Reading your Bible for Today August 23

August 23: Isaiah 59:16-21

KJV Key Verse: Isaiah 59:19
19 So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.

Devotion:
Just how far are you willing to go to forgive someone for doing something terrible to you? Is there a line that you will not cross? Is there a deed you cannot forgive? The one thing which continues to amaze me is the depth to which sin can take people nowadays. It seems like people are falling deeper and deeper into sin and further away from God. But the really amazing fact is how God is still willing to forgive even those sins – no matter how far sin goes, grace is willing to go one step further!

How sad it is that there is so much sin in this world, and yet not many people are willing to stand up against the tide of sin. People are walking away from God, running even, and yet others will stand and watch instead of trying to slow them down. Is it because they are not willing to forgive like Jesus can, or is it because they are judging others and don't think they deserve anything more? Which-ever way, they themselves are turning into the sinner – sinning against God for their own sakes!

It is right we do not have the power to forgive like God. It is right we do not have the strength to forgive. It is right we withhold forgiveness when it is due. But we can have an arms-bearer who will work in our stead. We can have someone stand up and work with us. We can have assistance to help us when we cannot... God has promised to stand by us, to guide us, to give us strength, to take on our burdens. His grace abounds far more than we can know – He wants us to stand and put on the whole armour of God to make sure we can stand against the wiles of the devil!

If we had to rely on our own strength, we would be flattened in battle on the first charge of the enemy. If we had to rely on our own knowledge, we would be out-foxed before the battle started. Thank God He stands before us in battle each and every day we ask Him to!

Points to Ponder:
Do you help your friends out when they ask for help?

How often do you stand and ask God to be your strength?