ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (JANUARY 31, 2012)

By Grace: A Suffering Servant
Isaiah 52:13–53:12;
Ephesians 2:1-10

"We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid 
on him the iniquity of us all."
(Isaiah 53:6)
Isaiah 52 and 53 portray Christ so clearly, and yet were written more than 700 years before His birth. How is it possible for anyone to miss Jesus in these verses? To whom else in history could these words possibly apply? What other "servant" has been so "highly exalted?" (52:13). What other "highly exalted" one has been "despised" (53:3), "stricken by God" (53:4), "pierced," and "crushed" (53:5)? Further, how could a mere human take upon himself "the iniquity of us all"?
The odds that all of these prophecies do not apply to the God-man - Jesus - are astronomical. And yet, unbelievers still will not be convinced. They will not see Jesus here. Why? Paul says it best in 1 Corinthians 2:14: "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness 
to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." Men love the darkness (John 3:19). Only God's Spirit, by grace, can shine the light of truth into them. Will you let His light shine through you today?

INSIGHT
Many believe that being born again is a result of our faith. But the Scriptures teach the opposite. Dead men don't decide!
(Ephesians 2:4-5)
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Exodus 5-6
Psalm 28
Mark 8

Isaiah 52:13–53:12;
The LORD’s Suffering Servant
13 See, my servant will prosper;
he will be highly exalted.
14 But many were amazed when they saw him.[a]
His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human,
and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man.
15 And he will startle[b] many nations.
Kings will stand speechless in his presence.
For they will see what they had not been told;
they will understand what they had not heard about.[c]
Isaiah 53
1 Who has believed our message?
To whom has the LORD revealed his powerful arm?
2 My servant grew up in the LORD’s presence like a tender green shoot,
like a root in dry ground.
There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance,
nothing to attract us to him.
3 He was despised and rejected—
a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
He was despised, and we did not care.
4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
it was our sorrows[d] that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
a punishment for his own sins!
5 But he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.
6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the LORD laid on him
the sins of us all.
7 He was oppressed and treated harshly,
yet he never said a word.
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.
And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,
he did not open his mouth.
8 Unjustly condemned,
he was led away.[e]
No one cared that he died without descendants,
that his life was cut short in midstream.[f]
But he was struck down
for the rebellion of my people.
9 He had done no wrong
and had never deceived anyone.
But he was buried like a criminal;
he was put in a rich man’s grave.
10 But it was the LORD’s good plan to crush him
and cause him grief.
Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,
he will have many descendants.
He will enjoy a long life,
and the LORD’s good plan will prosper in his hands.
11 When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish,
he will be satisfied.
And because of his experience,
my righteous servant will make it possible
for many to be counted righteous,
for he will bear all their sins.
12 I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier,
because he exposed himself to death.
He was counted among the rebels.
He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.
Footnotes:
a. Isaiah 52:14 As in Syriac version; Hebrew reads you.
b. Isaiah 52:15 Or cleanse.
c. Isaiah 52:15 Greek version reads Those who have never been told about him will see, / and those who have never heard of him will understand. Compare Rom 15:21.
d. Isaiah 53:4 Or Yet it was our sicknesses he carried; / it was our diseases.
e. Isaiah 53:8 Greek version reads He was humiliated and received no justice. Compare Acts 8:33.
f. Isaiah 53:8 Or As for his contemporaries, / who cared that his life was cut short in midstream? Greek version reads Who can speak of his descendants? / For his life was taken from the earth. Compare Acts 8:33.
Ephesians 2:1-10

Made Alive with Christ
1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world.[a] He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Footnotes:
a. Ephesians 2:2 Greek obeying the commander of the power of the air.

Children's behavior is not always a window into their heart. Too often parents stress outward obedience when obedience of the heart is the real issue. The solution is grace.

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (JANUARY 30, 2012)

By Grace: Everlasting Joy
Isaiah 51:9-16;
Hebrews 12:18-24

"The ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away."
(Isaiah 51:11)
Do you recall the old poem, "Casey at the Bat"? Remember that the Mudville team was behind when the mighty Casey stepped to the plate in the ninth inning, runners on second and third. The crowd cheered! But then the terrible final stanza: "Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright; the band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light, and somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout; But there is no joy in Mudville – mighty Casey has struck out."
That's the way "joy" is in this sinful world - fleeting and often based on heroes who aren't as mighty as we'd like to think. But ours is a forever joy; it comes by the sovereign, loving grace of Almighty God. We have not come to applaud a hero who strikes out. "But [we] have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. [We] have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven" (Hebrews 12:22-23a).
INSIGHT
For the Christian, joy isn't based on circumstances, but upon the Sovereign LORD's promise that our names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20).
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Exodus 3-4
Psalm 27
Mark 7
Isaiah 51:9-16;
Isaiah 51:9-16
New Living Translation (NLT)
9 Wake up, wake up, O LORD! Clothe yourself with strength!
Flex your mighty right arm!
Rouse yourself as in the days of old
when you slew Egypt, the dragon of the Nile.[a]
10 Are you not the same today,
the one who dried up the sea,
making a path of escape through the depths
so that your people could cross over?
11 Those who have been ransomed by the LORD will return.
They will enter Jerusalem[b] singing,
crowned with everlasting joy.
Sorrow and mourning will disappear,
and they will be filled with joy and gladness.
12 "I, yes I, am the one who comforts you.
So why are you afraid of mere humans,
who wither like the grass and disappear?
13 Yet you have forgotten the LORD, your Creator,
the one who stretched out the sky like a canopy
and laid the foundations of the earth.
Will you remain in constant dread of human oppressors?
Will you continue to fear the anger of your enemies?
Where is their fury and anger now?
It is gone!
14 Soon all you captives will be released!
Imprisonment, starvation, and death will not be your fate!
15 For I am the LORD your God,
who stirs up the sea, causing its waves to roar.
My name is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
16 And I have put my words in your mouth
and hidden you safely in my hand.
I stretched out[c] the sky like a canopy
and laid the foundations of the earth.
I am the one who says to Israel,
‘You are my people!’"
Footnotes:
a. Isaiah 51:9 Hebrew You slew Rahab; you pierced the dragon. Rahab is the name of a mythical sea monster that represents chaos in ancient literature. The name is used here as a poetic name for Egypt.
b. Isaiah 51:11 Hebrew Zion.
c. Isaiah 51:16 As in Syriac version (see also 51:13); Hebrew reads planted.
Hebrews 12:18-24
18 You have not come to a physical mountain,[a] to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. 19 For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. 20 They staggered back under God’s command: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death."[b] 21 Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, "I am terrified and trembling."[c]
22 No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. 23 You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. 24 You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.
Footnotes:
a. Hebrews 12:18 Greek to something that can be touched.
b. Hebrews 12:20 Exod 19:13.
c. Hebrews 12:21 Deut 9:19.

There are two ways to live. We all default to control and fear, but by the grace of Jesus Christ it is possible to live by trust and hope. This is a program of powerful encouragement!

