4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ...
Point to ponder: In a time where people from all walks of life and all over the world are grabbing natural weapons to either attack or to defend - it is good to be reminded that, as Christians, our weapons are not carnal, but spiritual. Our weapons are mighty in God for pulling down strongholds and casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. Let us therefore take on this war - the one in the spirit, and start using our spiritual weapons to cast down every high thing that exalts itself against God. Whether it is a thought that needs to be brought into obedience to Christ, or whether it is an argument or a stronghold of some nature. Let us take it on with the spiritual weapons God gave us - not the natural ones that we make for ourselves.
Point to ponder: This is such an encouraging Psalm of David. He declares that God has brought him out of a deep pit of miry clay. How many times did God fish you and me out of an array of horrible pits of miry clay? Maybe take some time to recall a few of these moments and celebrate with David those victories. Celebrate those times that God listened and heard your cry. Celebrate the times that He set your feet on a rock, established your steps and put a new song in your mouth - and then praise God anew for each one of those moments, and trust Him again because of the track record of faithfulness in your life. Sing a new song to Him!
The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them,
And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose;
2 It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice,
Even with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
The excellence of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord,
The excellency of our God.
3 Strengthen the weak hands,
And make firm the feeble knees.
4 Say to those who are fearful-hearted,
“Be strong, do not fear!
Behold, your God will come with vengeance,
With the recompense of God;
He will come and save you.”
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
6 Then the lame shall leap like a deer,
And the tongue of the dumb sing.
For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness,
And streams in the desert.
7 The parched ground shall become a pool,
And the thirsty land springs of water;
In the habitation of jackals, where each lay,
There shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
8 A highway shall be there, and a road,
And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness.
The unclean shall not pass over it,
But it shall be for others.
Whoever walks the road, although a fool,
Shall not go astray.
9 No lion shall be there,
Nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it;
It shall not be found there.
But the redeemed shall walk there,
10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return,
And come to Zion with singing,
With everlasting joy on their heads.
They shall obtain joy and gladness,
And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Point to ponder: Sometimes, when I look at the world today and see all the wars and rumours of more wars and tragedies upon tragedies, then I have to admit my knees are feeble and my hands weak. In times like these, this prophecy in Isaiah 35 is so encouraging. God promises that one day there will be Holiness and righteousness and peace, and that the sorrow and sighing shall flee away. He encourages us to strengthen the weak hands and feeble knees, and to say to the fearful hearts - fear not! Be strong, for God will recompense His people and save them.
He promises that one day there will be a highway of Holiness. So let us remind ourselves that, as we have a heavenly home, we are just walking through this world temporarily. So let us 'walk with Him' while we have to walk in this world still, and let us invite Him to walk with us, so that our feeble knees and weak hands will be strengthened, and fearful hearts can be encouraged.
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Point to ponder: At a time in history where the world seems to be spiraling into an ever-increasing vortex of conflict, war, immorality and hopelessness for many, it is good to be reminded of this verse. God, through Paul (who was no stranger to adversity and persecution) encourages them (and consequently us) that no matter what goes on in the world, we still remain conquerors through Him Who loved us. Paul's persuasion that nothing - not death, life, angels, demons, things we know now and things which are still to come, no height, no depth nor any created thing - nothing, but nothing is able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Let us put our faith in Him alone and trust Him Who loves us no matter what. Let us stand firm in the knowledge that NOTHING can separate us from Him Who loves us.
