OUR DAILY BREAD TODAY | MONDAY 19TH DECEMBER 2022
Our Daily Bread Devotional 19 DECEMBER 2022
OUR DAILY BREAD DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: STANDING FIRM BY FAITH
Also Read Our Daily Bread For Yesterday
Bible in a Year: Jonah 1–4; Revelation 10
Memory Verse: Isaiah 7:9
If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.
OUR DAILY BREAD TODAY
Today’s Scripture & Insight: Isaiah 7:1–9
A theme in Isaiah 7–39 is the vital importance of Israel trusting God instead of the other nations. Isaiah emphasized that God is “angry with all nations” (34:2); trusting in them is doomed to result in destruction. In contrast, Isaiah 35 describes the flourishing promised for those who, trusting God, walk on the “Way of Holiness” (v. 8).
Isaiah invited his listeners to “strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come . . . to save you’ ” (vv. 3–4).
ODB MESSAGE FOR TODAY
Nokia became the world’s best-selling mobile phone company in 1998 and saw profits rise to nearly four billion dollars in 1999. But by 2011, sales were diminishing and soon the failing phone brand was acquired by Microsoft. One factor in Nokia’s mobile division failure was a fear-based work culture that led to disastrous decisions. Managers were reluctant to tell the truth about the Nokia phone’s inferior operating system and other design problems for fear of being fired.
King Ahaz of Judah and his people were fearful—“shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind” (Isaiah 7:2).
Also Read, Open Heavens For 19 December 2022
They knew that the kings of Israel and Aram (Syria) had allied, and their combined armies were marching to Judah to take it over (vv. 5–6). Although God used Isaiah to encourage Ahaz by telling him his enemies’ hostile plans would “not happen” (v. 7), the foolish leader fearfully chose to ally with Assyria and submit to the superpower’s king (2 Kings 16:7–8). He didn’t trust in God, who declared, “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all” (Isaiah 7:9).
The writer of Hebrews helps us consider what it looks like to stand firm in faith today: “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (10:23). May we press on and not “shrink back” (v. 39) as the Holy Spirit empowers us to trust in Jesus.
Also Read Catholic Daily Reading today
Reflect & Pray
When have you experienced a challenge to your faith? How has God encouraged you to stand firm?
Father, please help me stand firm as You provide the faith I need.
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