NCHOR DEVOTIONS (JANUARY 29, 2012)

By Grace: Light of Nations
Isaiah 49:1-36;
John 3:16-21

"I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."
(Isaiah 49:6b)
Chapter 49 speaks of the coming Servant of the LORD and of Israel's restoration. That restoration will include the islands (v. 1) - the distant Gentile nations. Israel was a conduit - a pipeline, if you will - for the blessing of people everywhere, not without exception, but without distinction. Through Israel would come the Servant to shine light in the world's darkness. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12).
We must not separate the nation Israel from the invisible Church universal. God's plan was to raise up a chosen people through whom would come the Savior. It is a plan established in history and in the Word of God that came to men like Isaiah as it unfolded. That Word is all about Jesus, the Light of the world. "...But men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19). They crucified the "Holy One of Israel" (v. 7)! Yet their dark actions only played into God's gracious plan.
INSIGHT
"But you are a chosen people... a people belonging to God...who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
(1 Peter 2:9)
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Exodus 1-2
Psalm 26
Mark 6
Isaiah 49:1-36;
The LORD’s Servant Commissioned
1 Listen to me, all you in distant lands!
Pay attention, you who are far away!
The LORD called me before my birth;
from within the womb he called me by name.
2 He made my words of judgment as sharp as a sword.
He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand.
I am like a sharp arrow in his quiver.
3 He said to me, "You are my servant, Israel,
and you will bring me glory."
4 I replied, "But my work seems so useless!
I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose.
Yet I leave it all in the LORD’s hand;
I will trust God for my reward."
5 And now the LORD speaks—
the one who formed me in my mother’s womb to be his servant,
who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him.
The LORD has honored me,
and my God has given me strength.
6 He says, "You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me.
I will make you a light to the Gentiles,
and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."
7 The LORD, the Redeemer
and Holy One of Israel,
says to the one who is despised and rejected by the nations,
to the one who is the servant of rulers:
"Kings will stand at attention when you pass by.
Princes will also bow low
because of the LORD, the faithful one,
the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you."
Promises of Israel’s Restoration
8 This is what the LORD says:
"At just the right time, I will respond to you.[a]
On the day of salvation I will help you.
I will protect you and give you to the people
as my covenant with them.
Through you I will reestablish the land of Israel
and assign it to its own people again.
9 I will say to the prisoners, ‘Come out in freedom,’
and to those in darkness, ‘Come into the light.’
They will be my sheep, grazing in green pastures
and on hills that were previously bare.
10 They will neither hunger nor thirst.
The searing sun will not reach them anymore.
For the LORD in his mercy will lead them;
he will lead them beside cool waters.
11 And I will make my mountains into level paths for them.
The highways will be raised above the valleys.
12 See, my people will return from far away,
from lands to the north and west,
and from as far south as Egypt.[b]"
13 Sing for joy, O heavens!
Rejoice, O earth!
Burst into song, O mountains!
For the LORD has comforted his people
and will have compassion on them in their suffering.
14 Yet Jerusalem[c] says, "The LORD has deserted us;
the Lord has forgotten us."
15 "Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child?
Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?
But even if that were possible,
I would not forget you!
16 See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.
Always in my mind is a picture of Jerusalem’s walls in ruins.
17 Soon your descendants will come back,
and all who are trying to destroy you will go away.
18 Look around you and see,
for all your children will come back to you.
As surely as I live," says the LORD,
"they will be like jewels or bridal ornaments for you to display.
19 "Even the most desolate parts of your abandoned land
will soon be crowded with your people.
Your enemies who enslaved you
will be far away.
20 The generations born in exile will return and say,
‘We need more room! It’s crowded here!’
21 Then you will think to yourself,
‘Who has given me all these descendants?
For most of my children were killed,
and the rest were carried away into exile.
I was left here all alone.
Where did all these people come from?
Who bore these children?
Who raised them for me?’"
22 This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
"See, I will give a signal to the godless nations.
They will carry your little sons back to you in their arms;
they will bring your daughters on their shoulders.
23 Kings and queens will serve you
and care for all your needs.
They will bow to the earth before you
and lick the dust from your feet.
Then you will know that I am the LORD.
Those who trust in me will never be put to shame."
24 Who can snatch the plunder of war from the hands of a warrior?
Who can demand that a tyrant[d] let his captives go?
25 But the LORD says,
"The captives of warriors will be released,
and the plunder of tyrants will be retrieved.
For I will fight those who fight you,
and I will save your children.
26 I will feed your enemies with their own flesh.
They will be drunk with rivers of their own blood.
All the world will know that I, the LORD,
am your Savior and your Redeemer,
the Mighty One of Israel.[e]"
Footnotes:
a. Isaiah 49:8 Greek version reads I heard you. Compare 2 Cor 6:2.
b. Isaiah 49:12 As in Dead Sea Scrolls, which read from the region of Aswan, which is in southern Egypt. Masoretic Text reads from the region of Sinim.
c. Isaiah 49:14 Hebrew Zion.
d. Isaiah 49:24 As in Dead Sea Scrolls, Syriac version, and Latin Vulgate (also see 49:25); Masoretic Text reads a righteous person.
e. Isaiah 49:26 Hebrew of Jacob. See note on 14:1.
New Living Translation (NLT)
John 3:16-21
16 "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
18 "There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. 19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. 21 But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.[a]"
Footnotes:
a. John 3:21 Or can see God at work in what he is doing.

Along with great joy, raising children brings great pain. Parents have an opportunity like no other to dazzle their children's hearts with the love of Jesus, if they are willing to be dazzled as well.

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (JANUARY 25, 2012)

