REASONABLE
Suggested Reading: Isaiah 1-2
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Isaiah 1:18
Come now, and let us reason together together,” says the Lord, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Isaiah chapter one graphically depicts the sinful condition of the people of Judah (southern part of Israel). Their brothers in Northern Israel had done the same and been destroyed, ethnic cleansing scattering them throughout the world. Now the people of Judah are full of putrefying sicknesses (from God’s viewpoint) and have not sought God’s healing treatment (1:6). Isaiah explains that if it had not been for a faithful remnant in Judah, they too would have already been destroyed (1:9). God has not given up on the people of Judah and on Isaiah’s home city, Jerusalem. God says to them, “Wash yourselves…cease to do evil, learn to do good…seek justice…” Then comes the most gracious invitation of our key verse, “Come now…” God’s desire is not to destroy but to restore, rebuild, and provide for His people “the good of the land” (1:19).
In chapter two Isaiah prophesies a glorious future for the latter days of Judah and Jerusalem. We may want to read again Isaiah 2:1-5 for our encouragement. “Reason” does not ignore the downside of the people’s present condition, which would shortly result in their captivity in Babylon (present day Iraq). Even in the midst of such a mess, God’s invitation, “come,” was available. Like the father in the story Jesus told of the prodigal son, God waits with open arms for the return of His people (Luke 15:11-32).
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I say, “Yes” to Your invitation to “come” and to “reason together.” Lord, I have heard You give Your reasons as to why I should come to You, and I realize that it would be foolish and unreasonable for me to do otherwise. Therefore, I come to You daily, check up on how close to You I am, and move as close as possible. I pray that You will hold me in Your everlasting arms. In the Name of the One who made such closeness possible, Jesus Christ. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
My prayer of faith, when at sixteen years old I made my lifetime forever commitment to Christ, was based on Jesus’ promise found in John 6:37, “The one comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” My reasoning told me that God cannot lie and because I came to Him, He received me. I chose to believe God (reasonable). I’ve never doubted since that day that I am His and He is mine forever!
The words of Isaiah 2:2 (read Micah 4:1-3) became reasonable to me when In October, 2000, our live television signal uplink switched from Hanover, Germany (Expo 2000), to Jerusalem. There, my granddaughter, Sarah Shaheen (then 16) read these words from Isaiah and Micah live around the world, including live on the 100 Huntley Street telecast, “For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (2:3b). From that moment until midnight, December 31st, 2000, young people, non-stop, read the Jerusalem Scriptures, including the book of Isaiah, several times. We originated from a location directly across the valley from the closed eastern gate of Jerusalem, in the home where the German Lutheran “Sisters of Mary” had been in a prayer of repentance 24/7 for 50 years because of the holocaust which destroyed 6,000,000 Jews in Europe. They had just closed down when God allowed me to rent the house of prayer. The details of this arrangement were truly put into place by God. I believe that victories were won against the rulers of the darkness of this world and the one who styles himself as “the prince and power of the air,” Satan, by the reading of the Scriptures out loud on three international communications satellites for the remainder of the year 2000. Be exalted, O God of Heaven and Earth, GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST!!!
Yours for spending time with God’s powerful and reasonable Word,
David
P.S. The photo below was taken in Bethlehem in what is a shopping plaza. Christmas shopping, encouraged by St. Nicolas (“sant-ni-clause”), was in full swing. This man was Bishop of Smyrna when he visited Bethlehem approximately 1700 years ago. As promised, here is episode # 3 in the Christmas series from Bethlehem (click here). If possible, let’s all get our families and friends to watch all five shows at 9:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, on the CTS TV Network (cable 9 Toronto, and other channels on other cable and satellite services). It’s over the air across Ontario, parts of Quebec, and Alberta.
Good morning David
Once again Thank you for sharing your family with us. God certainly has blessed your family with the gift of music. I also enjoyed your guest singers. Jason Crab
is a favorite of mine I love his style and the feeling and expression he conveys
When he sings.
While I enjoyed all of your vocal guests ,for some reason I took a shinning to Dusty May Taylor’spretty acapella voice. Lol!
Today’s reading is so powerful. God makes it quit clear where he stands on sin
and how wonderful it is to know he will forgive us.
Jerry and I have some business aquaintances(a husband and wife) that do not believe in God. They are experiencing a financial down turn. I am very concerned for them.
