July 31 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Isaiah 11:1-10:

¹And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
²And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
³And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
⁴But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
⁵And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
⁶The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
⁷And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
⁸And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.
⁹They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
¹⁰And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

Devotional

Ever since sin entered into the world, this world has been a world of war and strife and bloodshed. Not only is there en­mity between man and man, but between God and man. Man hates not only his fellowman, but, what is worse, he hates God, and deserves eternal punishment. But O, the infinite grace, and the glorious power of God, who "hath made us meet to be par­takers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins." "For he is our peace ..., having abolished in his flesh the enmity ..., so making peace .... and came and preached peace." Thus "righteousness and peace have kissed each other."

Now peace is proclaimed and we are admonished to pursue it. "How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace." Seek peace, and pursue it. "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." Follow peace with all men. Have peace one with another. "The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." Blessed are the peace­makers.

"They shall be called the children of God." There can be no greater blessing than to be children of God; for if we are chil­dren, then we are also heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. All the blessings of the kingdom of God are ours.

Prayer

Our Father, we thank Thee that we have peace with Thee through faith in the atoning blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Help us as Thy children to live together in peace. We must deplore before Thee, that Satan sometimes produces strife and discord among Thy children, even between those of the same household. O God, may we be true peacemakers by confess­ing our own sin, and being ready to forgive those who have sinned against us. May the peace of God which passeth all under­standing keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. We ask it for his sake. Amen.

---

Scripture in Devotional: Col. 1:12-14; Eph. 2:15-17; Ps. 85:10; Rom. 10:15; Ps. 34:14; Rom. 12:18; Heb. 12:14; Mark 9:50; James 3:18; Matt. 5:9; Rom. 8:17; 2 Thess. 3:16.

Click here for background on Light and Comfort and the author.