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Isaiah 43:7 - Made for His Glory.Isaiah 43:7 (NLT) Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.'"COMMENTARY PEARL He Loves You Today It's only natural to question how someone can have faith in the midst of this pain-filled and broken planet. In light of so much devastation, how can we still worship God in spite of what we see around us? You can find assurance because God isn't unaware or unconcerned with what is happening. He cares so much that He is right in the midst of the devastation with you. In real time, He is empowering you. Comforting you. Leading you. Yes, God did amazing miracles in the past. And victory is coming in the future. But what's so remarkable about the Christian faith is that it's not just a "back then" or a "someday" relationship. It's a "right now" relationship, where moment-by-moment you are walking with Jesus in every circumstance. He knows your pain. Empathizes with you. He understands your heartache. And He gently and lovingly leads you right where you are. He made you, and He won't let you go a single day without being by your side. So call on Him. Lean on Him. Let His love wash over you today. God, You have called me by name, so in faith, I will move toward You in worship today. I will give You the honor due Your name. [Grace and Glory by Louie Giglio] COMMENTARY We Were Made for This Ever wonder exactly why God created you? Or why he placed children in your specific family? God couldn't have spelled it out any plainer than in Isaiah 43:6-7. He created you and me for one purpose: to showcase his glory, to enjoy it, display it, and demonstrate it every day to all those we encounter. What does it mean to put his glory on display? It means highlighting his attributes and characteristics. It means making hard choices to do the right - that is, the righteous - thing. It means biting your tongue from gossiping, going out of your way for a neighbor in need, telling the truth even when it's hard, not snapping back when someone hurts you, or speaking freely and openly about your Father in heaven. In short, it's living like Jesus lived when he walked on earth. God is invisible. In the Old Testament, whenever he wanted to display his character, his innermost being, he did so through something visible like a burning bush, a pillar of cloud or of fire, or a "theophany" (an appearance of the pre-incarnate Christ). In the New Testament, God displayed his glory through his Son, Jesus. But Jesus doesn't physically walk on earth anymore, and bushes that burn are only in prairie fires or piles of raked leaves. So how does an invisible God display his glory in this age? Through you. What a privilege. Father God, what an honor I've been given! You no longer choose burning bushes through which to speak, you choose people like me. Point out ways I can showcase your character and glorious qualities to others today. In so doing, I'll be glorifying you... I'll be living the life I was created to live. [Joni Eareckson Tada Daily Devotional: http://www.joniandfriends.org/daily-devotional] Why God Created Us What is the purpose of our lives? Why do we exist? Why are we here on this earth? According to the Bible, we exist primarily to bring pleasure to God. Speaking through the prophet Isaiah, God said, "Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them" (Isaiah 43:7 NLT). That thought really bothers some people. They like to think that the world revolves around them. The result is they will end up squandering their lives in pursuit of something they never should have been seeking outright, and that something is happiness. If you want to be an unhappy person, then try to be a happy person. In other words, if you try to find happiness by pursuing it, you never will attain it. God predestined us to bring Him glory. That is a foundational truth that we all need to lay hold of. To miss this is to miss the reason that we're on this earth in the first place. The Bible says, "Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure" (Ephesians 1:4-5 NLT). This is also echoed in Heaven. We read in Revelation 4 about twenty-four elders who fall in worship before the Lord on His throne, saying, "You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased" (verse 11 NLT). Let that sink in for a moment. The twenty-four elders are saying to God, "You created everything, and it's for Your pleasure that they exist and were created." God didn't create us for our own pleasure; He created us for His pleasure. He created us to glorify Him. When people try to find happiness in someone or something, it always will be a little bit beyond their reach, a little bit elusive, a little bit hard to get. They think it will be in that next relationship, that next experience, that next possession, or that next accomplishment. Those who live this way don't care what it costs. They don't care about rules and regulations. Happiness is the main priority of their lives. But they never will find it. Here's the good news for us as Christians. When we seek to fulfill the purpose for which God created us - which is to glorify Him, honor Him, and bring Him pleasure - then we will find happiness. It will come not from seeking it but from seeking Him. As the psalmist David wrote, "Joyful indeed are those whose God is the Lord" (Psalm 144:15 NLT). We must never lose sight of the simple truth that we were created to glorify God. [Greg Laurie from Harvest Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com] CLOSING PEARL The hallmark of our age is loneliness. Even the most successful person may frequently eat alone, going "home" to a vacant house or apartment. There are also those who may be married, but are still as lonely as the single person. This is the norm, not the exception. The lonely are more than those who are not. And loneliness kills, because God made humankind to be with another. There is only one Person who will ever fill that last aching abyss of the human heart; Jesus Christ, true man and true God. Don't look to a human to fill that place, because there is only your own solitariness beyond Him. God alone can fill that place. He is the true friend. When you discover this loneliness which nothing and no one can fill, it is your call to come to your God. Heed that call if you are a Christian, because you have been away from your Friend. Heed that call if you don't know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. He is the only true and forever Friend. [In His Time; Walk With Wisdom] AI COMMENTARY Question: According to Isaiah 43:7 we were made for God's glory. Can one do that as a NASCAR driver or say warrior? Yes, according to a Christian understanding of Isaiah 43:7, one can glorify God as a NASCAR driver or a warrior (military member). Isaiah 43:7 states that those called by God were created for His glory. While this purpose is universal, it is commonly interpreted that glorifying God is not limited to explicitly religious work, but rather involves "whole-life worship"--doing everything, from daily work to high-stakes activities, with an aim toward reflecting God's character and worth. Here is how these specific roles can glorify God: Glorifying God as a NASCAR Driver o Platform for Witnessing: Many NASCAR drivers view their racing career as a platform to share their faith, seeing their career not as a coincidence, but as part of a divine plan. o Integrating Faith on the Track: NASCAR is a sport that frequently incorporates prayer and chaplain services before races, allowing for open displays of faith. o Driver's Prayer: Many drivers use prayers that ask for protection, wisdom, and patience, aiming to honor God in their actions and conduct on the track. o Stewardship of Talent: Using racing abilities to shine a light on God's greatness, rather than for personal pride, allows drivers to turn competition into an act of worship. Glorifying God as a Warrior (Military) o Service and Protection: A warrior can glorify God through selflessly serving others and protecting the vulnerable, which aligns with the principles of love and righteousness. o Being a "Warrior in Christ": This involves partnering with God in spiritual warfare, fighting with "Godly wisdom" (as directed by the Holy Spirit) rather than simply seeking conflict. o Integrity under Pressure: A believer in the military can bring glory to God by displaying godly character (truth, justice, faith) during stressful or dangerous situations, acting with courage. o Acknowledging God's Sovereignty: A "warrior for God" fights knowing that the ultimate battle belongs to the Lord, maintaining an eternal perspective despite earthly conflicts. Core Principle: Regardless of the profession, Isaiah 43:7 is interpreted as a call to make God's character visible through one's life. This is achieved by operating with integrity, thanksgiving, and obedience to God's will, whether one is behind the wheel of a racecar or on a battlefield. LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY Isaiah 43:7 - Made for His Glory. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220727-0857.html Matthew 5:14-16 - Shining for Jesus! http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220113-0822.html Ephesians 2:10 - Created in Christ Jesus to Do Good Works. http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20211211-0851.html |