By Grace: Sovereign Grace
Isaiah 44;
Matthew 13:20

"I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you. Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this..." (Isaiah 44:22-23a)
Isaiah 44 begins with five verses affirming Israel's election as God's people by sovereign grace. Then, for the next fifteen verses, Yahweh mocks the idols of men. With a holy sarcasm, He parodies what Dr. R.C. Sproul humorously calls "the Fig Newtons" of human imagination. A man cuts up a piece of wood. Half he uses to cook his food, and the other half he bows down to and worships! He "bow[s] down to a block of wood" (v. 19)! Can a block of wood help him? "Is not this thing in my right hand a lie" (v. 20)?
Yahweh - the LORD God - is sovereign over His creation. He not only has all power, but also has the will to exercise it. No other "gods" exist! They are but out-workings of sinful man's desire to be autonomous - to be in control of his own circumstances, and to be a law unto himself. Only Yahweh, and neither human effort nor idol, can meet mankind's greatest need - to sweep "away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist" (v. 22). Only the sovereign grace of God can do it.
INSIGHTIf God isn't sovereign over everything - even the election of His Church - He isn't sovereign at all.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEARGenesis 43-44 Psalm 22 Mark 2
Isaiah 44; “But now, listen to me, Jacob my servant, Israel my chosen one. 2 The LORD who made you and helps you says: Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant, O dear Israel,[a] my chosen one. 3 For I will pour out water to quench your thirst and to irrigate your parched fields. And I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your children. 4 They will thrive like watered grass, like willows on a riverbank. 5 Some will proudly claim, ‘I belong to the LORD.’ Others will say, ‘I am a descendant of Jacob.’ Some will write the LORD’s name on their hands and will take the name of Israel as their own.” The Foolishness of Idols6 This is what the LORD says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies: “I am the First and the Last; there is no other God. 7 Who is like me? Let him step forward and prove to you his power. Let him do as I have done since ancient times when I established a people and explained its future. 8 Do not tremble; do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim my purposes for you long ago? You are my witnesses—is there any other God? No! There is no other Rock—not one!” 9 How foolish are those who manufacture idols. These prized objects are really worthless. The people who worship idols don’t know this, so they are all put to shame. 10 Who but a fool would make his own god— an idol that cannot help him one bit? 11 All who worship idols will be disgraced along with all these craftsmen—mere humans— who claim they can make a god. They may all stand together, but they will stand in terror and shame. 12 The blacksmith stands at his forge to make a sharp tool, pounding and shaping it with all his might. His work makes him hungry and weak. It makes him thirsty and faint. 13 Then the wood-carver measures a block of wood and draws a pattern on it. He works with chisel and plane and carves it into a human figure. He gives it human beauty and puts it in a little shrine. 14 He cuts down cedars; he selects the cypress and the oak; he plants the pine in the forest to be nourished by the rain. 15 Then he uses part of the wood to make a fire. With it he warms himself and bakes his bread. Then—yes, it’s true—he takes the rest of it and makes himself a god to worship! He makes an idol and bows down in front of it! 16 He burns part of the tree to roast his meat and to keep himself warm. He says, “Ah, that fire feels good.” 17 Then he takes what’s left and makes his god: a carved idol! He falls down in front of it, worshiping and praying to it. “Rescue me!” he says. “You are my god!” 18 Such stupidity and ignorance! Their eyes are closed, and they cannot see. Their minds are shut, and they cannot think. 19 The person who made the idol never stops to reflect, “Why, it’s just a block of wood! I burned half of it for heat and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat. How can the rest of it be a god? Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?” 20 The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes. He trusts something that can’t help him at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask, “Is this idol that I’m holding in my hand a lie?” Restoration for Jerusalem21 “Pay attention, O Jacob, for you are my servant, O Israel. I, the LORD, made you, and I will not forget you. 22 I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.” 23 Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done this wondrous thing. Shout for joy, O depths of the earth! Break into song, O mountains and forests and every tree! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob and is glorified in Israel. 24 This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer and Creator: “I am the LORD, who made all things. I alone stretched out the heavens. Who was with me when I made the earth? 25 I expose the false prophets as liars and make fools of fortune-tellers. I cause the wise to give bad advice, thus proving them to be fools. 26 But I carry out the predictions of my prophets! By them I say to Jerusalem, ‘People will live here again,’ and to the towns of Judah, ‘You will be rebuilt; I will restore all your ruins!’ 27 When I speak to the rivers and say, ‘Dry up!’ they will be dry. 28 When I say of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd,’ he will certainly do as I say. He will command, ‘Rebuild Jerusalem’; he will say, ‘Restore the Temple.’” Footnotes:a. Isaiah 44:2 Hebrew Jeshurun, a term of endearment for Israel.
Matthew 13:20The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.




GOD-GIVEN COURAGE ... JOSHUA'S STORY
Joshua was a warrior and the head of Israel's army, but when he met the commander of the Lord's army he fell on his face in reverence. What does this unusual story teach us about courage?

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (JANUARY 28, 2012)

By Grace: Ultimate Exodus
Isaiah 48:1-22;
Exodus 17:6

"They did not thirst when he led them through the deserts; he made water flow for them from the rock; he split the rock and water gushed out."
(Isaiah 48:21)
Isaiah 48 spells out the Gospel - the Christian's salvation by grace alone. Read it carefully. We see who we are, who God is, and what He has done for us in Jesus Christ. We are a stubborn people (v. 4), treacherous, idolatrous, rebels from birth (v. 8b), and deserving of God's wrath (v. 9a). On the other hand, God is the righteous, omniscient, omnipotent Creator who foretells future events because He alone brings them to pass.
The greatest event in Jewish history, perhaps even of ancient world history, is the Hebrew exodus from Egypt. Yahweh miraculously took His people out of slavery and into their own land. In verse 20 of our text, Isaiah speaks of a future exodus from Babylon. It would not occur for about 200 years! Both of these events speak of an ultimate exodus - out of slavery to sin and into an eternal land of promise - the new heavens and new earth. How is it accomplished? By the Rock of living water - the Lord Jesus Christ (John 4:13-14,
1 Corinthians 10:4). He has done it by His grace alone!
INSIGHT
God saves us from sin and death for His glory - for His own sake (see Isaiah 48:11). 
Our salvation is all about Him!
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Genesis 49-50
Psalm 25
Mark 5
Isaiah 48:1-22;
God’s Stubborn People
1 "Listen to me, O family of Jacob,
you who are called by the name of Israel
and born into the family of Judah.
Listen, you who take oaths in the name of the LORD
and call on the God of Israel.
You don’t keep your promises,
2 even though you call yourself the holy city
and talk about depending on the God of Israel,
whose name is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
3 Long ago I told you what was going to happen.
Then suddenly I took action,
and all my predictions came true.
4 For I know how stubborn and obstinate you are.
Your necks are as unbending as iron.
Your heads are as hard as bronze.
5 That is why I told you what would happen;
I told you beforehand what I was going to do.
Then you could never say, ‘My idols did it.
My wooden image and metal god commanded it to happen!’
6 You have heard my predictions and seen them fulfilled,
but you refuse to admit it.
Now I will tell you new things,
secrets you have not yet heard.
7 They are brand new, not things from the past.
So you cannot say, ‘We knew that all the time!’
8 "Yes, I will tell you of things that are entirely new,
things you never heard of before.
For I know so well what traitors you are.
You have been rebels from birth.
9 Yet for my own sake and for the honor of my name,
I will hold back my anger and not wipe you out.
10 I have refined you, but not as silver is refined.
Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering.
11 I will rescue you for my sake—
yes, for my own sake!
I will not let my reputation be tarnished,
and I will not share my glory with idols!
Freedom from Babylon
12 "Listen to me, O family of Jacob,
Israel my chosen one!
I alone am God,
the First and the Last.
13 It was my hand that laid the foundations of the earth,
my right hand that spread out the heavens above.
When I call out the stars,
they all appear in order."
14 Have any of your idols ever told you this?
Come, all of you, and listen:
The LORD has chosen Cyrus as his ally.
He will use him to put an end to the empire of Babylon
and to destroy the Babylonian[a] armies.
15 "I have said it: I am calling Cyrus!
I will send him on this errand and will help him succeed.
16 Come closer, and listen to this.
From the beginning I have told you plainly what would happen."
And now the Sovereign LORD and his Spirit
have sent me with this message.
17 This is what the LORD says—
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
"I am the LORD your God,
who teaches you what is good for you
and leads you along the paths you should follow.
18 Oh, that you had listened to my commands!
Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river
and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea.
19 Your descendants would have been like the sands along the seashore—
too many to count!
There would have been no need for your destruction,
or for cutting off your family name."
20 Yet even now, be free from your captivity!
Leave Babylon and the Babylonians.[b]
Sing out this message!
Shout it to the ends of the earth!
The LORD has redeemed his servants,
the people of Israel.[c]
21 They were not thirsty
when he led them through the desert.
He divided the rock,
and water gushed out for them to drink.
22 "But there is no peace for the wicked,"
says the LORD.
Footnotes:
a. Isaiah 48:14 Or Chaldean.
b. Isaiah 48:20 Or the Chaldeans.
c. Isaiah 48:20 Hebrew his servant, Jacob. See note on 14:1.
New Living Translation (NLT)
Exodus 17:6
New Living Translation (NLT)
6 I will stand before you on the rock at Mount Sinai.[a] Strike the rock, and water will come gushing out. Then the people will be able to drink." So Moses struck the rock as he was told, and water gushed out as the elders looked on.
Footnotes:
a. Exodus 17:6 Hebrew Horeb, another name for Sinai.

