Tag Archives: escape

God will rescue you. (Isaiah 49:8-26), July 26, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Isaiah 49:8-26

Set – Isaiah 49; 1 Peter 5

Go! – Isaiah 46-49; 1 Peter 5

Isaiah 49:8-26
8 Eternal One: When the time was right, I answered you;
on the day you were delivered, I was your help.
I will watch over you, and give you
as a promise, a binding covenant to the people.
Through you, My gift to the people, the land of promise will recover.
Ancestral ground, once deserted, will be entrusted to them.
9 Through you, My gift to the people, I will declare to the prisoners,
“Come out. Now you are free”;
To those who are held in darkness, “Come out into the light.”
They will find sustenance wherever they are—
Along the roads or in the open hills—
with peace of mind, in comfort and security.
10 Wherever they are, they will be fine, never hungry nor thirsty.
They will be protected from oppressive heat and the burning sun
Because the One who loves them—as a mother loves her child—will be their guide.
God will lead them to restful places, rejuvenating springs of water.
11 I will make their going easy, level the mountain road
and smooth the path that leads them home.
12 Look! Even now, they are coming from lands far away,
some from the north, others from the west, these from the land of Sinim.
13 Oh joy! Be glad—sky! Take joy—earth! Burst into song—mountains!
For the Eternal, moved to compassion, has comforted and consoled His people.
14 Zion: The Eternal One has abandoned me. God has walked out the door;
my Lord left me alone. He has forgotten all about me.
15 Eternal One: Is it possible for a mother, however disappointed,
however hurt, to forget her nursing child?
Can she feel nothing for the baby she carried and birthed?
Even if she could, I, God, will never forget you.
16 Look here. I have made you a part of Me, written you on the palms of My hands.
Your city walls are always on My mind, always My concern.
17 Now sweet Zion your children are running pell-mell back to you
Just as fast as those who destroyed you are leaving.
18 Raise your head, lift up your eyes,
and watch your heart’s desire come—
All your children, gathered and returning to you. As I live, so I promise.
You will wear them with pride all like shining ornaments;
you will put them on as a bride on her wedding day.
19 Because of all of your destroyed land—the barren fields and abandoned farms—
you are now too small, too cramped for all your citizens;
And those who tried to swallow you whole will be far, far away.
20 The children you mourned, those born in exile, will return and say,
“It is too cramped and crowded for us;
We’re going to need more room if we are to live here.”
21 You’ll say to yourself, “Where in the world did all these people come from?
Could these really be mine?
I thought I’d been desolated, left empty.
Where have you all been? Where did you come from?”
22 This is what the Lord, the Eternal, has to say:
Eternal One: I will lift My hand and signal every nation that holds your people
And they will bring your children back again:
boys bundled in their arms, girls riding on their shoulders.
23 Kings will tend the children of Zion, and their queens will nurse and nurture them.
These greats will humble themselves before you.
They will bow and lick the dust off your feet,
and in the course of it all, you will remember that I am the Eternal.
Whoever trusts in Me will never be put to shame.
24 Jerusalem: Can the spoil of war be taken from the mighty?
Can the captives be freed from the hand of a tyrant?
25 Eternal One: Hard to believe, but it shall be so.
The captives will be taken from the hand of the mighty,
And the spoil of war will be rescued from the tyrant.
I will liberate them from their captors and contend with your enemies.
I will save your children.
26 I will turn your enemies’ violence back on themselves,
and they will suffer their own atrocities:
They will feed on their own flesh and drink their own blood like wine.
Then every person on earth will know for certain that I, the Eternal, am your Savior.
I am your hero, the strong One of Jacob from whom you come.
I will rescue you, whatever the price.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Can a mother forget the child to whom she gave birth? You mothers know it is impossible. Despite the stories of violence and cruelty and selfishness we see against children at their mother’s hand sometimes, I can tell you those women still feel deep in themselves the knowledge of what they have done to the life they gave birth to. I will judge them accordingly someday. Mothers cannot forget their children.

Selfishness drives people to do incredibly horrible things, but mothers still have a place in their heart for their children. I have a special place in My heart for My highest creation also. You. You are unique in all creation. There is no one like you. You are My masterpiece in all the universe. There exists not one more exactly like you. I did that on purpose when I made you. Be sure, I make no mistakes.

So knowing I love you with love greater than a mother has for her children, you can also know I will rescue you from the evils you face when you call on Me. I will make a way of escape for you. Just look for the exit sign. It will always be there for you. Take it! Let Me fight your fights. I will win. You might not. So when the tempter comes, find the exit and run. I will stay and defeat him for you. You concentrate on escaping. 

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Exit signs and work ethics (1 Corinthians 10:12-33), Mar 25, 2015

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Today’s Podcast


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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 1 Corinthians 10:12-33
Set – Psalms 47; 1 Corinthians 10
Go! – Joshua 21-22; Psalms 47; 1 Corinthians 10

1 Corinthians 10:12-33
12 So let even the most confident believers remember their examples and be very careful not to fall as some of them did.

