April 5 - Opening up to all the wonders
Contributed by
Ventisha Conolly, a senior physical education major from the Cayman Islands on Monday April 05
Scripture
Isaiah 50:4-9a
The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how
to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens --
wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord GOD has
opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. I
gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled
out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. The
Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I
have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to
shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us
stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. It is
the Lord GOD who helps me; who will declare me guilty? All of them will
wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.
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Devotion
I have opened myself up to all the wonders that I can learn
because he gave me the will, because he has given me life each day that I live to serve him.
When I began reading Isaiah 50, I had to read it a few times before
realizing exactly what it was saying to me. What it said to me was to
open myself up to those who don’t believe in the Lord as I do, and to
let them know that no matter how hard they try to break my soul and my
love for God it will not happen. It also is a testament to others who
have been hurt, looked down upon and ridiculed for their beliefs that,
yes, there is HOPE and if they continue to believe and share their
beliefs with those who don’t believe more sheep will believe and come
to find the Lord.
That
reminded me of my cousin Charity in high school. She was a preacher’s
kid and was taunted by the other kids because she wore skirts all the
time, even for P.E. But she didn’t fight back, she took it in stride
and told them that she believed God said women should not wear men’s
garments and that was the rule she was living by. Eventually a few
people came to know God through her.
This verse also speaks to those who accuse others of false
beliefs. It says that heresy does not work with the Lord and to be
truly mature, you must stand before that person and have solid evidence
that you are right and they are false, or else you will feel the wrath
of the Lord because he protects his sheep and will not let their
enemies, which are his enemies also, get the upper hand. As his flock,
we must put all our trust and love in Him our one true life-giver and
to live each with a smile on our faces, because if one person smiles at
their enemy they can become friends.
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