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| Old Testament Scripture Reading: Isaiah 28:1 – 10 (NASB) |
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Isa 28:1 Woe to the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim, And to the fading flower of its glorious beauty, Which is at the head of the fertile valley Of those who are overcome with wine!
Isa 28:2 Behold, the Lord has a strong and mighty agent; As a storm of hail, a tempest of destruction, Like a storm of mighty overflowing waters, He has cast it down to the earth with His hand.
Isa 28:3 The proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim is trodden under foot.
Isa 28:4 And the fading flower of its glorious beauty, Which is at the head of the fertile valley, Will be like the first-ripe fig prior to summer; Which one sees, And as soon as it is in his hand, He swallows it.
Isa 28:5 In that day the LORD of hosts will become a beautiful crown And a glorious diadem to the remnant of His people;
Isa 28:6 A spirit of justice for him who sits in judgment, A strength to those who repel the onslaught at the gate.
Isa 28:7 And these also reel with wine and stagger from strong drink: The priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, They are confused by wine, they stagger from strong drink; They reel while having visions, They totter when rendering judgment.
Isa 28:8 For all the tables are full of filthy vomit, without a single clean place.
Isa 28:9 “To whom would He teach knowledge? And to whom would He interpret the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just taken from the breast?
Isa 28:10 “For He says, ‘Order on order, order on order, Line on line, line on line, A little here, a little there.'” |
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| New Testament Scripture Reading: James 1:5 – 12 (NASB) |
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James 1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
James 1:6 But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
James 1:7 For let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,
James 1:8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
James 1:9 But let the brother of humble circumstances glory in his high position;
James 1:10 and let the rich man glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away.
James 1:11 For the sun rises with a scorching wind, and withers the grass; and its flower falls off, and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.
James 1:12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. |
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Transforming Power Statements:
#1) Perseverance in the pursuit of righteousness is the defining trait that without which, no one will receive the crown of life which is a metaphoric expression given to the reward from God reserved for every soul who has received saving faith in His Son Jesus Christ.
#2) It is the continuation in learning & seeking to please the LORD that demonstrates the possession of true love for Christ as well as a true understanding of our fellowship with Him; which is the source of our continual cleansing from the sins which He is constantly teaching us to overcome by knowledge, wisdom, and faith through true biblical love.
#3) During the humiliation of our Savior it was the height of mockery that the very Son of the Most High God would don the crown of thorns under the defective judgments of sinners who were being empowered to do so by satan the prince of darkness; while in the mind of God Jesus was accomplishing all that was required by His Father so that you and I shall be able to some day soon receive the crown of life, even against all the efforts of satan. |
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