13 Any temptation you face will be nothing new. But God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can handle. But He always provides a way of escape so that you will be able to endure and keep moving forward. 14 So then, my beloved friends, run from idolatry in any form. 15 As wise as I know you are, understand clearly what I am saying and determine the right course of action. 16 When we give thanks and share the cup of blessing, are we not sharing in the blood of the Anointed One? When we give thanks and break bread, are we not sharing in His body? 17 Because there is one bread, we, though many, are also one body since we all share one bread. 18 Look no further than Israel and the temple practices, and you’ll see what I mean. Isn’t it true that those who eat sacrificial foods are communing at the altar, sharing its benefits? 19 So what does all this mean? I’m not suggesting that idol food itself has any special qualities or that an idol itself possesses any special powers, 20 but I am saying that the outsiders’ sacrifices are actually offered to demons, not to God. So if you feast upon this food, you are feasting with demons—I don’t want you involved with demons! 21 You can’t hold the holy cup of the Lord in one hand and the cup of demons in the other. You can’t share in the Lord’s table while picking off the altar of demons. 22 Are we trying to provoke the Lord Jesus? Do we think it’s a good idea to stir up His jealousy? Do we have ridiculous delusions about matching or even surpassing His power?

23 There’s a slogan often quoted on matters like this: “All things are permitted.” Yes, but not all things are beneficial. “All things are permitted,” they say. Yes, but not all things build up and strengthen others in the body. 24 We should stop looking out for our own interests and instead focus on the people living and breathing around us. 25 Feel free to eat any meat sold in the market without your conscience raising questions about scruples 26 because “the earth and all that’s upon it belong to the Lord.”

27 So if some unbelievers invite you to dinner and you want to go, feel free to eat whatever they offer you without raising questions about conscience. 28-29 But if someone says, “This is meat from the temple altar, a sacrifice to god so-and-so,” then do not eat it. Not so much because of your own conscience [because the earth and everything on it belongs to the Lord], but out of consideration for the conscience of the other fellow who told you about it. So you ask, “Why should I give up my freedom to accommodate the scruples of another?” 30 or, “If I am eating with gratitude to God, why am I insulted for eating food that I have properly given thanks for?” These are good questions.

31 Whatever you do—whether you eat or drink or not—do it all to the glory of God! 32 Do not offend Jews or Greeks or any part of the church of God for that matter. 33 Consider my example: I strive to please all people in all my actions and words—but don’t think I am in this for myself—their rescued souls are the only profit.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

I want you to focus on two things you heard from Paul’s letter today; first, about temptation and second, about your actions and words.

So many today think they cannot live the life I’ve asked you to live. They forget I’ve sent My Spirit to live inside you to give you assistance. I can help you and guide you. I can give you the strength you need to withstand temptation, but most often I give you a way of escape. What most people do, though, is fail to look for the way of escape. Instead, they try to withstand the blast from Satan in their own strength and fail.

I always give you an escape, but too many fail to look for the exit sign. The best way to keep from yielding to the temptations of life is to find the exits and run as fast as you can. Remember, I always make a way of escape for you. Take it!

The second thing so many forget today is to do everything for My glory. When your aim focuses on My outcomes instead of your own, giving glory to Me instead gaining glory for yourself you will prosper more than you can imagine. You may not gain prosperity as the world measures it, but you might. I might entrust you with the riches of the world as I did Abraham, Joseph, Solomon, and others. But I will certainly give you other riches like the internal peace that only comes by knowing your spirit is secure in Me.

In his letter, Paul talks about eating and drinking, not offending others by your actions. But if you’ll operate with the thought in mind to give Me glory by your actions, you’ll never have a problem with trying to figure out what you should do. Just ask Me the question. “What would Jesus do in the this situation?” You’ll get your answer and you’ll give Me glory in your actions and in your words. 

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

I care about you (Luke 4:1-30), Jan 4, 2015

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I know you sometimes think I don’t understand what you’re going through because I’m God, way up in the heavens, maybe disconnected from your world. You sometimes think I can’t possibly understand the stress and strain of life where you live today. The crime, the economy, the poverty, the social pressure, all the things that make living for me so difficult.

That’s what the people around me said when I walked the dirt roads with them, too. My spirit reminded Luke of the story of My temptation to help you know I understand where you are in your life. Paul told you, too, that no temptation has or will come to you that I have not faced also. But I have a way to help you out of every temptation…before you fall. That’s what My Father did for Me while I walked the earth with you.

I felt the physical temptations you feel. Luke reminds you in the story of My temptation. Forty days is a long time without food. Satan knew when to tempt Me with food. He knew I could create bread from the stones. Later I would feed 5,000 men plus women and children with a few herring and rolls. Making bread of the stones to satisfy My hunger would not have been hard, but it would have given Satan authority over mankind’s physical discipline. I could not allow that and went hungry.