Jerry was speaking to the husband yesterday and he told Jerry that many of his customers are saying we are in the end of days. He asked Jerry, what are they talking about? Jerry told me he knows this person is very head strong so he didn’t go into it , at least not yet.
Please pray that Jerry and I can find the right way and words to answer that question and share the ” Good News ” with this merried couple.
Please pray that they will be receptive and embrace Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. I pray this in Jesus name A amen!
Rosemarie Just in case you did not read my post for yesterday as it was posted late please go back and read it. Love and prayers xxoo
Merry Christmas to all ! 🙂
Marla
Rosemarie I left two comments scroll down to the second comment.
Marla 🙂
Im so grateful for our dear saviour s birth which there is forgiveness of sin and not to fear His return as
King of Kings and Lord of Lords
Thank you David for you love in serving us from Gods word and sharing your family with us
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY FELLOW BLOGGERS ??:);)
Thank you David for explaining where Judah is and Babylon. Never been to the middle East, so it really helps me to visualize where these places are which God and his followers mention numerous times throughout the bible.
Your shows are and will be an inspiration to many.
How sad it is to see some of our fellow man wandering around in a fog on a daily basis, when with just a little discipline they could be rejoicing in the knowledge of eternal salvation and love. One of my prayers for today is for children to learn why Christmas is REALLY celebrated.
I also pray for a quick recovery for Toronto, and Mayor Rob Ford. May God bless them both.
Thankyou again David Mainse and God bless you and your family forever!!!!!!!!
Dear bloggers
Thank you all so much for all your prayers , I know the Lord is answering all your prayers, I have my ups and my downs, I can feel your prayers , and I am so
gratefull God bless you all…..R…
Praising God for such a meaningful and powerful message, this morning, David! It just blows me away when I think of all the pieces that went together in what could only be called a ‘God-puzzle’. God can do all things and moves in miraculous ways because of the power of his people’s faith in Him! Triumph and truth of His Holy Word was vigorously shouted to the world as your granddaughter, Sarah, read: “For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Micah 2:3b); followed by a period of three months of continuous reading of scripture, by the youth; in the exact home where German Lutheran “Sisters of Mary” held fifty years of constant prayer on behalf of the six million Jews taken during the holocaust; which had become vacant for your use. WOW, WOW, WOW!!! Yes, indeed, God put it all into place to overpower the enemy. Your testimony of it, this morning, affords us all the ability to shout with glory and praise and thanksgiving, to our Heavenly Father, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and the sanctity of the Holy Spirit. Amen, amen, and amen!!!
Yesterday, Linda Stennes made a post. God bless you, dear sister-in-Christ. So happy you remain devoted to your Heavenly Father through the blog and continue to receive the nourishment and love from the scriptures and David Mainse’ leadership. We are a supportive family here so please know how very welcome you are and don’t be discouraged, especially over Christmas. May God bless you with peace joy and happiness and love and prosperity in the new year to come!!!
Thank God!!
Merry Christmas to everyone!!
Nancy xoxoxo
This reminder of the Sisters of Mary makes me want to know more about them. I will be looking on the internet to find out more. I think I heard about them years ago. It is an excellent thing that they were doing.
Thank you Rev. David Mainse for that special presentation…I especially enjoyed your family presentation.
Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year
Irene
These first two chapters of Isaiah speak to the very heart heart of the matter, for this sin condition began at the fall of Adam and continues to this day. God longed to be in relationship with His people. He initiated the covenantal relationship with His people whereby He would lead and the Hebrew people would obey, be protected and be loved. Unfortunately, as we know, the Hebrews looked unto their own ways, turning their hearts away from God, they fell into judgement … the written law would not suffice. Isaiah looked forward to a day of “the son of man”, the Messiah. Isaiah 2:17b states, “The Lord alone will be exalted in that day”. Today we are blessed to be able to look back to the time in which Isaiah yearned, yet even though we believers exalt Jesus the Messiah, we now know only in part. For although we exalt the Lord’s name in unison, we eagerly look forward to that day when the Lord returns for His beloved children, to the time when we will all live eternally with Him in His Heavenly Kingdom.. No more dying, no more pain, no more tears … an existence full of light, joy and peace before our eternal God of glory in Heaven, forevermore.
Amen. Read my bible as Internet was down until just moments ago. Never realized real name of Santa Clause! We know it is also Sanctified Because:) Have a great day, in His Holy Name!