Date: Jan. 1, 2019
Isaiah 49:1-7
Key Verse: Isaiah 49:6b
1. God calls and qualifies his servants (1-4)
Here the prophet Isaiah describes how God chose him before he was born and equipped him to speak God's words. Isaiah is speaking in the voice of Christ. In Christ, God also chooses and trains us to make us an arrow in his quiver. God desires to display his splendor in each of his servants. Sometimes we may feel like all our sacrifice and labor in the Lord has come to nothing. But our reward is safe with God.
2. A larger purpose (5-7)
Isaiah knew that God had called him to bring Israel back to the Lord. But God had even bigger plans than that. It was to make his people a light to the Gentiles, so salvation would come not just to Israel but to the ends of the earth. This is ultimately accomplished through Jesus, who was despised and afflicted, but now the kings of the earth bow down to him. The Holy Spirit gave Paul this key verse to describe his missionary work. Because of God's heart for world salvation, he calls and uses ordinary people like us for his great purpose.
Prayer: Prayer: Lord, thank you for using me in greater ways than I realize. Help me serve you this year with confidence in your calling.
One Word: God uses us for world salvation
Psalm 22:1-31
Key Verse: 22:1
To the choirmaster: according to The Doe of the Dawn. A Psalm of David.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?
