June 11th

Deuteronomy 16     Isaiah 43     Psalms 103     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

In this chapter in Isaiah, Israel is reminded about how God has guided them over the years and that whatever happens to them, His loving purpose will finally be achieved. He will be with them in adversity and will restore them to prosperity. The promise God gives in verse 1 “Fear not, I have redeemed you...you are mine” was true for Israel then and, as a result of what Jesus has done or us on the cross, it is now true for us today. He has stamped His name, the “Maker’s name” upon us, but many people have rubbed it off and pretend that they owe Him nothing; they may not even acknowledge that there is a creator at all. God sacrificed other countries to bring back Israel because He loved her. In his book of memoirs of the Second World War, Winston Churchill calls one chapter “Africa Redeemed” and in it he tells at what tremendous cost the countries of North Africa were bought back during 1940-43. It was an even greater price that Jesus had to pay to redeem us from our sin – His precious blood.

 (written by member of a homegroup)