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (JANUARY 27, 2012)

By Grace: An Irrevocable Word
Isaiah 45:13-25

"Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; 
for I am God, and there is no other. 
By myself I have sworn, my mouth has 
uttered... a word that will not be revoked..."
(Isaiah 45:22-23a)
One of the watchwords of today's politically correct society is "tolerance." Formerly the word meant being forbearing and patient with those who disagree, allowing others the faith of their choosing without interference. Today, however, "tolerance" has come to mean "equality." Many condemn Christianity as being "too exclusive," in that it claims to be the only way to the true God (see John 14:6). They claim that all religions are equally true; we must be tolerant.
Nothing could be further from the truth! Biblical Christianity is not exclusive, but all-inclusive. It is the only true faith. In today's verse, Yahweh claims to be the only God, yet invites everyone to come and be saved. To guide the way, He has given the world a word of integrity that will not be revoked. It is our Bible, written over thousands of years, and yet with one overarching message: the Lord Jesus Christ and His mission to save His people. His infallible, irrevocable Word goes out to all the world saying, "Come."

INSIGHT
Everyone will ultimately come to Christ, but not for salvation. "Before me every knee will bow..."
(Isaiah 45:23b,
Romans 14:11)
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Genesis 47-48
Psalm 24
Mark 4
Isaiah 45:13-25
13 I will raise up Cyrus to fulfill my righteous purpose,
and I will guide his actions.
He will restore my city and free my captive people—
without seeking a reward!
I, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!"
Future Conversion of Gentiles
14 This is what the LORD says:
"You will rule the Egyptians,
the Ethiopians,[a] and the Sabeans.
They will come to you with all their merchandise,
and it will all be yours.
They will follow you as prisoners in chains.
They will fall to their knees in front of you and say,
‘God is with you, and he is the only God.
There is no other.’"
15 Truly, O God of Israel, our Savior,
you work in mysterious ways.
16 All craftsmen who make idols will be humiliated.
They will all be disgraced together.
17 But the LORD will save the people of Israel
with eternal salvation.
Throughout everlasting ages,
they will never again be humiliated and disgraced.
18 For the LORD is God,
and he created the heavens and earth
and put everything in place.
He made the world to be lived in,
not to be a place of empty chaos.
"I am the LORD," he says,
"and there is no other.
19 I publicly proclaim bold promises.
I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner.
I would not have told the people of Israel[b] to seek me
if I could not be found.
I, the LORD, speak only what is true
and declare only what is right.
20 "Gather together and come,
you fugitives from surrounding nations.
What fools they are who carry around their wooden idols
and pray to gods that cannot save!
21 Consult together, argue your case.
Get together and decide what to say.
Who made these things known so long ago?
What idol ever told you they would happen?
Was it not I, the LORD?
For there is no other God but me,
a righteous God and Savior.
There is none but me.
22 Let all the world look to me for salvation!
For I am God; there is no other.
23 I have sworn by my own name;
I have spoken the truth,
and I will never go back on my word:
Every knee will bend to me,
and every tongue will confess allegiance to me.[c]"
24 The people will declare,
"The LORD is the source of all my righteousness and strength."
And all who were angry with him
will come to him and be ashamed.
25 In the LORD all the generations of Israel will be justified,
and in him they will boast.
Footnotes:
a. Isaiah 45:14 Hebrew Cushites.
b. Isaiah 45:19 Hebrew of Jacob. See note on 14:1.
c. Isaiah 45:23 Hebrew will confess; Greek version reads will confess and give praise to God. Compare Rom 14:11.
New Living Translation (NLT)

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (JANUARY 26, 2012)

By Grace: Ruler of Nations
Isaiah 45:1-13;
2 Chronicles 36:22-23

"This is what the LORD says... to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut..."
(Isaiah 45:1)
Let's pause here and review the dates of Isaiah's prophetic ministry - 760 to 698 B.C. Even if Isaiah had inscribed these words toward the end of his service, Cyrus, king of the Persians, would not have been born for over 100 years! He would be enthroned in 559 B.C. and reign for about 30 years. During that time, he was unwittingly Yahweh's servant. God had summoned Cyrus by name
(v. 3b), and had established the work he was to do before he was even born.
Part of Cyrus' foreordained duty was to release the Judean captives from Babylon in 536 B.C. under Zerubbabel. It was the beginning of a new exodus, this one from Babylon and continuing under Ezra and Nehemiah. At the time of Isaiah's writing, Judah had not yet even been carried off by Babylon! In verse 7 Yahweh says: "I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things." Just as Pharaoh was raised up for God's purpose (Romans 9:17), our God rules the nations through men like Cyrus.
INSIGHT
In these troubled times, as nations rise and fall, remember that our loving Father is in absolute control of every event.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Genesis 45-46
Psalm 23
Mark 3
Isaiah 45:1-13;
Cyrus, the LORD’s Chosen One
1 This is what the LORD says to Cyrus, his anointed one,
whose right hand he will empower.
Before him, mighty kings will be paralyzed with fear.
Their fortress gates will be opened,
never to shut again.
2 This is what the LORD says:
"I will go before you, Cyrus,
and level the mountains.[a]
I will smash down gates of bronze
and cut through bars of iron.
3 And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness—
secret riches.
I will do this so you may know that I am the LORD,
the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name.
4 "And why have I called you for this work?
Why did I call you by name when you did not know me?
It is for the sake of Jacob my servant,
Israel my chosen one.
5 I am the LORD;
there is no other God.
I have equipped you for battle,
though you don’t even know me,
6 so all the world from east to west
will know there is no other God.
I am the LORD, and there is no other.
7 I create the light and make the darkness.
I send good times and bad times.
I, the LORD, am the one who does these things.
8 "Open up, O heavens,
and pour out your righteousness.
Let the earth open wide
so salvation and righteousness can sprout up together.
I, the LORD, created them.
9 "What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator.
Does a clay pot argue with its maker?
Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying,
‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’
Does the pot exclaim,
‘How clumsy can you be?’
10 How terrible it would be if a newborn baby said to its father,
‘Why was I born?’
or if it said to its mother,
‘Why did you make me this way?’"
11 This is what the LORD says—
the Holy One of Israel and your Creator:
"Do you question what I do for my children?
Do you give me orders about the work of my hands?
12 I am the one who made the earth
and created people to live on it.
With my hands I stretched out the heavens.
All the stars are at my command.
13 I will raise up Cyrus to fulfill my righteous purpose,
and I will guide his actions.
He will restore my city and free my captive people—
without seeking a reward!
I, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!"
Footnotes:
a. Isaiah 45:2 As in Dead Sea Scrolls and Greek version; Masoretic Text reads the swellings.
2 Chronicles 36:22-23

22 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing:
23 "This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:
"‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Anyone of his people among you—may the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.’"

