.
I was here at the beginning,
and I will be here when all things are finished.
5
People along the coast saw this,
and they were frightened.
Nations at the ends of the earth
shook with fear.
They have come near.
They have arrived.
6 "Workers help each other. They encourage each other to be strong. 7 One
worker cuts wood to make a statue. He encourages the man who works with
gold. Another worker uses a hammer and makes the metal smooth. Then he
encourages the man at the anvil.[d] This last worker says, 'This work is
good; the metal will not come off.' Then he nails the statue to a base so
that it will not fall over. And it never moves!"
Only the Lord Can Save Us
8
The Lord says, "You, Israel, are my servant.
Jacob, I chose you.
You are from the family of my friend, Abraham.
9
You were in a faraway country,
but I reached out to you.
I called you from that faraway place.
I said, 'You are my servant.'
I chose you,
and I have not rejected you.
10
Don't worry-I am with you.
Don't be afraid-I am your God.
I will make you strong and help you.
I will support you with my right hand that brings victory.
11
Look, some people are angry with you,
but they will be ashamed and disgraced.
Your enemies will be lost and disappear.
12
You will look for the people who were against you,
but you will not be able to find them.
Those who fought against you
will disappear completely.
13
I am the Lord your God,
who holds your right hand.
And I tell you, 'Don't be afraid!
I will help you.'
14
People of Israel, descendants of Jacob, you may be weak and worthless,[e]
but do not be afraid.
I myself will help you."
This is what the Lord himself says.
"I am the Holy One of Israel,
the one who saves you.
15
Look, I have made you like a new threshing board with many sharp teeth.
You will trample mountains and crush them.
You will make the hills[f] like chaff.
16
You will throw them into the air,
and the wind will blow them away and scatter them.
Then you will be happy in the Lord.
You will be proud of the Holy One of Israel.
17
"The poor and needy look for water,
but they cannot find any.
Their tongues are dry with thirst.
I, the Lord, will answer their prayers.
I, the God of Israel, will not leave them to die.
18
I will make rivers flow on dry hills.
I will make springs of water flow through the valleys.
I will change the desert into a lake filled with water.
There will be springs of water in that dry land.
19
I will make trees grow in the desert.
There will be cedar, acacias, olive trees, cypress, fir trees, and
pines.
20
I will do this so that people will see it and know who did it.
They will notice what happened.
Then they will understand that the Lord's hand made it happen,
that the Holy One of Israel created it all."
The Lord Challenges the False Gods
21 The Lord, the king of Jacob, says, "Come, present your arguments. Show me
your proof. 22 Let your idols come in and tell us what will happen. Idols,
tell us what happened in the beginning. We will listen closely so that we
can make a decision. Tell us what will happen in the future. 23 What signs
did you give in the past to prove that you really are gods? Do something! Do
anything, good or bad, so that we can see that you are alive. Then we might
fear and respect you.
24 "Look, you false gods are worthless. You cannot do anything. Only some
horrible fool[g] would want to worship you."
The Lord Proves He Is the Only God
25
"I called someone in the north[h] to come.
He is coming from the east where the sun rises,
and he honors my name.
He tramples kings
the way a potter softens clay with his feet.
26
"Who told us about this before it happened
so that we could say he was right?
None of your idols told us anything.
They didn't say a word,
and they cannot hear anything you say.
27
I, the Lord, was the first one to tell Zion about these things.
I sent a messenger to Jerusalem to say,
'Look, your people are coming back!'"
28
I looked at those false gods.
Not one of them said anything.
They had no advice to offer.
I asked them questions,
but they didn't say a word.
29
Those gods are all less than nothing.
They cannot do anything.
They are worthless.
The Lord's Special Servant
42 "Here is my servant,
the one I support.
He is the one I have chosen,
and I am very pleased with him.
I have filled him with my Spirit,
and he will bring justice to the nations.
2
He will not cry out or shout
or try to make himself heard in the streets.
3
He will not break even a crushed reed.[i]
He will not put out even the weakest flame.
He will bring true justice.
4
He will not grow weak or give up
until he has brought justice to the world.
And people in faraway places will hope to receive his teachings."
The Lord Is Ruler and Maker of the World
5 The Lord, the true God, said these things. (He created the sky and spread
it out over the earth. He formed the earth and everything it produced. He
breathes life into all the people on earth. He gives a spirit to everyone
who walks on the earth.)
