Christian Commentary Encouraging Devotions

I am the one who comforts you. So why are you afraid of mere humans, who wither like the grass and disappear?

Yet you have forgotten the Lord.

Will you remain in constant dread of human oppression?

Will you continue to fear the anger of your enemies from morning till night?

Soon all you captives will be released!

Imprisonment, starvation, and death will not be your fate!

For I am the Lord your God, And I have put my words in your mouth and hidden you safely within my hand.

You are mine!

Go now, leave your bonds and slavery.

Put Babylon behind you, with everything it represents, for it is unclean to you.

You are the Lord's holy people. Purify yourselves.

The LORD will go ahead of you and will protect you from behind.

He was wounded and crushed for our sins.

He was beaten that we might have peace.

He was whipped, and we were healed!

All of us have strayed away like sheep.

We have left God's paths to follow our own.

Yet the Lord laid on him the guilt and sins of us all.

Don't be fooled by those who try to excuse their sins, for the terrible anger of God comes upon all those who disobey him.

Don't participate in the things these people do.

For though your hearts were once full of darkness, now you are full of light from the Lord, and your behavior should show it!

For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord.

Be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise.

Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days.

Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do.

Isaiah 51,52,53; Ephesians 5