THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
When Grandmother came to visit she had gifts for the grandchildren.
Mom was quite surprised when she saw her three-year-old open his present. He had received a water pistol. He squealed with delight and headed for the sink.
Mom looked at Grandmother and said, "I'm surpised that you would give him a water pistol. Don't you remember the misery we always dealt you with one?"
Grandmother smiled and said, "I remember."
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________SCRIPTURE____________________________________________________________________
Isa 52:1-3
1 Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.
2 Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.
3 For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.
KJV
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_______THOUGHT______________________________________________________________________
The cause of sin is ourselves (verse 3). There is no real reason for us to live in sin, neither is there a real reason for us to exist eternally in the death of sin. It is "for nought," because God has given us free redemption through surrender to Christ.
Zion or Jerusalem is a reference to the nation of Israel. As Christians, we must realize that we are part of Israel. We are blood bought by Christ, and adopted into His family.
Here, we are called to "Awake!" Awake from sleep, awake from deadness; and come to liveliness. The prophecy concerns Israel being released from captivity, yet it applies to Christians today. When we are saved from the bondage of sin, we are "awakened" from deadness and brought into the liveliness of a relationship with God.
We are called upon to "shake" the dust from our garments. In order to do this, one must "rise." And after shaking, then find a better place to sit.
We are called to "put on thy beautiful garments." God's assurance to us is that we will not be soiled again. When a person is saved, he is to begin putting on the beautiful garments of Christ. When we are wearing our best clothes, we will try hard to keep them from being soiled.
Christians, we are sinners. Here, on earth, that is our nature.
But we are born again in Christ, and are called to put on His nature!
Today, let us "shake" the dust of sin from us.
Then let us "rise" and seek a better place to sit.
Let us strive to live in Christ, and not in sin.
Love ya,
Bruce