Isa 48

Devotion 1 of 1: Isa 48

This chapter is a short, prophetic summary of Judah’s: 1) Failure, 2) Captivity and 3) Restoration.
1) Her failures are shown in v.1-8, as she is described as: not truthful or righteous (v.1b), obstinate with a neck of iron (v.4), idolatrous (v.5), dealing treacherously and being called a transgressor from the womb (v.8).
2) Judah’s captivity in Babylon (v.9-15) was described as God testing and refining them in the furnace of affliction (v.10). But v.14 declares that God would eventually oppose Babylon after allowing it prosperity for a season (v.15).
3) Finally, in v.16-22, God prophesies Judah’s deliverance and restoration from Babylon! But he also gives a stern warning to the wicked, that they will not have peace (v.22).
Let’s pray for modern Israel’s restoration from her furnace of affliction!

EPH 5: Free sharing!
The church is described as the bride of Christ in this chapter. The bride should be a glory to her husband, not a shame! The church today is good in many areas, but she also has a lot of immaturity and division and a lack of power to impact society as Jesus has called us to do.
Jesus wants his bride to be a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but to be holy and without blemish (v.27)! The way the church can be transformed into this glorious church is to be sanctified and cleansed by Jesus with the washing of water by the Word of God (v.26)! This is why devotions is so important!
Let’s be transformed into the glorious bride by letting Jesus wash us by his Word in our everyday devotions!