I felt the human temptations of power as I saw the kingdoms of the world stretched out before Me. I could have done as Satan asked and held the political scepter of the world, but this world is temporary and much more is at stake than a little power. After all, My Father allowed those leaders to take their positions in the first place. One day they will all bow their knee to Me.

I have felt your emotions. I have felt your pain. I have felt your desires. I know what you face every day. I came from Nazareth. The poorest of the poor. Remember Nathaniel’s comment? Nothing good came from Nazareth…well, almost nothing. My earthly father, Joseph, died when I was a teenager and I assumed the role of supporting Mary and My brothers and sisters in the home. I knew poverty. I knew the ridicule of being an “illegitimate” son. I heard all the jokes, the whispers in the background, the smirks and stories.

When you pray to Me, I listen. I understand. I know your needs. I’ve been there. Let Me help you. Just listen to what I tell you and follow Me.

Ready – Luke 4:1-30
Set – Genesis 9; Luke 4
Go! – Genesis 9-11; Luke 4

Luke 4:1-30
When Jesus returned from the Jordan River, He was full of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit led Him away from the cities and towns and out into the desert.

2 For 40 days, the Spirit led Him from place to place in the desert, and while there, the devil tempted Jesus. Jesus was fasting, eating nothing during this time, and at the end, He was terribly hungry. 3 At that point, the devil came to Him.

Devil: Since You’re the Son of God, You don’t need to be hungry. Just tell this stone to transform itself into bread.

Jesus: 4 It is written in the Hebrew Scriptures, “People need more than bread to live.”

5 Then the devil gave Jesus a vision. It was as if He traveled around the world in an instant and saw all the kingdoms of the world at once.

Devil: 6 All these kingdoms, all their glory, I’ll give to You. They’re mine to give because this whole world has been handed over to me. 7 If You just worship me, then everything You see will all be Yours. All Yours!

Jesus: 8 [Get out of My face, Satan!] The Hebrew Scriptures say, “Worship and serve the Eternal One your God—only Him—and nobody else.”

9 Then the devil led Jesus to Jerusalem, and he transported Jesus to stand upon the pinnacle of the temple.

Devil: Since You’re the Son of God, just jump. Just throw Yourself into the air. 10 You keep quoting the Hebrew Scriptures. They themselves say,

He will put His heavenly messengers in charge of You,
to keep You safe in every way.
11 And,

They will hold You up in their hands
so that You do not smash Your foot against a stone.
Jesus: 12 Yes, but the Hebrew Scriptures also say, “You will not presume on God; you will not test the Lord, the one True God.”

13 The devil had no more temptations to offer that day, so he left Jesus, preparing to return at some other opportune time.

14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Holy Spirit, and soon people across the region had heard news of Him. 15 He would regularly go into their synagogues and teach. His teaching earned Him the respect and admiration of everyone who heard Him.

16 He eventually came to His hometown, Nazareth, and did there what He had done elsewhere in Galilee—entered the synagogue and stood up to read from the Hebrew Scriptures.

17 The synagogue attendant gave Him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, and Jesus unrolled it to the place where Isaiah had written these words:

18 The Spirit of the Lord the Eternal One is on Me.
Why? Because the Eternal designated Me
to be His representative to the poor, to preach good news to them.
He sent Me to tell those who are held captive that they can now be set free,
and to tell the blind that they can now see.
He sent Me to liberate those held down by oppression.
19 In short, the Spirit is upon Me to proclaim that now is the time;
this is the jubilee season of the Eternal One’s grace.
20 Jesus rolled up the scroll and returned it to the synagogue attendant. Then He sat down, as a teacher would do, and all in the synagogue focused their attention on Jesus, waiting for Him to speak. 21 He told them that these words from the Hebrew Scriptures were being fulfilled then and there, in their hearing.

22 At first everyone was deeply impressed with the gracious words that poured from Jesus’ lips. Everyone spoke well of Him and was amazed that He could say these things.

Everyone: Wait. This is only the son of Joseph, right?

Jesus: 23 You’re about to quote the old proverb to Me, “Doctor, heal yourself!” Then you’re going to ask Me to prove Myself to you by doing the same miracles I did in Capernaum. 24 But face the truth: hometowns always reject their homegrown prophets.

25 Think back to the prophet Elijah. There were many needy Jewish widows in his homeland, Israel, when a terrible famine persisted there for three and a half years. 26 Yet the only widow God sent Elijah to help was an outsider from Zarephath in Sidon.

27 It was the same with the prophet Elisha. There were many Jewish lepers in his homeland, but the only one he healed—Naaman—was an outsider from Syria.

28 The people in the synagogue became furious when He said these things. 29 They seized Jesus, took Him to the edge of town, and pushed Him right to the edge of the cliff on which the city was built. They would have pushed Him off and killed Him, 30 but He passed through the crowd and went on His way.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.