RETURN! COME BACK!
Today’s Reading: Isaiah 20-22
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
In Nazareth Village, a recreation of what 1st century life may have resembled, a 21st century actor playing a watchman stands guard, watching over his livestock and property from a watchtower. Five times in today’s reading we read the word “watchman.”
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Isaiah 21:11b-12
…”Watchman, what of the night?
Watchman, what of the night?”
The watchman said,
“The morning comes, and also the night.
If you will inquire, inquire;
Return! Come back!”
In Chapter 20, Isaiah, naked while he preaches his message, will surely guarantee that he gets attention! (wearing a small loin cloth was also considered being naked). It’s often not enough to merely speak our message. Our words are useless unless people stop and listen. The upcoming New Year is not on Isaiah’s WATCH! It’s on our “WATCH!”
In Chapter 21 our key verses sum up the message to which Isaiah wants people to pay attention: “INQUIRE”…”RETURN”…”COME BACK!” Let us diligently watch for the moment of a turn-around decision in people’s lives. Let us keep a sharp eye out for that time when our family members and others with whom we come into contact are ready to inquire, return, and come back to God! We must not miss those opportunities; they may come only once!
In Chapter 22 Jerusalem is the focus. The Tyropean Valley is in the very heart of the city between Mount Zion and Mount Moriah. Today, it is filled with the rubble from the destructions caused by numerous invading armies. This filled-up valley is paved over now and forms the area in front of the famous Wailing Wall, where Jews pray fervently for the restoration of the Temple of God and for His coming Kingdom. It may have been in this valley that Isaiah received his visions of the future.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I pray that I may be wide awake, watching carefully so as not to miss the moment of decision in precious lives. At that precise instant, may I get attention not for myself but to call for a decision for Christ! I pray for wisdom, because You said, “He [or she] who wins souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30). I pray this in the Name of the One Who never missed an opportunity to call people to “inquire, return, and come back” to God, the Lord Jesus, Himself! Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
It was in Pembroke that I first gave the message of Jesus on TV (1962). There was only one TV signal people could receive and Crossroads was there at 11:30 pm Saturday nights. People paid attention and some inquired, turned to Jesus and were saved. Just prior to this, Syd Healey, a Pembroke businessman, had pushed a cheque for $300.00 across his desk to pay for the start-up of the Crossroads TV ministry. He surely got my attention! I knew for sure that God wanted to use television for His message to all people. I’m very thankful that God did not ask me to do what He asked Isaiah to do in order to draw attention to the message!!!
Yours for making sure we have people’s attention and then for driving home the message of Jesus!!!
David
P.S. Billions of precious people are watching television, their computer screens, laptops, iPads, smart phones, etc. Crossroads is all over the world in effective attention-getting ways. It’s our “WATCH!” Please pray fervently for God’s direction for the leadership team of Crossroads.
May God imbue everyone a blessed 2022 , peace and love for all sinners..
May this year end in happiness and may joy spill into the new year and may God bless each one today.Amen
From Anne Grahan Lotz’ Daily Light:
“Blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
You, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel. § That you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.
Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless. § Be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ.
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever.”
1 Cor. 1:8; Col. 1:21–23; Phil. 2:15;
2 Peter 3:14; Phil. 1:10; Jude vv. 24–25
Father God, as we consider the times we live in, many are confused, fearful, and worried at the events happening around us. Yet You care about each one individually. “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight…” Thank You, Lord Jesus, for coming to save us.
Help all Your people to trust in You, to rest in You, to cast all their cares on You, and to follow You. You are working out Your plans for all people everywhere, so help each one of Your followers to do the work You have given, and to do it well. We pray that the Light You have given us to be will go on undimmed, so people will see, hear, and know You are calling them to come and be saved, in Jesus’s great name, amen
Amen to your prayer Rob.
I pray that our Lord Jesus Christ’s Will may be
done on earth as it is in heaven, in His Holy Name, Amen.
Amen to both.
Thank You Lord. Looking forward to a New Year and the Lord’s
direction and blessings no matter what it may bring. Blessings all.
Today’s reading title,
Return and come back
Really hits home because and here is my prayer request I have two nieces and a nephew their names are Rebecca Rachel and Brandon that have been brought up in the church accepted Christ when they were young were we’re brought up in a Christian family but they are or have been rebelling against God they have walked away from the god of their childhood and my prayer is that they will return and come back to the god of their childhood before it’s too late because I want to see them in heaven
I really enjoy this blog because I can share prayer requests and there are brothers and sisters on this blog that will respond and I feel like we’re family and we are family we are in God’s family so please remember me in prayer
Thank you and God bless ❤️
Oh just one more comment
The verse in the Bible that says train up a child in the way that they should go and when they’re old they shall not depart from it
That Bible verse really hurts and I have just I’ve just been crying out to God because like I said I want to see them in heaven 🙏
Amen Rob
He hears your prays Marilyn, as you know we have to leave our prayers with Him and He will do the rest.
God Bless you. 🙏❤️
Thank you Eleanor for your response God bless you ❤️🙏
Praying for your nieces and nephew Marilyn.
May their Heavenly Father draw them back to Him.
Marilyn trust in God for His timing, each day bring them to Him and may the peace of God fill your heart.
Many Blessings to each and everyone on this blog Praying for a better New Year for all off us. May the Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.
Eleanor M.
Thank you Eleanor for your response and for your encouragement and also your reminder it is greatly appreciated God bless you
You are welcome Marilyn, at times I I also need to pray and leave it with the Lord🤗