“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;”
– Isaiah 61:1

Jesus was very clear that these words were fulfilled in Him. So take time to think about them carefully. Read this verse once more. Does your obedience to Jesus look like this? Does your following of Jesus lead you to care about, and do, these things? Is your practice of Christianity delivering good news to the poor? Are you comforting and healing the miserable and brokenhearted? Does your faith lead you to offer hope to those bound up physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually?

It’s very easy, in our practice of Christianity, to lose sight of Christ. Too often, we forget about what matters to Him and what He came to do. All too often, we aren’t really following Jesus, we’re following ourselves or earthly leaders, while putting a Christian label on that. That isn’t following Jesus. Take a fresh look at Jesus. Then #FollowJesus

“Come, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.”
– Isaiah 55:1

This is your invitation to God’s endless buffet of grace! Isaiah 55 is all about the unimaginable, incomprehensible grace of God. The love He shows toward the unlovable. The forgiveness He shows toward the unforgivable. The restoration He works in the hopelessly broken. These are the ways of God that aren’t our ways and the thoughts of God that are infinitely higher than our thoughts (see Isaiah 55:8-9).

This verse isn’t an invitation to enjoy cheap food and drink. It’s an invitation to life itself. Eternal life in Christ Jesus, the Son of God. Through Isaiah, God invites everyone to come to Him. To bring nothing to the table because we have nothing worthy bringing. Instead, we simply need what God offers and will never earn it, deserve it, or be due it. Rather, God desires to give His Word, His forgiveness, and His compassion freely and for free. All the cost was paid long ago by Jesus on the cross. You need pay nothing (and you can’t pay anything). Just accept His invitation through faith in His Son.

Come to Jesus, Who provides living water for your thirsty soul. Come and nourish your hungry, unsatisfied soul in union with your Savior. Come and feed on His Word, His presence, and His love. Don’t worry that you can’t pay—that’s the point! Everything has already been paid for you.

Come to the table of the Lord and feast on His grace. #FollowJesus

“But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.”
– Isaiah 53:5

This is Jesus! Isaiah prophesied these things about Jesus 7 centuries before they happened and it’s breathtaking to contemplate. Of course, there’s a good chance these words are familiar to you. Regardless of whether they are or they aren’t, let them really settle into your mind and heart. Jesus, the eternal Son of God, took on a human body and nature to do what God promised here…

The sinless Son of God suffered and died for our sins. He was nailed to a Roman cross to suffer and die – pierced for our many transgressions. He was stripped, beaten, and whipped – crushed for our iniquities. God’s wrath and punishment were poured out on Jesus to end our war against God and reconcile us to Him in peace. Christ’s terrible wounds have healed the deepest wounds of our souls, raising all who entrust their lives to Him to eternal spiritual life.

Read the verse once more. Know that Jesus endured all this out of love for you. He did it so that the moment you believe in Him, you are adopted and welcomed into His family as His younger sibling. Jesus did this to rescue you from your sins and unite Himself with you. Truly it’s extraordinary to meditate on what Jesus did for you on the cross. Please take some time, before you continue your day, to give thanks and praise to Lord Jesus. #FollowJesus

“God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.”
– Psalm 46:1-3

Take a moment to re-read those first two lines again. Embrace them for yourself…

God is our refuge… He is our hiding place, our strong shelter, our place of safety, protection, comfort, and healing. Go to Him when you’re in need of these things. He is always available to His children.

God is our strength… When we are weak, He is always strong. When we are exhausted, He cannot be exhausted. Go to Him and let Him renew and restore you to strength with His strength rather than your own.

He is very present… God doesn’t hide. He doesn’t play games. You can’t avoid or escape Him. He is always at hand and ready to envelope you in His love, power, and protection whenever you turn to Him.

In trouble… God will never abandon you, run from you, or encounter trouble too big for Him to handle. Call on the Lord in every time of need, it isn’t a bother to Him.

Because the first two lines are true, the next four follow logically. You don’t need to fear when the earth is disintegrating under you – whether literally or figuratively. When everything in your world or the world seems to be falling apart, God will always be your refuge and strength. When nothing makes sense and everything seems hopeless, God is very present in trouble. No matter how the chaos of the world foams and roars, it cannot overcome God. Take shelter in Him as you #FollowJesus

“Remember this and stand firm,
recall it to mind, you transgressors,
remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me,
declaring the end from the beginning
and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
and I will accomplish all my purpose,”
– Isaiah 46:8-10

One of the many wonderful things about reading and studying the Bible for yourself is that it lets you do exactly what God commands here…

The Bible will teach and remind you of the ancient things God has done. Creation. The covenant with Abraham. The Exodus. The land. The kings. The prophets. Our Redeemer.

The Bible will remind you of God’s promises kept and prophecies fulfilled in Christ. It reminds you that there is no other God. It teaches you that His will will always be done and His purpose cannot be stopped. It emphasizes God’s power in the past, presence in the present, and the glorious future that is coming through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

All this will help you stand firm. Stand firm in the face of discouragement, tragedy, and despair. Stand firm in the face of temptation, comfort, and plenty. Stand firm in the face of suffering and defeat. Stand firm in the face of status and victory. Stand firm in sorrow and loss.

Stand firm in who you are in Christ. Stand firm as a child of God and ambassador of the Lord in a fallen world. Stand firm for the truth in love. Stand firm in God’s grace and mercy when you once again feel condemned. Stand firm in loving God, loving neighbors, and making disciples, no matter what. Study and remember God’s word and the Word made flesh. #FollowJesus