Isaiah 59-63

Daily Reading
Isaiah 59-63

Daily Thought

At one time or another, we all have thought, "If you want something done right, do it yourself." So has God. Isaiah chronicles our human attempts at justice and righteousness and peace; "No one enters suit justly;
    no one goes to law honestly;
they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies,
     they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity.
The way of peace they do not know,
    and there is no justice in their paths;
they have made their roads crooked;
     no one who treads on them knows peace" (Isaiah 59:4, 8).

A dismal record. At last, God says, "I'll do it myself; 
"then his own arm brought him salvation,
    and his righteousness upheld him" (Isaiah 59:16).

Isaiah is prophesying, there is a future glory to look forward to. Let me tell you how much. Our wedding had been my wife's dream since little girls begin dreaming. Debbie can tell you every detail. I clearly remember one: 8,500 pearls. A friend made her gown. It was white silk, long train, beautiful, and 8,500 little pearls were hand-sewn one at a time into the fabric of that dress. That's a lot of pearls and a lot of sewing.

God has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
    he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
   as a bride adorns herself with her jewels (Isaiah 61:10).

Debbie was dazzling and heavenly and beautiful. This was her dream, to look her best for the man she loved; and I was that man.

Let us rejoice and exult
    and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
    and his Bride has made herself ready;
it was granted her to clothe herself
    with fine linen, bright and pure"-
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. ~Revelation 19:7-8

We are that bride, and there will be a wedding. Something to look forward to. Someone to prepare for. 

Daily Prayer

My God, When you are betrothed to the King, when you are engaged to our Savior, when you are promised to Jesus Christ, then the flirting ends. How many times do we still smile and wink at the world, the flesh, and the devil?

Our acts, what we do, these are the fine silk linen, the pearls sown on the bridal gown of the bride of Jesus Christ. May all of our lives be preparation for the wedding.

Amen