The focus of today’s chapter is designed for the comfort and encouragement of those who fear God and keep his commandments, even when they walk in darkness and have no light.
“Listen to me, you who know right from wrong, you who cherish my law in your hearts. Do not be afraid of people’s scorn, nor fear their insults.” Isaiah 51:7 NLT
When we decide to begin something new, typically some sort of challenge will present itself and we will find ourselves questioning ‘whether we made the correct decision to begin this project in the first place’? Taking the challenges presented, along with the knowledge that there may be more, we then need to decide if the end result and final goal are still worth it.
“For the moth will devour them as it devours clothing. The worm will eat at them as it eats wool. But my righteousness will last forever. My salvation will continue from generation to generation.” Isaiah 51:8 NLT
In our walk with the Lord we will encounter insults. We will be ridiculed and omitted from being invited to attend events. We will be made fun of and our desire to uphold the faith will be questioned.
But we have hope.
In reading this chapter and particularly these verses, I was reminded of Hebrews 12:2. It says, “We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honour beside God’s throne.”
Jesus understood that in following his Father’s will, that he would be mocked. That he would be made fun of. That he would be beaten. That he would be spit on. That he would be whipped. That he would be convicted of crimes that he did not commit. That he would be nailed to a cross. That he would die in keeping his Father’s command.
It wasn’t by Jesus focusing on the negative circumstances along the way that gave Him the strength to endure, it was by focusing on the end result – the joy awaiting Him and being seated beside God’s throne.
Jesus knew His end result and still chose to obey. He believed that dying on the cross for sins that He did not commit was worth this result. Understanding this, we can then know that the insults and ridiculing that we face for our faith today, will be minuscule compared to being in the glory of our Heavenly Father!
Lock Your Wings 
An inspiring read Conrad, can I quote you in my post tomorrow on Walking with God?
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You most certainly can Alan. I am grateful that you would consider quoting me for one of your own!
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That is great Conrad, thank you so much mate! Naturally it will link back to you as my source.
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Great thoughts. This stood out for me: “Look up to the skies above, and gaze down on the earth below. For the skies will disappear like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a piece of clothing. The people of the earth will die like flies, but my salvation lasts forever. My righteous rule will never end!”
Sometimes we focus too much on the things that won’t last. To think of the sky lasting as long as smoke, the earth lasting as long as clothing (most likely not ethnically sourced good clothing but bargain basement cheap clothing) and people lasting as long as flies is sobering. It makes you wonder if things are so fleeting, where should we put our efforts in to ensure that we are making a difference for eternity?
Isaiah 51:6 NLT
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