Today’s Verse: Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. ~Isaiah 1:18 A few years ago, while preaching in the Philippines, one of the pastors told me of an area that they reach people in that is one of the filthiest areas in the world. The stench from the refuse that has built up will cling to your clothes. There are flies by the droves in that g

Today’s Verse: Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel. ~Isaiah 37:23 I read a story about an elderly woman who walked into the local country church. The friendly usher greeted her at the door and helped her up the flight of steps. "Where would you like to sit?" he asked politely. "The front row, please," she answered. "You really don't want to do that," the u

Today’s Verse: And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. ~Isaiah 32:2 When I was in the fourth grade, some of my friends got me to try out for the boys’ basketball team. One of my best memories of learning how to play basketball was “Coach Tony.” Coach Tony took time to help each boy develop in his skills. He worked us hard, but he always had an encourag

Today’s Verse: But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand. ~Isaiah 32:8 A recent news article revealed that one of the richest female philanthropists in the world donated an astounding $2.7M to 286 organizations. While I do not agree philosophically with most of the organizations she donated to, her action falls within the thought of “the liberal deviseth liberal things.” Giving is a major aspect of the Christian life. We must remember that

Today’s Verse: Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the mighty One of Israel. ~Isaiah 30:29 The Assyrians were the mighty world power during the days of King Ahaz. Israel would be overtaken by them. King Ahaz made an alliance with them, only to have them turn against him and Judah. The Lord intervened and delivered Ahaz and Judah. In is deliverance, G

Today’s Verse: Bread corn is bruised; because he will not ever be threshing it, nor break it with the wheel of his cart, nor bruise it with his horsemen. ~Isaiah 28:28 The Bible is very rich in its use of analogies, metaphors, and parables to help make a Bible concept become very real to the reader. Through symbols that we can identify with, God enlightens our hearts and minds to the timeless truths of His Word. Isaiah 28:23-29 uses the symbol of a plowing to help us understa

Today’s Verse: This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working. ~Isaiah 28:29 This morning, we see two powerful words that describe the Lord in His works in us: wonderful and excellent. I think it goes without saying that there are not enough words in our English vocabulary that describe how awesome God is in everything He does. Let us take a few minutes this morning to rejoice in the fact that God is wonderful and excell

Today’s Verse: The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? ~Isaiah 33:14 What image comes to your mind when you read of a devouring fire? I think of a fire that burns up everything in its path: a fire that is strong, unstoppable, and growing. Isaiah asked two questions:“Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell w

Today’s Verse: In all their affliction he was afflicted…. ~Isaiah 63:9a Years ago, in the first job that I had out of college, I had a manager who had a sign on his desk. It was one of those signs you could not miss. It read, “Empathy: feeling what the other person feels.” It you are an empathetic person and can identify with another person’s hurt, you are a tender-hearted person. On the other hand, if you are the one who is hurting, you have a deeper appreciation and respect

Today’s Verse: And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel. ~Isaiah 8:8 The Bible gives us the real accounts of people like us who felt like they were near drowning in problems. Job said, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.” They experience what “when it rains, it pours” means. Another description we use to descr

Today’s Verse: As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. ~Isaiah 66:13 One of the encouraging attributes of God is that He is the God of all comfort. This implies that there is no sorrow, trouble, or heartache that God cannot alleviate. Peter exhorts us to cast all your care upon Him, for He careth for you. Jesus exhorts us, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” The receiving o

Today’s Verse: Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters; ~Isaiah 43:16 Of the many great miracles of the Bible, next to the resurrection of our Lord Jesus, the opening of the Red Sea is, by far, the one most often referred to. It is a miracle very ingrained into the history of the Jewish people. It is a miracle that is unforgettable in its action. In our devotion this morning, our Lord refers to His awesome and unmatched ability of m

Today’s Verse: Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. ~Isaiah 7:15 Texas Roadhouse® restaurants are famous and really good for their steaks. However, almost everyone also enjoys the fresh rolls that they make on site. When the rolls are served, I enjoy adding butter and, many times, honey. There’s something about butter and honey that make hot, freshly-baked rolls really delicious. This morning, let us see the spiritual import

Today’s Verse: In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. ~Isaiah 6:1 Years ago, I sat with an attorney friend of mine in a courtroom for a proceeding that we were witnessing. As we were waiting for the judge to enter, my friend said, “Look at the chair where the judge will sit. Think about the incredible amount of authority that is vested in the man who sits on that chair.” Isaiah saw a vi

Today’s Verse: In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. ~Isaiah 4:2 An escape is when someone has avoided capture, confinement, danger, or peril. The setting for Isaiah 4 is after the Great Tribulation and the Millennial period. This time frame is referred to in the Bible as the Day of the Lord. Centermost is the fact that our Lord Jesus Christ will be pree

Today’s Verse: Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. ~Isaiah 1:18 Here in Northern California, we are within a close driving distance to the Sierra Nevada mountains. After a snow storm, the Sierra mountains are a beautiful, white landscape that appears to go for miles upon miles. Everything is covered in snow. We use a snow-covered scene to d

Today’s Verse: In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer. ~Isaiah 54:8 A moment refers to a brief period of time. Sometimes, it might mean a second, a minute, or a brief span. We might tell someone who is ready to give us a ride somewhere, “Give me just a moment.” In a general sense, it means a time period that is momentary: it is not very long, and in some cases, at lightning s

Today’s Verse: Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. ~Isaiah 26:20 A chamber in the Bible referred to a small bedroom or storage room. It had one way in and out. Houses with a pantry are very similar in idea to this chamber. It was large enough for an adult to stand, lie down, or sit in. It was a getaway from the crowds, crises, and challenges that people fa

Today’s Verse: Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I. ~Isaiah 52:6 Sometimes, I might make a quick shopping run at a store and will run into one of our church families. If they are the first to see and greet me, I tend to be slow in recognizing them. However, after a few moments, I usually blurt out, “Oh, it’s you!” While we might be slow in recognizing another person at an outside location,

Today’s Verse: I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. ~Isaiah 50:6 Suffering is when we go through intense difficulty that can include unbearable pain, sorrow, distress, humiliation, and torment. There is not a human experience we go through that our Lord Jesus did not go through. In our devotion this morning, we see the one of the verses that describes the intensity of adversity that our Lord