Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
Isaiah 12:2 KJV
Isaiah speaks about God from a place of personal experience. God has always made it clear how he views and treats sin. The wages of sin have been death since the days of Adam, and they remain so, no matter what the new age doctines want us to think. He dealt with Adam that way, as well as David centuries later, as well as Judas Iscariot in his own earthly days and continues to remind us that his view of sin has not changed. He is not man, given to emotional outbursts, and who can change his mind to suit the situation. He is not like most men who need the validation of other men like themselves to have healthy self-esteem. Nothing I do or refuse to do can change who God is; I am the one who must fit my life into God's will.
Isaiah spoke of the consequences of sin too. Just before today's extract, he recognised the mercy of God that forgives sin and restores. It is God's perogative to show mercy and restore. There is nothing I could have done to deserve it, neither could I have paid the right price for it. The currency of God's grace is not one any mortal man can earn, manufacture, or work for. It is given solely by grace. I stand where I am today all by God's grace.
That is the foundation on which today's extract is based. It is my understanding and acceptance of my helplessness that makes God's help quite important. That is why praise that flows out of a heart that knows what it has received is accepted by God. Do I praise God out of a sense of duty, because I am asked to do it or because I clearly understand and recognise what God has done for me? I can seek to convince myself that the reason for my praise is genuine; God cannot be mocked or deceived. He knows my heart and all its hidden motives and intentions.
This writer did not come to the conclusions in today's extract overnight or by accident. That is the result of personally experiencing God's forgiveness. I must seek God at that level too, so that my song can look like today's extract. When God works on and lives in my heart, there is no room for fear. Sin has no place. The world knows its place, and it offers nothing of value to me, because I have found a God who is more precious than all of the world's treasures.
He declares to the world: God is my salvation. For me, my mind is made up. I tell the world about my total allegiance to God, whether it likes it or not. Can I also take the same position? Can I dare stand alone on the side of God, no matter how unpopular it seems? God is my strength and song. He is the inspiration behind my perspiration. I work for God, but I enjoy what I do for him because he does not owe. He is a rewarder of all who diligently seek him, and all who depend on him for their daily living are assured of his presence, protection, provision and power.
No matter what the past looks like, God wants to do a new and fresh thing. He is salvation, and he is able to give salvation. He is able to take all my past baggage and make it into a package of grace. He can take the mess of my past life and turn it into a message of hope and redemption. It has to be God; no man, no matter how connected or powerful, can secure that for me. This is the word for this season of fear and uncertainty. You are safe, only in God. No man can secure himself, not to talk of securing anyone else. He wants to save you; in fact, he moved heaven and earth to secure the salvation of men, and it will be such a waste if I do not take advantage of the free gift of life that has been made available in Christ. What are you waiting for? His time of favour is here
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