No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,” says the Lord. Isaiah 54: 17, NKJV.
Blessed be the name of our God who has not allowed our enemies to triumph over His people, but has wrought justice for the peace of His children and the glory of His Great Name! It is in this Name which is above every name, Jesus Christ, that we give God glory and rejoice in Him. Amen and Amen!
Today’s devotional is actually a continuation of yesterday’s and the day before. Truly, it is because God never ceases to watch over us that we have not become victims to the injustice in our world. Do we suffer at times? Yes we do, but the apostle Paul puts it very eloquently: “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—” (2 Corinthians 4: 8,9). Glory and honor and praise be to God!
Throughout history the tale of “Good and Evil” is being written. The final chapter has not been written yet. More than two thousand years ago a chapter was included under the title of Calvary. This chapter tells us how the story will end. Therefore, we do not despair in the face of injustice. Jesus, the Great I AM, the key player in this chapter, and the Hero of the entire story, won the decisive battle on our behalf. So we know that at the end of the book “Good” will be declared: The VICTOR!
Many of the chapters have been written with the blood of martyrs. But the shedding of blood is not an indication of defeat. Far from it! The Dark Ages, one of the bloodiest chapters in the book, is one that speaks of some of the greatest victories won for the cause of Christ. The Waldenses played a special part in this chapter.
As we consider the promise in our Scripture for today let us not lose sight of two very encouraging facts: This protection is a part of our inheritance as the people of God. And what makes us “worthy” of receiving it – is Christ’s righteousness! Thank You Jesus for Your righteousness; for we have no righteousness! The prophet Jeremiah, proclaimed: “In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Jeremiah 23: 6)! Hallelujah! We have been living in “His days” for more than two thousand years ago with the coming of the Messiah!
Our inheritance: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons [and daughters] of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘“Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together”‘” (Romans8: 14-17).
If the Only begotten Son of God suffered the injustice of His own creatures while here on earth, it goes without saying that we who have been adopted into the family of God, will also suffer. Words of Jesus: “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. . .” (John 15: 20a). Our wonderful Savior has promised that after the gloom is past He will allow us to share in His glory!
His righteousness is our righteousness! This is so important! If it were not for Christ’s righteousness we would have nothing on which to build a defense. Because of our sinful state we would deserve whatever we received. But when we came to Jesus, or rather when He found us wandering, He drew us to Himself with cords of love, and changed our filthy rags – for His glorious robe of righteousness (see Zechariah 3)! He gave us His righteousness. Glory to God!
Now when others fight against us, it is not against us, but against the Lord that they are fighting. Listen to His words: “‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20: 15)! And every weapon loses its effectiveness when hurled against the Captain of the Lord’s host! Our enemies are fighting a losing battle. Let us stand behind our God, and allow Him to write another chapter of victory for you and me in the tale of “Good and Evil.”