NO BIBLE NO BREAKFAST DAILY BIBLE REFLECTIONS AND MORE

REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “Peace and Salvation.” Peace is not only the absence of war but the feeling of wholeness as result of the presence of God in one’s life. Salvation, on the other hand, is God’s gracious and decisive redemptive power to protect us against harm and eternal destruction. Israel had been promised the restoration of God’s peace and salvation during the time of desolation and exile. Israel’s disobedience led them into captivity and Prophet Isaiah was called by God to warn them to repent, but when they failed and found themselves in captivity. Like their deliverance from the Egyptians, God reassured them through Isaiah 52 of His deliverance and restoration from the Babylonians.

Beloved in the Lord, we seek restoration after we have experienced retrogression, calamity, or grief. One of the key benefits of having a relationship with God and making Him the anchor of our lives is that He brings the restoration peace and salvation into our broken situations. Although the people had disobeyed Him and were in exile for their transgression, the Lord promised them restoration when Isaiah said How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7). In other words, Israel received the good news of the restoration of peace and God’s salvation. Oftentimes, we lose hope when we find ourselves in challenging situations. Suffering blurs our faith and fear casts doubt in our minds about the restorative power of the Lord. We fail to experience peace because of guilt, fear, and doubt. We have doubts about the salvation of the Lord because of guilt and fear of condemnation. However, we are greatly encouraged by the Prophet Isaiah to trust in the promises and the good news of the Lord in times of trouble and anxiety.

Dear friend, in our challenges and worries, the Lord says  “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?” (Jeremia 32:27) We are further assured by Isaiah of the Lord’s mercy and restorative power when he said “…they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31). The Lord is merciful and does not take delight in our destruction therefore let’s “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:6-7). When we are reconciled with God we shall continue to experience His peace and salvation in our lives. Shalom.

PRAYER

Almighty God, we acknowledge our frailty and brokenness before you, graciously forgive us our sins, restore us, and make beneficiaries of your peace and salvation. Amen.