Bible League: Living His Word "Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and I love you, I give people in return for you and nations in exchange for your life."— Isaiah 43:4 NIV When God called the prophet Ezekiel, He told him that He was sending him to a rebellious people, but that Ezekiel was to deliver God's mandate for these obstinate folk whether or not they listened. Interestingly, God schooled Ezekiel with a side-bar lesson: "Son of man, let all my words sink deep into your own heart first. Listen to them carefully for yourself (Ezekiel 3:10 NLT)." God commissioned Ezekiel in his calling, yet He knew that if Ezekiel didn't receive God's words and apply them to himself first, the pushy prophet would be striving to minister FOR God without initially letting God minister TO him. In order to understand the joy of Jesus this Christmas season, you must first receive God's personal, "I love you," to you and for you. Our verse today, Isaiah 43:4, boasts one of the most beautiful "I love you's" written in first-person in all of Scripture. The context is that Israel was chosen in great love to be covenanted with God. In their sinful disbelief of God's goodness, He allowed Israel to go into exile through the Babylonians; yet God also ultimately used Cyrus of Persia to free the Israelites after 70 years of exile. So, in God's anger and wrath, He allowed Babylon to overtake Israel; but in His covenant love, God eventually turned around to then punish Babylon and the Chaldeans for keeping HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE hostage! That's why Scripture says He, "gave nations in exchange for your life." Covenant love can't be negated, no matter what. When God sends a covenant "I love you," He's the Covenant-Keeper, upholding His end of the bargain no matter what you do. The Covenant Keeper will always turn on the enemy in the end, choosing to shower grace on you, compelling you to believe in His earth-shattering love. "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins" (1 John 4:10 NIV). Hear God say, in a very personal way today, "I love you." The Apostle John declares that, "If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them." That verse is followed by this one: "... we know and rely on the love God has for us" (1 John 4:15-16). Did you catch that? Yes, God is love, and so the joy of salvation finds you when you "know and rely on the love God has for you." Hear God say, "I love you!" Merry Christmas! By Jenny Laux, Bible League International contributor, Wisconsin U.S. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingMicah 6, 7 Micah 6 -- God's Punishment against Ingratitude, Ignorance, Injustice and Idolatry NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Micah 7 -- Israel's Misery and Resurrection; I wait for the God of my salvation NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Revelation 12 Revelation 12 -- The Woman, The Dragon, The Male Child, The Angel NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. Insight We may suffer for many reasons. Some suffering is the direct result of our own sin, some happens because of our foolishness, and some is the result of living in a fallen world. Peter is writing about suffering that comes as a result of doing good. Christ never sinned, and yet he suffered so that we could be set free. Challenge When we follow Christ's example and live for others, we too may suffer. Our goal should be to face suffering as he did—with patience, calmness, and confidence that God is in control of the future. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Ezekiel 16:10 I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers' skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk.See with what matchless generosity the Lord provides for his people's apparel. They are so arrayed that the divine skill is seen producing an unrivalled broidered work, in which every attribute takes its part and every divine beauty is revealed. No art like the art displayed in our salvation, no cunning workmanship like that beheld in the righteousness of the saints. Justification has engrossed learned pens in all ages of the church, and will be the theme of admiration in eternity. God has indeed "curiously wrought it." With all this elaboration there is mingled utility and durability, comparable to our being shod with badgers' skins. The animal here meant is unknown, but its skin covered the tabernacle, and formed one of the finest and strongest leathers known. The righteousness which is of God by faith endureth forever, and he who is shod with this divine preparation will tread the desert safely, and may even set his foot upon the lion and the adder. Purity and dignity of our holy vesture are brought out in the fine linen. When the Lord sanctifies his people, they are clad as priests in pure white; not the snow itself excels them; they are in the eyes of men and angels fair to look upon, and even in the Lord's eyes they are without spot. Meanwhile the royal apparel is delicate and rich as silk. No expense is spared, no beauty withheld, no daintiness denied. What, then? Is there no inference from this? Surely there is gratitude to be felt and joy to be expressed. Come, my heart, refuse not thy evening hallelujah! Tune thy pipes! Touch thy chords! "Strangely, my soul, art thou arrayed By the Great Sacred Three! In sweetest harmony of praise Let all thy powers agree." Daily Light on the Daily Path Mark 4:38 Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"Psalm 145:9 The LORD is good to all, And His mercies are over all His works. Genesis 9:3 "Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant. Genesis 8:22 "While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, And cold and heat, And summer and winter, And day and night Shall not cease." Nahum 1:7 The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him. Genesis 21:17,19 God heard the lad crying; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What is the matter with you, Hagar? Do not fear, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. • Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water; and she went and filled the skin with water and gave the lad a drink. Matthew 6:31,32 "Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' • "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 1 Timothy 6:17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. 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