Isaiah 54:13 And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children. 14 In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.
This passage of scripture teaches us of the importance of harboring a humble and teachable spirit, in our relationship with The Lord. In order for any growth to take place in our lives we will need to listen to the voice of God as spoken through the pages of scripture, or through the providence of His Holy Spirit, and the habit of relinquishing our own ideas and opinions in favor of "It is written" will go a long way in enabling us to grow and mature spiritually. In the passage for today we clearly see where God takes this learning process of ours personally, for the verses say that "Thy children shall be taught of The Lord", and not necessarily by any institutions of higher learning, although these can be of major benefit in their legitimate sphere.
One of the more common and literal areas in which we need instruction is in how to properly manage the finances God has lent unto us as stewards, for it is a fact that many sincere Christians have fallen very short on such issues, and have as a result, come to poverty in a land of plenty. The natural tendency when there is an abundance of funds available, is to spend without due thought and restraint, for we often seem to forget that the world runs in cycles, in which there are "Fat years" followed by "Lean years". The fact that most of us succumb to the habit of overspending in times of plenty is one of the truths recorded in the scriptures, with the hope that we would learn our "Lessons" well. Let's read:
Ecclesiastes 5:11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?
It is very important that a fine balance be made between benevolence and saving, so that the "Rainy days" which will certainly come, can be safely circumnavigated. Whenever we receive our wages, a stipulated percentage should be set aside for the kingdom of God first, and after that, a designated portion should be put towards our savings account, for by so doing we will be implementing the godly principle of replenishing, which God first gave to us in the garden of Eden. God is very practical in both His operations and instructions, and what He bids us do in this regard, is what He himself puts into practice on a continual basis, as He ministers to the various needs of saints and sinners alike. Let's read:
Psalms 104:24 O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. 28 That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good. 30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit".... "and thou renewest the face of the earth. 31 The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works.
The Biblical instructions on faithful stewardship, together with the principles of multiplication and replenishing, will come in very handy in the near future, when because of the continual transgression of man, the world will again be facing a global financial crisis. The warning is being given now so that everyone who desires to be instructed in the ways of God may know what is coming upon the earth. The decision before the courts now, on the issue of marriage, may or may not pass, but if it does, we should know for certain that it will trigger hardship and turmoil on an unprecedented scale, because no one violates the laws of God deliberately, and gets off free. Let's read:
Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Increased natural disasters of no ordinary character, together with stiff financial penalties will soon be meted out as judgments for the evils we have harbored and encouraged. This truth and prophecy is not the figment of the imagination, but is clearly written in the word of God, so that the faithful and the unwary may take heed. Let's read:
Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. 24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: 25 And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.
Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
Deuteronomy 11:16 Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; 17 And then the Lord's wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the Lord giveth you. 26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; 27 A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: 28 And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.
In lieu of these dire warnings that are written in the scriptures, it behooves us to make straight paths for our feet, and even though our focus should not be survival but surrender, yet it is important that we be found following faithfully the principles God has given us to live by, so that come what may, we will be covered in the days of vengeance that are to be unfurled. Let us then live soberly and righteously in this generation, willing to be taught of the Lord, and putting into practice, the laws of His kingdom in the spiritual and temporal realms, for this is His good and perfect will.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to learn and follow the statutes of life, for our success now, and in the great hereafter depends on a faithful adherence to truth and duty. Let's read:
Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word. God bless!