Nov 1st, 2023 Devotional from Isaiah 26:12

" O YAHWEH, you will ordain shalom for us,

for you have indeed done for us all our works."

(Based on Isa 26:12 ESV)

 

God did all our works!

Which works? Whether they are works done for or in us, they are our works. My understanding of this verse is that God did all the good works we ought to have done for us through Messiah, about whom Isaiah prophesied extensively. Surely God worked the good things we've done in us (as some translations and commentators emphasize), but I don't think that's mainly in view here. After all, the ground for our God-ordained shalom is not grace-enabled works done by us, but the finished work of Christ on our behalf, which is a fitting theme just after Reformation Day.

God the Son took on human flesh in Jesus Christ, who did perfect works and took the punishment we deserve for our evil works. The true human was marred beyond human recognition (Isa 52:14). Because of the substitutionary atonement at Calvary, by faith we receive the imputed righteousness of Jesus' active obedience (Rom 5:19). God united us with Christ when we repented of all our works and counted it all as loss for the sake of treasuring Christ (Phil 3:8). We're not just pretending to be righteous in God's sight, unless we're pretending to be one with Christ. Everything we have is in Him.

So also when we look back on the good works we did, we can say with the Apostle Paul, "it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me" (1 Cor 15:10b). The active obedience of Christ, the imputation of Christ's righteousness and the resulting grace for obedience are all related and glorious works of God. Therefore as I wait to fly out next week to the ministry to which I believe God has called me, I have hope for the future Shalom of YAHWEH. 

I can't predict exactly what will happen in this next season but I expect:

Persecution (2 Tim 3:12)

Spiritual attack (1 Pet 5:8-9)

Feeling stuck (2 Cor 1:8-9)

Temptation (Lk 17:1, 1 Cor 10:13)

Trouble and Trials (Jn 16:33, 1 Pet 4:12)

Sin (Jas 3:2a, 1 Jn 1:8, Phil 3:12)

I also expect:

The Presence of Jesus Christ (Matt 28:20)

God's continued Goodness to me (Jer 32:40)

Abundant, sufficient Grace for every good work (2 Cor 9:8)

Provision for all my needs according to God's riches in Christ (Phil 4:19)

The Joy of Jesus in me (Jn 15:11)

New Mercy for new failures (1 Jn 1:9, Heb 4:16)