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (JANUARY 24, 2012)

By Grace: Children of God
Isaiah 43:1-7;
Romans 8:15-17

"Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth - everyone who is called by 
my name, whom I created for my glory, 
whom I formed and made."
(Isaiah 43:6b-7)
One of the most wonderful doctrines in the Word of God is "sonship." God's children - whether sons or daughters - are His "sons." We have been twice-blessed by being born into the family of God, and also adopted as His children. To be adopted is to be chosen. To be a "son" is to have all rights of inheritance. Only those who have been born again by God's Spirit and chosen by Him in adoption will inherit His kingdom (John 3:3; Ephesians 1:5).
God is our heavenly Father (Matthew 6:9), Creator and Sustainer of all that exists. He has chosen and re-created you and me for a special purpose - His eternal glory. Yahweh says that we are precious and honored in His sight. He has called us from "the ends of the earth" to be His precious, honored, and beloved children. It is all through His grace alone, and not because of anything in us. He is neither our landlord nor our boss. Though we may have had difficult earthly fathers, we take comfort knowing God is our loving Father, and we are His beloved children.
INSIGHT
"As a father 
has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion 
on those who fear him."

(Psalm 103:13)
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Genesis 41-42
Psalm 21
Mark 1
Isaiah 43:1-7;
Israel’s Only Savior
1 But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
Cush[a] and Seba in your stead.
4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you,
I will give men in exchange for you,
and people in exchange for your life.
5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
I will bring your children from the east
and gather you from the west.
6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar
and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
7 everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made."
Footnotes:
a. Isaiah 43:3 That is, the upper Nile region
Romans 8:15-17
15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.[a] And by him we cry, "Abba,[b] Father." 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Footnotes:
a. Romans 8:15 Or adoption
b. Romans 8:15 Aramaic for Father

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (JANUARY 23, 2012)

By Grace: A Covenant People
Genesis 42:3-9;
Jeremiah 31:31

"I, the LORD, have called you... to be a covenant 
for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to 
open the eyes of the blind, ...to release from 
the dungeon those who sit in darkness."
(Isaiah 42:6-7)
The Creator of the universe - the One who gives breath and life to every creature - continues to speak about His chosen Servant. The central idea here is that the only One who can make promises that come true all the time is the One who created and sustains all creation. Notice the four main verbs in verse 5 - "created, stretched, spread, and gives." Then in verse 6, these verbs - "I have called, I will take, I will keep, I will make." These are the words of Almighty God. He has made a covenant with His people - Jews and Gentiles alike - through His Son, Jesus.
The Bible is all about covenants that God makes with His chosen people. You might translate the word "covenant" as "promise," because biblical covenants are all are based on God's promises. Even God's covenant with Moses and the giving of the Law was a gracious promise with a gracious purpose - to save His people from their sins. God's promises are always true and not binding because the sovereign Creator is faithful to do what He says He will do.

INSIGHT
The entire world is in a "dungeon of darkness." But by grace, God has shed His light in Christ and His New Covenant.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Genesis 39-40
Psalm 20
Matthew 28
Genesis 42:3-9;
3 Then ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. 4 But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him. 5 So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain, for the famine was in the land of Canaan also.
6 Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the one who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. 7 As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. "Where do you come from?" he asked.
"From the land of Canaan," they replied, "to buy food."
8 Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. 9 Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, "You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected."
Jeremiah 31:31
31 "The time is coming," declares the LORD,
"when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah.

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (JANUARY 22, 2012)

By Grace: A Chosen Servant
Isaiah 42:1-4;
Matthew 3:17

"Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations."
(Isaiah 42:1)
Chapter 42 begins a segment of Isaiah that speaks of a coming "Servant" who will be the answer to the world's plight. His key role is to "bring justice to the nations" (v. 1). Biblical "justice" is indeed the revealed truth of God compressed into a single word. The Servant will bring the truth of God to a dying world, and He will bring justice to His people who would otherwise face the wrath of God. The Servant is, of course, the Lord Jesus Christ, full of grace and truth.
When Christ went to the cross to die for His people's sins, He satisfied the justice of God that would have otherwise fallen upon us. Jesus came into this world to do the will of His Father in heaven. His Father was delighted with Him in every way (Matthew 3:17). He came in meekness, serving others, not dominating them. The "islands" of verse 4 are the many nations of the world. People from every nation have and will put their hope for eternal life in Him. The Servant will not disappoint, but will fulfill the promises of God.
INSIGHT
The justice that befell Christ should have fallen upon you and me. This is the gospel that rests on grace alone.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Genesis 37-38
Psalm 19
Matthew 27
Isaiah 42:1-4;
The LORD’s Chosen Servant
1 "Look at my servant, whom I strengthen.
He is my chosen one, who pleases me.
I have put my Spirit upon him.
He will bring justice to the nations.
2 He will not shout
or raise his voice in public.
3 He will not crush the weakest reed
or put out a flickering candle.
He will bring justice to all who have been wronged.
4 He will not falter or lose heart
until justice prevails throughout the earth.
Even distant lands beyond the sea will wait for his instruction.[a]"
Footnotes:
a. Isaiah 42:4 Greek version reads And his name will be the hope of all the world. Compare Matt 12:21.
Matthew 3:17
17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy."

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (JANUARY 21, 2012)

