Bring Low

Isaiah 23:9 "The Lord Almighty planned it, to bring low the pride of all glory and to humble all who are renowned on the earth."

Isaiah is sharing an oracle concerning the seaport of Tyre.  Apparently, like many of the other lands mentioned early in Isaiah, Tyre was in for a rough future!  Amid the calamity, Isaiah mentions that the Lord planned it and intends to "bring low" the proud and to "humble" all the "renowned on the earth."

This seems to be a theme in scripture.  God time and time again, humbles the proud and brings low the lofty.  I like that about God.  I dislike people who are proud.  I dislike the pride I see in my life.  In what ways am I proud and how can I squash that today so God doesn't have to?  I need to be more humble in my relationships, with my work, with my actions, and with my lips. 

Dear Jesus, remind me to be humble today.  Amen.

New Eyes

Isaiah 11:3-4 "...and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.  He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy."

Isaiah predicts the coming messiah Jesus and claims he will not judge people the way we judge people.  Jesus will truly see men's hearts and will judge them with righteousness.  He will see them as God sees them.

I long to be able to see people the way Jesus sees them.  Too often I judge people harshly.  I need Jesus to give me his eyes and his ears today.  As I am set to begin a new ministry season and a new chapter altogether, I need to see things the way Jesus does.

Dear Jesus, give me your eyes and your ears.  Amen.