Thought for January 24

I WILL BE POSTING THE THOUGHT A LITTLE LATER FOR THE NEXT WEEK SINCE JAN AND I WILL BE ON THE WEST COAST.  

History:

• 1844: Fanny Crosby and 16 other students from the Institute of the Blind give a concert for Congress. Fanny recites a 13 stanza composition calling for institutes for the blind in every state. 
• 1848: James Marshall finds gold at Sutter's Mill California
• 1908: Robert Baden-Powell publishes "Scouting for Boys" which inspires the Scout Movement
• 1972: Sgt. Shoichi Yokoi found hiding in a Guam jungle--did not know WWII was over
• 1984: Apple introduces the Macintosh Computer
• 2018: Larry Nassar found guilty of molesting over 150 girls while serving as team doctor
• Born: Hadrian, Ernest Borgnine, Sharon Tate, Neil Diamond
• Died: Caligula, Winston Churchill, Ted Bundy, Thurgood Marshall

Thought:

Isaiah 42 this morning. Another word of encouragement like chapter 40. The first 10 verses have my attention today. This passage speaks of the coming Messiah so we can see Jesus in it:

• Jesus came as a servant [42:1]. Humble more than any man. For He gave up the rights of heaven and its glory to put on the flesh of man. He is King, but He accepted treatment as a criminal for us. He is eternal, but He faced and suffered death so that I would not be its victim. 
• Jesus is God's Chosen One. [42:1]. He was the only one who could save us and He accepted the call of the Father to do so.
• Jesus is all the Spirit of God--the Triune God. [42:1] In Him the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily. Miracle of miracles--an infinite God in finite man.
• Jesus did not come yelling or try and win people by being bombastic-- [42:2-3]
• Bruised reeds are injured, bent over, drooping. Jesus did not come to bruise us or condemn us. He gives strength to the bruised reed, restores it. 
• Dim wicks are lights that are fading, nearly out. Jesus did not come to blow out your dim candle, but rather to energize it into a flame again.
• Jesus was there in the creation and now comes to recreate that which was lost. [42:5] For by Him and through Him and for Him all things were created. .
• The Lord calls us to be righteous like Him [42:6] But praise God, we don't have to do it alone, for He promises to hold our hand and watch over us. And our job is to be the light to the nations. Here the word is speaking of Jesus, the Light of the world, the One who makes the blind see, and frees the prisoners. .
• Jesus is the Lord and a jealous God, He demands our praise. [42:8] Sounds like the first commandment.
• Jesus makes all things new [42:9]. He does it at salvation and will finish it when He comes again to receive us. 
• Our response--we sing a new song. A few Sundays ago, our pastor urged us to make Jesus our song for 2023--Isaiah wrote that down 2700 years ago. 

Now go back and look at those points--Jesus tells me to be like Him. So 

• I live as a servant of the Lord.
• In Christ I am to be a chosen person, a royal priest, a holy person
• I am to be controlled and filled by the Spirit of God.
• I am to treat others as bruised reeds and smoldering wicks.
• I am to take His hand and walk in His light. 
• I am to live a life of praise giving glory to Him. 

Lord help us be more like You.

Blessings

Larry