ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (JANUARY 19 2012)

By Grace: The Eternal Word
Isaiah 40:1-8;
1 Peter 1:23-25

"The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."
(Isaiah 40:7-8)
Throughout this entire chapter, the grace of God is evident. Notice the doubling of the word "comfort" in verse 1, signifying the intense comfort of God's grace. The word "double" at the end of verse 2 reminds us of our gracious double salvation. Christ took our sins upon Himself and gave His righteousness to us. Verse 3 looks forward to John the baptizer, who would introduce the coming King. Salvation for God's people is coming! The LORD's glory will be revealed! The mouth of the LORD has spoken!
The things of this world are changing and eventually passing away. Nations come and go. People are likened to the flowers and the grass. But one thing never changes, one thing we can grab on to that we know is solid and secure in this ever-changing world: "the Word of our God." God's gracious Word, written down by numerous authors over thousands of years, never changes. It speaks the truth (John 17:17). "Jesus Christ - the Word of God - is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).
INSIGHT
The eternal God who spoke His Word into being defines and ordains all past and future events - the beginning and 
the end.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Genesis 31-32
Psalm 16
Matthew 24

Isaiah 40:1-8;
Comfort for God’s People
1 "Comfort, comfort my people,"
says your God.
2 "Speak tenderly to Jerusalem.
Tell her that her sad days are gone
and her sins are pardoned.
Yes, the LORD has punished her twice over
for all her sins."
3 Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting,
"Clear the way through the wilderness
for the LORD!
Make a straight highway through the wasteland
for our God!
4 Fill in the valleys,
and level the mountains and hills.
Straighten the curves,
and smooth out the rough places.
5 Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
The LORD has spoken!"[a]
6 A voice said, "Shout!"
I asked, "What should I shout?"
"Shout that people are like the grass.
Their beauty fades as quickly
as the flowers in a field.
7 The grass withers and the flowers fade
beneath the breath of the LORD.
And so it is with people.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fade,
but the word of our God stands forever."
Footnotes:
a. Isaiah 40:5 Greek version reads He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, / "Prepare the way for the LORD’s coming! / Clear a road for our God! / Fill in the valleys, / and level the mountains and hills. / And then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, / and all people will see the salvation sent from God. / The LORD has spoken!" Compare Matt 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4-6.
1 Peter 1:23-25
New Living Translation (NLT)
23 For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. 24 As the Scriptures say,
"People are like grass;
their beauty is like a flower in the field.
The grass withers and the flower fades.
25 But the word of the Lord remains forever."[a]
And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.
Footnotes:
a. 1 Peter 1:25 Isa 40:6-8.