Road Warriors: Isaiah—A Message of Redemption - Monday
1 Corinthians 13:2
If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. (NLT)
Happy Independence Day, everybody! I hope at some point today you’re able to enjoy some good food, great company, and maybe even a few fireworks!
We just launched a new teaching series called, Road Warriors: The People Who Paved the Way for Jesus. If you think for a moment about your relationship with Jesus, there are people who come to mind, people who guided you to Him and helped you get to know Him. For me, that would include my parents, Southland staff members and volunteer leaders I knew when I was growing up, ministry colleagues, and friends. Even now, years after my decision to follow Jesus, others continue to help me see who He is, especially my wife. Her humble example as a person of faith and prayer compels me to examine my own journey of belief and practice every day. I pray you have someone like that in your life!
The Bible introduces us to people who foretold Jesus’ arrival and clarified His purpose. Without exception, they spoke of God’s holiness and faithfulness, and ultimately, pointed to Jesus as THE answer to all that is broken both spiritually and physically. The prophet Isaiah was one of those people. The words prophet and prophecy can quickly cause us to focus on predictions and seeing into the future. It’s true, there are miraculous accounts in scripture with details describing where Jesus would be born and the way Jesus would live and die, written centuries before those events would happen. I admit that I can often become more enamored with the mystical accuracy of Biblical predictions rather than the meaning of the predictions. A better way of understanding what Isaiah was saying is to consider both the miraculous nature of the predicted message AND its meaning.
Monday’s Reflection
Today’s verse in 1 Corinthians 13 tells us that real transformation, true conversion, is not in all the “knowing” about the present and future. It’s in the way we love. Is there something you think you still need to hear or know in order to love others better today?