By Grace: Chosen by the LORD
Isaiah 41:5-16;
Romans 9:1-33

"I have chosen you... So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
(Isaiah 41:9b-10)
To many in the evangelical world, the doctrine of predestination - of God's choosing some and overlooking others - is rejected. Many say, "It's not fair!" They are right. It isn't fair that God elects some and rejects others. It is grace. If God did not choose some to be saved, no one would be saved. Isaiah seems to be speaking of the nation of Israel in these verses, but notice that this "Israel" is from the "ends of the earth" (v. 9). These "descendants of Abraham" (v. 8) are his spiritual descendants - the Church universal.
If you have trouble with the doctrine of election, ponder these words of the Apostle in Romans 9:13-16: "Just as it is written: 'Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.' What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, 'I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.' It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy." This is the "Amazing Grace" of hymn writer John Newton.
INSIGHT
The doctrine of election is all about God's grace to sinners. "For by grace you have been saved...not of yourselves..."
(Ephesians 2:8).
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Genesis 35-36
Psalm 18
Matthew 26
Isaiah 41:5-16;
5 The lands beyond the sea watch in fear.
Remote lands tremble and mobilize for war.
6 The idol makers encourage one another,
saying to each other, "Be strong!"
7 The carver encourages the goldsmith,
and the molder helps at the anvil.
"Good," they say. "It’s coming along fine."
Carefully they join the parts together,
then fasten the thing in place so it won’t fall over.
8 "But as for you, Israel my servant,
Jacob my chosen one,
descended from Abraham my friend,
9 I have called you back from the ends of the earth,
saying, ‘You are my servant.’
For I have chosen you
and will not throw you away.
10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
11 "See, all your angry enemies lie there,
confused and humiliated.
Anyone who opposes you will die
and come to nothing.
12 You will look in vain
for those who tried to conquer you.
Those who attack you
will come to nothing.
13 For I hold you by your right hand—
I, the LORD your God.
And I say to you,
‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.
14 Though you are a lowly worm, O Jacob,
don’t be afraid, people of Israel, for I will help you.
I am the LORD, your Redeemer.
I am the Holy One of Israel.’
15 You will be a new threshing instrument
with many sharp teeth.
You will tear your enemies apart,
making chaff of mountains.
16 You will toss them into the air,
and the wind will blow them all away;
a whirlwind will scatter them.
Then you will rejoice in the LORD.
You will glory in the Holy One of Israel.
New Living Translation (NLT)
Romans 9:1-33
God’s Selection of Israel
1 With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it. 2 My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief 3 for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters.[a] I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them. 4 They are the people of Israel, chosen to be God’s adopted children.[b] God revealed his glory to them. He made covenants with them and gave them his law. He gave them the privilege of worshiping him and receiving his wonderful promises. 5 Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are their ancestors, and Christ himself was an Israelite as far as his human nature is concerned. And he is God, the one who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.[c]
6 Well then, has God failed to fulfill his promise to Israel? No, for not all who are born into the nation of Israel are truly members of God’s people! 7 Being descendants of Abraham doesn’t make them truly Abraham’s children. For the Scriptures say, "Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted,"[d] though Abraham had other children, too. 8 This means that Abraham’s physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham’s children. 9 For God had promised, "I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son."[e]
10 This son was our ancestor Isaac. When he married Rebekah, she gave birth to twins.[f] 11 But before they were born, before they had done anything good or bad, she received a message from God. (This message shows that God chooses people according to his own purposes; 12 he calls people, but not according to their good or bad works.) She was told, "Your older son will serve your younger son."[g] 13 In the words of the Scriptures, "I loved Jacob, but I rejected Esau."[h]
14 Are we saying, then, that God was unfair? Of course not! 15 For God said to Moses,
"I will show mercy to anyone I choose,
and I will show compassion to anyone I choose."[i]
16 So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it.
17 For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, "I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth."[j] 18 So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen.
19 Well then, you might say, "Why does God blame people for not responding? Haven’t they simply done what he makes them do?"
20 No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, "Why have you made me like this?" 21 When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into? 22 In the same way, even though God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction. 23 He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter on those to whom he shows mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory. 24 And we are among those whom he selected, both from the Jews and from the Gentiles.
25 Concerning the Gentiles, God says in the prophecy of Hosea,
"Those who were not my people,
I will now call my people.
And I will love those
whom I did not love before."[k]
26 And,
"Then, at the place where they were told,
‘You are not my people,’
there they will be called
‘children of the living God.’"[l]
27 And concerning Israel, Isaiah the prophet cried out,
"Though the people of Israel are as numerous as the sand of the seashore,
only a remnant will be saved.
28 For the LORD will carry out his sentence upon the earth
quickly and with finality."[m]
29 And Isaiah said the same thing in another place:
"If the LORD of Heaven’s Armies
had not spared a few of our children,
we would have been wiped out like Sodom,
destroyed like Gomorrah."[n]
Israel’s Unbelief
30 What does all this mean? Even though the Gentiles were not trying to follow God’s standards, they were made right with God. And it was by faith that this took place. 31 But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. 32 Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law[o] instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path. 33 God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said,
"I am placing a stone in Jerusalem[p] that makes people stumble,
a rock that makes them fall.
But anyone who trusts in him
will never be disgraced."[q]
Footnotes:
a. Romans 9:3 Greek my brothers.
b. Romans 9:4 Greek chosen for sonship.
c. Romans 9:5 Or May God, the one who rules over everything, be praised forever. Amen.
d. Romans 9:7 Gen 21:12.
e. Romans 9:9 Gen 18:10, 14.
f. Romans 9:10 Greek she conceived children through this one man.
g. Romans 9:12 Gen 25:23.
h. Romans 9:13 Mal 1:2-3.
i. Romans 9:15 Exod 33:19.
j. Romans 9:17 Exod 9:16 (Greek version).
k. Romans 9:25 Hos 2:23.
l. Romans 9:26 Greek sons of the living God. Hos 1:10.
m. Romans 9:28 Isa 10:22-23 (Greek version).
n. Romans 9:29 Isa 1:9.
o. Romans 9:32 Greek by works.
p. Romans 9:33 Greek in Zion.
q. Romans 9:33 Isa 8:14; 28:16 (Greek version).

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (JANUARY 20, 2012)

By Grace: A Great Shepherd
Isaiah 40:9-41;
John 10:1-30

"He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young."
(Isaiah 40:11)
In these verses, we find a picture of our Lord Jesus as the gracious Shepherd of His flock. Jesus is called "Yahweh Adonai"(v. 10), the Sovereign Lord of all power and majesty. He comes in humility as a shepherd, but He is much, much more. In the rest of the chapter we are told who this Shepherd truly is - "The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth" (v. 28). There is none other like Him who "brings out the starry hosts one by one and calls them each by name" (v. 26).
The parallel New Testament chapter to Isaiah 40 is John 10. Here is what Jesus claims in its verses: "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep" (v. 11). "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me..." (v. 14). "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish..." (vv. 28-29). The Great Shepherd of Isaiah 40 is the Great Savior of John 10, the great Friend of sinners like us.

