SEPTEMBER 1, 2024
READ: Isaiah 65 (Focus vs.17-25)
MEMORY VERSE
“The wolf and the lamb will feed together.” Isaiah 65:25
BACKGROUND
“I can’t believe what I’m seeing!” My wife, Cari, called me to the window and pointed out an adult doe in the woods just outside our fence, bounding from one end of our yard to the other.
Keeping pace beside her inside the fence were our large dogs, but they weren’t barking. Back and forth they went, for nearly an hour. When the doe paused and faced them, the dogs stopped also, straightening their front legs and crouching back on their haunches, ready to run again.
This wasn’t predator and prey behavior; the doe and the dogs were playing together, enjoying each other’s company!
To Cari and me, their morning romp provided a picture of the coming kingdom of God. The prophet Isaiah proclaims God’s promise of that kingdom with the words, “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth” (Isaiah 65:17).
He goes on to say that “the wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox” (v. 25). No more predator, no more prey. Just friends.
Isaiah’s words seem to show us that there will be animals in God’s eternal kingdom; they also point to what God is preparing for His creation, especially “for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). What a beautiful place that will be!
As we trust in Him by faith, God lifts our eyes to the reality that’s coming: peace and safety in His presence forever!
By: James Banks
INSIGHT
Isaiah shares God’s words when he writes, “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth” (65:17). This anticipates Revelation 21:5, where the apostle John says, “He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ ”
Then John writes, “To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life” (v. 6). This echoes Isaiah 55:1: “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!”
These Scriptures fit together beautifully and point to Christ—the one “seated on the throne” (Revelation 21:5).
By: Tim Gustafson
APPLICATION
What do you look forward to most about God’s kingdom? Whom can you share your hope with today?
PR’s RE-EMPHASIS (From Post)
“As we trust in Him by faith, God lifts our eyes to the reality that’s coming: peace and safety in His presence forever!”
PR’s (PASTOR RICHARD) TAKE
“…people today often edit the Bible, to make it sort of and mean supposedly what they want it to, to fit their desires, but the really, truly ironic thing is that what the Bible actually teaches about Heaven is far more attractive than what we usually believe (or have been taught to believe)”
Randy Alcorn
PRAYER
“Thank You for everything good that’s coming, loving Father! Please help me look forward to You today.”
TODAY’S HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH” Darren Winfield
Behold the old has passed away
A new heaven and earth on display
No more tears death or night
God’s glory the everlasting light
New heaven and new earth
Promise of our rebirth
God with us dwelling among
In His presence we belong
The holy city New Jerusalem
Descending adorned a precious gem
Gates of pearl streets of gold
A beauty and peace never before told
Behold the old has passed away
A new heaven and earth on display
No more tears death or night
God’s glory the everlasting light
New heaven and new earth
Promise of our rebirth
God with us dwelling among
In His presence we belong
The holy city New Jerusalem
Descending adorned a precious gem
Gates of pearl streets of gold
A beauty and peace never before told
No temple therein for the Lord Almighty
And the Lamb are its light so bright and mighty
Nations will walk by its eternal day
No more curse only blessings to stay
Behold I make all things new
Words faithful and true
The Alpha and Omega’s decree
To the thirsty water of life freely
New heaven and new earth
Promise of our rebirth
God with us dwelling among
In His presence we belong
Come Lord Jesus come quickly
In this hope we stand firmly
New heaven and new earth our eternal mirth
In Your love we find our worth.
READING THROUGH THE BIBLE THIS YEAR (DAILY)
ACTS 13
