SATURDAY 20TH JAN., 2018

TOPIC: FIRST THING IN THE MORNING (1)
TEXT: ISAIAH 50:4 “The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned…”

Here’s a wonderful promise from God’s Word: ‘The … LORD has given me His words of wisdom … that I know how to comfort the weary. Morning by morning He wakens me and opens my understanding to His will. The … LORD has spoken to me, and I … listened. I have not rebelled or turned away’ (vs. 4-5). Isaiah said God woke him up every morning and told him what he was supposed to do that day, and what He was to say to others! This wasn’t a ‘one of a kind’ occurrence: it happened ‘morning by morning’. Can you imagine how differently your day would go if you took the time to hear from God before you got out of bed? Note the word ‘understanding’. God can give you understanding about what you should say and do before you get into a given situation. He said, ‘I am the LORD … who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go’ (Isaiah 48:17) Here’s the – sovereign nature of God that is He is full of goodness and compassion. He loved us even when we were yet sinners and even if you’re yet to reach the point of listening to hear from Him; God will work with you ‘morning by morning’ until you learn to recognise and respond to His voice.
He is longsuffering and full of perseverance. After all, that’s what good parents do with their children when they want them to grow up, mature, and enjoy life’s best. Our Lord Jesus showed us a great example in the Book of Mk1:35 “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” When He was preaching in Galilee. He had the tongue of the learned to speak a word in season to him that is weary and heavy laden. His disciples quickly emulated this attitude; we ought to also do likewise. This describes a man’s intimate relationship with God the father whose life is not largely consumed with secular pursuits and worldly entertainment.

MEDITATION: 2 Tim. 2:7; Psalms 49:3

BIBLE STUDY
GEN. 21/MATT. 20/NEHEMIAH 10/ACTS 20