INSIGHT
Have you heard the voice of the Shepherd? Be assured, "The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it" 
(1 Thessalonians 5:24).
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Genesis 33-34
Psalm 17
Matthew 25
Isaiah 40:9-41;
O Zion, messenger of good news,
shout from the mountaintops!
Shout it louder, O Jerusalem.[a]
Shout, and do not be afraid.
Tell the towns of Judah,
"Your God is coming!"
10 Yes, the Sovereign LORD is coming in power.
He will rule with a powerful arm.
See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.
11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd.
He will carry the lambs in his arms,
holding them close to his heart.
He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.
The LORD Has No Equal
12 Who else has held the oceans in his hand?
Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers?
Who else knows the weight of the earth
or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale?
13 Who is able to advise the Spirit of the LORD?[b]
Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him?
14 Has the LORD ever needed anyone’s advice?
Does he need instruction about what is good?
Did someone teach him what is right
or show him the path of justice?
15 No, for all the nations of the world
are but a drop in the bucket.
They are nothing more
than dust on the scales.
He picks up the whole earth
as though it were a grain of sand.
16 All the wood in Lebanon’s forests
and all Lebanon’s animals would not be enough
to make a burnt offering worthy of our God.
17 The nations of the world are worth nothing to him.
In his eyes they count for less than nothing—
mere emptiness and froth.
18 To whom can you compare God?
What image can you find to resemble him?
19 Can he be compared to an idol formed in a mold,
overlaid with gold, and decorated with silver chains?
20 Or if people are too poor for that,
they might at least choose wood that won’t decay
and a skilled craftsman
to carve an image that won’t fall down!
21 Haven’t you heard? Don’t you understand?
Are you deaf to the words of God—
the words he gave before the world began?
Are you so ignorant?
22 God sits above the circle of the earth.
The people below seem like grasshoppers to him!
He spreads out the heavens like a curtain
and makes his tent from them.
23 He judges the great people of the world
and brings them all to nothing.
24 They hardly get started, barely taking root,
when he blows on them and they wither.
The wind carries them off like chaff.
25 "To whom will you compare me?
Who is my equal?" asks the Holy One.
26 Look up into the heavens.
Who created all the stars?
He brings them out like an army, one after another,
calling each by its name.
Because of his great power and incomparable strength,
not a single one is missing.
27 O Jacob, how can you say the LORD does not see your troubles?
O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights?
28 Have you never heard?
Have you never understood?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
29 He gives power to the weak
and strength to the powerless.
30 Even youths will become weak and tired,
and young men will fall in exhaustion.
31 But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.
Footnotes:
a. Isaiah 40:9 Or O messenger of good news, shout to Zion from the mountaintops! Shout it louder to Jerusalem.
b. Isaiah 40:13 Greek version reads Who can know the LORD’s thoughts? Compare Rom 11:34; 1 Cor 2:16.
John 10:1-30
The Good Shepherd and His Sheep
1 "I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! 2 But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. 5 They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice."
6 Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, 7 so he explained it to them: "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me[a] were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. 9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved.[b] They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. 12 A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. 13 The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.
14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, 15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.
17 "The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. 18 No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded."
19 When he said these things, the people[c] were again divided in their opinions about him. 20 Some said, "He’s demon possessed and out of his mind. Why listen to a man like that?" 21 Others said, "This doesn’t sound like a man possessed by a demon! Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"
Jesus Claims to Be the Son of God
22 It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication. 23 He was in the Temple, walking through the section known as Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The people surrounded him and asked, "How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly."
25 Jesus replied, "I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name. 26 But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, 29 for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else.[d] No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one."
Footnotes:
a. John 10:8 Some manuscripts do not include before me.
b. John 10:9 Or will find safety.
c. John 10:19 Greek Jewish people; also in 10:24, 31.
d. John 10:29 Other manuscripts read for what my Father has given me is more powerful than anything; still others read for regarding that which my Father has given me, he is greater than all.

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.

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (JANUARY 18, 2012)

By Grace: A New Earth
Isaiah 35:1-10

"The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow."
(Isaiah 35:7)
The curse that our Creator placed upon the earth in Genesis 3:17-19 was never more evident than it is today. The effects of God's curse are seen in earthquakes and monsoons and all manner of natural disasters. But God has promised that it will not always be so. As Peter says in 2 Peter 3:13, "...we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness." At the end of this age - soon - a new heaven and a new earth will be forthcoming.
This chapter in Isaiah speaks of this new earth. We will see God's glory (v. 2). Vengeance will be upon His enemies (v. 4). The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the lame will walk, the mute will speak, and water will burst forth in the desert (vv. 5-6). No ferocious beasts will live there (v. 9). "...only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away" (vv. 9b-10).

INSIGHT
We live in a world tainted by sin and under a curse. But take heart! God is preparing a new home for those who love Him.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Genesis 29-30
Psalm 15
Matthew 23
Isaiah 35:1-10
Hope for Restoration
1 Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days.
The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses.
2 Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers
and singing and joy!
The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon,
as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon.
There the LORD will display his glory,
the splendor of our God.
3 With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands,
and encourage those who have weak knees.
4 Say to those with fearful hearts,
"Be strong, and do not fear,
for your God is coming to destroy your enemies.
He is coming to save you."
5 And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind
and unplug the ears of the deaf.
6 The lame will leap like a deer,
and those who cannot speak will sing for joy!
Springs will gush forth in the wilderness,
and streams will water the wasteland.
7 The parched ground will become a pool,
and springs of water will satisfy the thirsty land.
Marsh grass and reeds and rushes will flourish
where desert jackals once lived.
8 And a great road will go through that once deserted land.
It will be named the Highway of Holiness.
Evil-minded people will never travel on it.
It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways;
fools will never walk there.
9 Lions will not lurk along its course,
nor any other ferocious beasts.
There will be no other dangers.
Only the redeemed will walk on it.
10 Those who have been ransomed by the LORD will return.
They will enter Jerusalem[a] singing,
crowned with everlasting joy.
Sorrow and mourning will disappear,
and they will be filled with joy and gladness.
Footnotes:
a. Isaiah 35:10 Hebrew Zion.

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (JANUARY 17, 2012)

By Grace: A Sure Foundation
Isaiah 28:16-19;
Ephesians 2:20

So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: 
'See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed.'"
(Isaiah 28:16)
When I came to Christ over 40 years ago, my trust in Him was relatively weak. But as I have come to know Him better, my trust in Jesus and His Word has strengthened. Besides growing spiritually, I have grown emotionally and intellectually. Some in the evangelical church might react negatively to my claim of "intellectual" growth, saying, "I have Jesus in my heart, not just in my head." But to get to one's heart, trust in Christ must first pass through the mind. Christ's "sure foundation" is laid there.
And this verse is about Christ. He is the stone whom "the builders rejected" (Matthew 21:42). He is the cornerstone from Judah (Zechariah 10:4). He is the spiritual "rock" in the desert from which water poured (1 Corinthians 10:4). He is the "rock" on which the wise man built his house (Luke 6:48) and the "rock" of Peter's confession (Matthew 16:18). He is the earth's foundation - its "cornerstone" (Job 38:6). The Scriptures prove overwhelmingly to the mind that Jesus is the "sure foundation."
INSIGHT
Do I know Jesus loves me because "he lives within my heart?" Or, do I know that "because the Bible tells me so"?
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Genesis 25-26
Psalm 13
Matthew 21
Isaiah 28:16-19;
16 So this is what the Sovereign LORD says:
"See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;
the one who trusts will never be dismayed.
17 I will make justice the measuring line
and righteousness the plumb line;
hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie,
and water will overflow your hiding place.
18 Your covenant with death will be annulled;
your agreement with the grave will not stand.
When the overwhelming scourge sweeps by,
you will be beaten down by it.
19 As often as it comes it will carry you away;
morning after morning, by day and by night,
it will sweep through."
The understanding of this message
will bring sheer terror.
Ephesians 2:20
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (JANUARY 16, 2012)

By Grace: Life Out of Death
Isaiah 27:2-11;
Romans 11

"In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill all the world with fruit."
(Isaiah 27:6)
In Numbers 16 and 17, Aaron's role as High Priest was challenged. Moses took the rod of the leaders of each tribe into the Tent of Meeting. There God did this to end discussion: "Aaron's staff, which represented the house of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds" (Numbers 17:8). The LORD brought life out of death. In our verse today, we see that Jacob - Israel - will one day blossom and bear fruit, just like Aaron's rod.
The whole world is the LORD's vineyard. The people of God - Israel - will cover the entire earth, as Gentiles and Jews together - Christ's Church - celebrate their common ancestry in Abraham and the Patriarchs. How is this to be? God will again bring life out of death. How? We have the answer in verse 9: "By this, then, will Jacob's guilt be atoned for, and this will be the full fruitage of the removal of his sin." God will not pay back His people for what they deserve. Instead, by grace, their sins are atoned for in Christ, who brings life out of death.