6
"I, the Lord, was right to call you.
I will hold your hand and protect you.
You will be the sign of my agreement with the people.
You will be a light for the other nations.
7
You will make the blind able to see.
You will free those who are held as captives.
You will lead those who live in darkness out of their prison.
8
"I am Yahweh.
That is my name.
I will not give my glory to another.
I will not let statues take the praise that should be mine.
9
In the past, I told you what would happen,
and it happened!
Now I am telling you something new,
and I am telling you now, before it happens."
A Song of Praise to the Lord
10
Sing a new song[j] to the Lord;
praise him everywhere on earth-
all you who sail on the seas,
everything in the sea,
and all you people in faraway places!
11
Deserts and cities, villages of Kedar,
praise the Lord!
People living in Sela, sing for joy!
Sing from the top of your mountain.
12
Give glory to the Lord.
Praise him, all you people in faraway lands!
13
The Lord will go out like a strong soldier.
Like a man going into battle, he will be full of excitement.
He will shout with a loud cry,
and he will defeat his enemies.
God Is Very Patient
14
"For a long time I have said nothing.
I have controlled myself and kept quiet.
But now I will cry out like a woman giving birth.
My breathing is getting faster and louder.
15
I will destroy the hills and mountains.
I will dry up all the plants that grow there.
I will change rivers to dry land
and dry up pools of water.
16
Then I will lead the blind along a path they never knew
to places where they have never been before.
I will change darkness into light for them.
I will make the rough ground smooth.
I will do these things for them;
I will not abandon my people.
17
But some of them have left me.
They say to their gold statues, 'You are my gods.'
They trust their false gods,
but they will be disappointed and shamed.
Israel Refused to Listen to God
18
"Deaf people, listen to me!
Blind people, look and see!
19
In all the world, no one is more blind than my servant.[k]
No one is more deaf than my messenger.
No one is more blind than my chosen people,
the servant of the Lord.
20
My people see what they should do,
but they do not obey me.
They can hear with their ears,
but they refuse to listen to me."
21
The Lord wants them to do what is right.
He wants them to honor his wonderful teachings.[l]
22
But look at his people.
Others have defeated them and have stolen from them.
The young men are afraid.
They are locked in prisons.
People have taken advantage of them,
and there is no one to protect them.
Others take their money,
and there is no one to say, "Give it back!"
23 Will any of you pay attention to this warning? Will you ever learn to
listen? 24 Who let Jacob be defeated? Who let others take what belonged to
Israel? The Lord allowed them to do this. We sinned against him, so he let
people take away our wealth. The people did not want to live the way he
wanted. They refused to listen to his teaching. 25 So he poured out his
anger on them and brought wars against them. It was as if there were fires
all around them, but they didn't know what was happening. It was as if they
were burning, but they didn't try to understand.
Footnotes:
a.Isaiah 40:27 The Lord . punish me Or "My way is hidden from the Lord; he
ignores my case."
b.Isaiah 40:31 like . feathers This probably refers to the ancient belief
that eagles regain their youth when they molt (lose and grow back their
feathers). See Ps. 103:5. This line could also be translated, "They will
rise up like eagles on their wings."
c.Isaiah 41:1 be brave Or "be strong again," as in Isa. 40:31.
d.Isaiah 41:7 anvil A heavy metal block. A worker puts hot metal on an anvil
and beats the hot metal to change its shape.
e.Isaiah 41:14 Jacob . worthless Literally, "Worm of Jacob, men of Israel."
f.Isaiah 41:15 mountains . hills Symbols of the power of Israel's enemies.
g.Isaiah 41:24 fool Literally, "horrible thing." The Hebrew word usually
describes idols and other wicked things that God hates.
h.Isaiah 41:25 someone in the north This probably means Cyrus, a king of
Persia. He ruled about 550-530 B.C.
i.Isaiah 42:3 reed A plant that grows near water.
j.Isaiah 42:10 new song Whenever God did a new and wonderful thing for his
people, they would write a new song about it.
k.Isaiah 42:19 my servant Here, this probably means the people of Israel.
l.Isaiah 42:21 Or "The Lord will make his teachings very wonderful. He will
do this because he is good."
Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
Copyright C 2006 by Bible League International
