Today’s Reading: Isa 45:14–47:15, Luke 18:9–19:10, Job 10:11–22
Today’s Theme: Eternal Security
Today we are reminded that God carries us and Jesus accomplished His mission to save the lost, which means our salvation is eternally secure. We also give thanks that Jesus is not vindictive.
Isaiah 45:14–47:15
Saved and carried by God
even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save. (Isaiah 46:4, ESV)
Our OT passage opened with God declaring that all Israel will be saved, in Isaiah 45:17. This is prophetic in one sense, as we read in Romans 11:25-27, which speaks of the salvation that will come once the full number of Gentiles have been saved.
Later we read in Isaiah 45:22, God’s appeal to the entire world, to turn to Him from worthless idols, so that He can save them. We go on to read God’s declarations of sovereignty, victory and power, and that God will carry His chosen people even until old age.
Later in Isaiah 46:7, we read the contrast between those who trust in Yahweh for salvation and those that trust in idols. The idol worshippers have to carry the burden of their chosen god, whereas the true God carries His people.
The conclusion is this; God who created the world to be inhabited, has a great desire to save the Jewish people and people from every nation, tribe and tongue. When He saves His elect people, He carries and keeps them, giving them the assurance of eternal security because He, The God of all creation, has saved them.
We should rejoice in the sure salvation we have been given today.
Luke 18:9–19:10
The Mission of Jesus
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10, ESV)
Our NT reading begins with Jesus illustrating that it is through humility that forgiveness and salvation is received by men, with His example of the tax collector and the Pharisee. Next, Children are used as the example of the type of faith that we need to enter God’s kingdom.
Following this, Jesus tells us about the cost and reward of true discipleship and encourages us that, with God nothing is impossible, God can save even those trapped by their own riches.
Jesus goes on to remind the disciples of the reward they can expect in the age to come, which is eternal life. For the third time, He also reminds the disciples that He will die and rise again.
As He drew near to Jericho, He shows His power in healing the blind beggar and then finally gives us an insight to His entire mission, which the events of today’s reading have all pointed to, with His encounter with Zacchaeus, where Jesus declares He has come to seek and save that which was lost.
It is Jesus that seeks and saves us, He is sovereign even over our salvation, we should stand in awe of His desire, mercy, grace and power to save and keep us.
Job 10:11–22
God is not vindictive
Yet these things you hid in your heart; I know that this was your purpose. (Job 10:13, ESV)
Our God is not vindictive, on the contrary He seeks to bestow His mercy, grace, love and salvation to all men. Job again has a great misunderstanding of the nature and purposes of God.
Do not let circumstances skew your view of who God is, know that He is the God who seeks and saves the lost.
From 17th until 23rd August the Daily Bible Reading notes will take a shorter summarised format for the summer break.
Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.