INSIGHT
God's grace is not merely "unmerited favor." It is God's decision and act to give His people the exact opposite of what we deserve.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Genesis 24
Psalm 12
Matthew 19-20
Isaiah 27:2-11;
2 "In that day,
sing about the fruitful vineyard.
3 I, the LORD, will watch over it,
watering it carefully.
Day and night I will watch so no one can harm it.
4 My anger will be gone.
If I find briers and thorns growing,
I will attack them;
I will burn them up—
5 unless they turn to me for help.
Let them make peace with me;
yes, let them make peace with me."
6 The time is coming when Jacob’s descendants will take root.
Israel will bud and blossom
and fill the whole earth with fruit!
7 Has the LORD struck Israel
as he struck her enemies?
Has he punished her
as he punished them?
8 No, but he exiled Israel to call her to account.
She was exiled from her land
as though blown away in a storm from the east.
9 The LORD did this to purge Israel’s[a] wickedness,
to take away all her sin.
As a result, all the pagan altars will be crushed to dust.
No Asherah pole or pagan shrine will be left standing.
10 The fortified towns will be silent and empty,
the houses abandoned, the streets overgrown with weeds.
Calves will graze there,
chewing on twigs and branches.
11 The people are like the dead branches of a tree,
broken off and used for kindling beneath the cooking pots.
Israel is a foolish and stupid nation,
for its people have turned away from God.
Therefore, the one who made them
will show them no pity or mercy.
Footnotes:
a. Isaiah 27:9 Hebrew Jacob’s. See note on 14:1.

Romans 11
God’s Mercy on Israel
1 I ask, then, has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel? Of course not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin.
2 No, God has not rejected his own people, whom he chose from the very beginning. Do you realize what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said, 3 "LORD, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too."[a]
4 And do you remember God’s reply? He said, "No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!"[b]
5 It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel[c] have remained faithful because of God’s grace—his undeserved kindness in choosing them. 6 And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.
7 So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have—the ones God has chosen—but the hearts of the rest were hardened. 8 As the Scriptures say,
"God has put them into a deep sleep.
To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see,
and closed their ears so they do not hear."[d]
9 Likewise, David said,
"Let their bountiful table become a snare,
a trap that makes them think all is well.
Let their blessings cause them to stumble,
and let them get what they deserve.
10 Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see,
and let their backs be bent forever."[e]
11 Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves. 12 Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it.
13 I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles. God has appointed me as the apostle to the Gentiles. I stress this, 14 for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them. 15 For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were dead! 16 And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their descendants will also be holy—just as the entire batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too.
17 But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree. 18 But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root.
19 "Well," you may say, "those branches were broken off to make room for me." 20 Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. 21 For if God did not spare the original branches, he won’t[f] spare you either.
22 Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off. 23 And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree. 24 You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong.
God’s Mercy Is for Everyone
25 I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters,[g] so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ. 26 And so all Israel will be saved. As the Scriptures say,
"The one who rescues will come from Jerusalem,[h]
and he will turn Israel[i] away from ungodliness.
27 And this is my covenant with them,
that I will take away their sins."[j]
28 Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 29 For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn. 30 Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against him, God was merciful to you instead. 31 Now they are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share[k] in God’s mercy. 32 For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.
33 Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!
34 For who can know the LORD’s thoughts?
Who knows enough to give him advice?[l]
35 And who has given him so much
that he needs to pay it back?[m]
36 For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.
Footnotes:
a. Romans 11:3 1 Kgs 19:10, 14.
b. Romans 11:4 1 Kgs 19:18.
c. Romans 11:5 Greek for a remnant.
d. Romans 11:8 Isa 29:10; Deut 29:4.
e. Romans 11:10 Ps 69:22-23 (Greek version).
f. Romans 11:21 Some manuscripts read perhaps he won’t.
g. Romans 11:25 Greek brothers.
h. Romans 11:26 Greek from Zion.
i. Romans 11:26 Greek Jacob.
j. Romans 11:27 Isa 59:20-21; 27:9 (Greek version).
k. Romans 11:31 Other manuscripts read will now share; still others read will someday share.
l. Romans 11:34 Isa 40:13 (Greek version).
m. Romans 11:35 See Job 41:11.

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (JANUARY 15, 2012)

By Grace: A Perfect Peace
Isaiah 26:1-11

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you."
(Isaiah 26:3)
We spoke yesterday about "salvation" as meaning being brought from death to eternal life. Many think we have to die to inherit that life. But the LORD says otherwise. We have eternal life right now! We are saved in three tenses. We have been saved, we are being saved, and we will be saved - past, present, and future. There was a time - you may not remember it - when you were brought from death to life by God's Spirit. There will be a time in the future when you and I will be brought into the LORD's presence for eternity. But Isaiah 26:3 is all about the here and now.
The words "perfect" and "peace" in our focus verse are actually one Hebrew word - "shalom." Shalom is not just the absence of conflict or worry, but the perfection of security, joy, prosperity, and serenity. It is the "peace of God, which transcends all understanding" (Philippians 4:7). It comes to anyone who places his or her trust completely in the all-powerful, all-loving, sovereign grace of the LORD - the "Rock eternal" (v. 4).

INSIGHT
When we trust in anything or anyone more than the living God, we practice idolatry. Only in Christ can we have true "shalom."
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Genesis 22-23
Psalm 11
Matthew 18
Isaiah 26:1-11
A Song of Praise to the LORD
1 In that day, everyone in the land of Judah will sing this song:
Our city is strong!
We are surrounded by the walls of God’s salvation.
2 Open the gates to all who are righteous;
allow the faithful to enter.
3 You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
4 Trust in the LORD always,
for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock.
5 He humbles the proud
and brings down the arrogant city.
He brings it down to the dust.
6 The poor and oppressed trample it underfoot,
and the needy walk all over it.
7 But for those who are righteous,
the way is not steep and rough.
You are a God who does what is right,
and you smooth out the path ahead of them.
8 LORD, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws;
our heart’s desire is to glorify your name.
9 All night long I search for you;
in the morning I earnestly seek for God.
For only when you come to judge the earth
will people learn what is right.
10 Your kindness to the wicked
does not make them do good.
Although others do right, the wicked keep doing wrong
and take no notice of the LORD’s majesty.
11 O LORD, they pay no attention to your upraised fist.
Show them your eagerness to defend your people.
Then they will be ashamed.
Let your fire consume your enemies.
New Living Translation (NLT)