"A Piece of Wood Fuels Fire and Carves into Idols" Isaiah 43-44; I Thessalonians 2

The Lord says:  I created you.  I formed you.  I redeemed you.  I summoned you by name.  You are mine.When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  And the fire will not burn you.  Isaiah 43:1-2

When God acts, who can reverse it?  Isaiah 43:13.

God formed me from the womb. No one on earth knows me like that. He wired me together this way. He will help me even when I am fed up with me. Isaiah 44:2

He'll pour water on thirsty real estate. He'll pour His Spirit on our children.  

Fear not.

This God Who has formed us is here to redeem us. And that changes everything.  

This God Who formed us is here to deliver us from idols we do not even know we have. With one hand we use a simple piece of wood to fuel a fire, to bake some bread. On the other hand, we craft that piece of wood into an idol to worship. "Is there not a lie in my right hand?" Isaiah 44:20. 

And this Beautiful God confirms the Word to us, 
fulfills the Counsel of His messengers. Isaiah 44:26.

May we hear the Counsel of messengers. Confirm Your Word to each of us through the spoken Word, the written Word, the Word made flesh in those You bring across our paths. Open our eyes, our hearts to see idols we have crafted that worship time and people and achievement and success and safety and comfort. 

Oh! The inscription.
Written on all of our hearts forever:
Grace to you and peace from God. I Thes 1:1

For this Word came to you not in word only,
but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit. 1 Thes 1:5
This operation of the Word of God from the Giver of life.

And you accepted it not as the word of men,
but, as it is in Truth, the Word of God.  1 Thes 2:13
And this Word works in you who believe, receive it by faith.

Yes, this Word from the Author Himself
Yes, this Word is at work in our lives this moment.
This day, always. It effectually works in those who believe.

COME BOLDLY:  Timeless Prayers
Oh Father, that thrills beyond words.  To know that This Word of God is working in me right-now.  The right-now Word; right-now Grace; right-now Peace.  Inscribed on our hearts not by men but by your Spirit.