Verse of the Day 5/23

Verse of the Day 5/23

Isaiah 61:3-4To all who mourn in Israel,

    he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
    festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
    that the Lord has planted for his own glory.

⁴ They will rebuild the ancient ruins,
    repairing cities destroyed long ago.
They will revive them,
    though they have been deserted for many generations.    New Living Translation (NLT)

Last night a friend invited the high school seniors from our youth group over to her house for a cook out, probably one of the last times that we'll all be together as a group.  It was a beautiful evening and we all had fun and did some reminiscing.  The four youth leaders (myself included) have worked with these kids (when they started in 6th grade) up until now when they are graduating from high school.  At one point I noticed all of the tall oak trees that were in the yard and commented how they must look when storms come through, I could picture it in my mind.  Obviously, they have withstood the test for generations, some of them probably 100 years old or more.

God brought today's verses to me in a devotional this morning and I couldn't help but think of those trees in the yard last night and relating it to those kids, hopefully and prayerfully growing in their faith to be "oaks of righteousness" , being in right standing before Him and accomplishing many things for Him.  God had planted them in our youth group.  They have grown and are maturing, they are the next generation.  They are developing those deep roots that will be there to help them withstand the storms of life which will include college professors who will try to uproot their  faith.  Instead of being pulled up, may the "Spirit of the Lord be on" them" as and send their roots deeper as they head out out into a culture to revive it, bring life into households, colleges and workplaces where faith has been "deserted for many generations', to bring liberty, good news and hope to a world that desperately needs it.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Isaiah 61:1-4New King James Version (NKJV)

The Good News of Salvation

61 "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
² To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
³ To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."

⁴ And they shall rebuild the old ruins,
They shall raise up the former desolations,
And they shall repair the ruined cities,
The desolations of many generations.