Daily Dose of Hope

November 20, 2024

Day 4 of Week 34

Scripture: Isaiah 17-19; Psalm 62; 1 Corinthians 1

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope. This is the devotional and podcast that goes along with our Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. Tonight is Recharge at 6:30pm in the Garage. This is a time of worship, fellowship, prayer, and small community. I hope to see you there!

Our first passage today is Isaiah, chapters 17-19. Chapter 17 includes an oracle against the city of Damascus because of its disobedience and idolatry. It details the city’s destruction. Interestingly, Damascus was demolished by the Assyrians at the same time Assyria conquered Israel in 732B.C. What's interesting is if you look up the history of each of these nations described in the oracles, they all prove to be true!

In chapter 18, the oracle is not against a nation. Rather, it is a reassurance that God is paying attention to his world and he will eventually end the threat that the Assyrians pose. Isaiah begins by talking about Cush, most likely the ancient land of Ethiopia in the southern part of Egypt. Apparently, the kings of Ethiopia were wanting to unite all of Egypt to fight against the threat of the Assyrians. Isaiah points forward to the time of the Messiah's kingdom on earth.

Chapter 19 includes the main oracle against Egypt but also some judgements against other nations. The point here is that Isaiah is warning Judah not to put their trust in these nations. These nations are going to fall. They must focus solely and completely on the Lord. It’s only the Lord that can protect them. Of course, we know they failed to heed this advice. How often do we fail to heed it as well?

We are starting I Corinthians today! This will be a wonderful blessing and challenge. In this first chapter of I Corinthians, we immediately notice this is a letter. Paul starts by identifying himself as the author and makes it clear that the recipients are those in the church at Corinth. After a brief expression of thanksgiving, Paul wastes no time at getting to a most pressing point. There is disunity in the church. Factions have emerged over who to follow. Some say they follow Paul, others say Apollos or Cephas, and some say Christ.

We don't know the details of the disagreements, or how the factions came about. Really, I don't think the fine points are that relevant. What's more interesting to me is how Paul handles the situation. He reminds them who and whose they are. He reinforces the mission. We get so distracted by our own egos and allegiances, the mission is what suffers. The mission is sharing the Gospel, spreading the Good News of Jesus.

Let's fast forward 2000 years. How often have we as individual Christ-followers and as a church gotten off track because of disagreements with other Christians? Think about people you have personally known who have left a church because they got mad about something. Conflicts over individual personalities, music styles, bruised egos, miscommunication, or even the color of the new carpet, can totally derail a church from the true mission! What if we just had laser focus on Jesus? What if the mission trumped everything else? How might that change things?

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki