Daily Dose of Hope

November 25, 2024

Day 2 of Week 35

Scripture: Isaiah 26-29; Psalm 65; 1 Corinthians 4

Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan. Happy Monday!

Our Old Testament Scripture is Isaiah 26-29. You may have noticed that Isaiah’s prophecy moves from the future to present day (Isaiah’s present day) and back again. In Isaiah 26-27, Isaiah is continuing the prophecy about the future after God’s final judgment has been carried out. The great feast celebrating God as king is described. There is a song for Judah to sing. It’s a time of beauty.

But in Isaiah 28, Isaiah goes back to the current day. Now, there is prophecy against Ephraim and Jerusalem, especially to the leaders. They are described as drunk with complacency. Chapter 29 continues to speak of judgment but also tells of God’s mercy and compassion. In not too long, the fields will be fertile, the deaf will hear, and the blind will see.

Our New Testament text for today is 1 Corinthians 4. You have to love the apostle Paul's sarcasm! He has really had it with the Corinthian church’s arrogance. You see, they think they are mature, healthy, and effective. They think they have arrived. But Paul is making it quite clear: No, you have not! Why? Because they are worldly in their thinking, they are full of themselves, they have no desire to make sacrifices or suffer. They are comfortable, concerned more about status, popularity, and reputation than about serving Jesus.

Paul makes this interesting argument that a servant is not greater than his master. The Corinthians clearly think they are better. Jesus said in Matthew 16:25,"For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it." Part of the Christian experience is giving up one's life, one's wants, one’s desires, and even one's comfort, basically the things of this world, in exchange for the things of Jesus.

What things of this world might you still be holding onto? If you were to be brutally honest with yourself, can you relate to the Corinthians? Spend some time in prayer about this today. How might God be speaking to you through this chapter?

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki