May 19 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Isaiah 43:1-13:

¹But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
²When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
³For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
⁴Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.
⁵Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
⁶I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;
⁷Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
⁸Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.
⁹Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth.
¹⁰Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
¹¹I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
¹²I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.
¹³Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?

Devotional

"With body and soul in life and in death, I am not my own, but belong to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ." Heidelberg Catechism, 1. He bought us with his precious blood. We are his. And surely God takes care of his own. From the time before we were born until He receives us up into heavenly glory his eyes are upon us. He is the Lord that has created us and has formed us. He loved us and called us by our name, called us in righteousness, and holds our hand. He also redeemed us with righteousness, and keeps us unto life eternal. We are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

Since we are so prone to doubt and fear, God says, "Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west: I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; even every one that is called by my name."

What is the purpose of all this? God says, "For my glory." "To the praise of the glory of his grace." "This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise." "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar (or pur­chased) people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." Thou art mine.

"What is the chief end of man, To glorify God and to enjoy Him for ever." Westminster Shorter Catechism, 1.

Prayer

O God, help us to remember that we are bought with a price, not with gold or silver, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. May we therefore not be servants of men, but may we glorify God in our body and in our spirit, which belong to Thee. May we present our bodies a living sacrifice holy, acceptable unto Thee. As we have received Christ, help us to walk in him; rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, abounding therein with thanks­giving. Pardon our sins for Jesus' sake. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Isa. 43:4; 42:6; 1:27; 1 Pet. 1:5; Isa. 43:4-7; Eph. 1:6; Isa. 43:1, 21; 1 Pet. 2:9;

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