Read past verse three
by Sal Huckel
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Is my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver? (Isaiah 50:2).
You may think this is the oddest devotion title you’ve seen. However, it took me several readings of this short passage of Scripture to get past verse three. What can I find here to encourage in the short time we have together today?
After wrestling with it for longer than usual, I realised, firstly, that if I was reading alone without the accountability of writing for these devotions, I would have put it down and moved on.
First lesson: we choose the path of least resistance. Sometimes we have to work a little harder when reading Scripture. Did the title of the devotion get your attention? I hope so. Do you always read the devotion that goes with the daily Scriptures? What about the whole passage? If you read these devotions through the LCA Facebook page, I encourage you to only ‘like’ the Facebook post if you’ve spent more than a scroll on the devotion webpage. I’m not worried about my following! (Go back to Sunday, and read the passage and devotion if it passed you by.)
Secondly: I realise here, in this reading, we have a mix of law and gospel. We can’t only address the gospel and avoid the law. We begin with God’s righteousness and power – and continue on to his grace and redemption.
What stands out to you in the second part of the passage today? For me, it’s that if we are ‘taught’ by the Lord, our tongues and ears will be awakened and reflect that teaching. What are the attributes of one taught by the Lord? We will sustain the weary with our words and turn the other cheek; we will be vindicated, not disgraced, and protected from our adversaries, who are still offered the grace of God.
Lord, help me to stay with difficult passages. Please speak to me through your Holy Spirit. Inspire your living word, and may I evidence the tongue and ear of one taught by you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Sal is married to Pastor Matthew Huckel, and they have six wonderful children – now an entire worship band as they serve together in ministry. Sal wears many other hats: she loves writing, speaking, and working as a wellness coach for Weight Watchers.
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