This devotion was sent to us from a friend who trains pastors in India.
​Isaiah 54:5​

[5]"For your husband is your Maker, Whose name is the Lord of hosts; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the God of all the earth.
Our meditation today:

This is a wonderful verse which has very rich meaning of each of the attributes of our Lord.  
1.  Husband
2.  Maker
3. The Lord of hosts
4.  Redeemer
5.  Holy one of Israel
6.  God of all the earth.  


There is a rich meaning of all the above attributes.  We were meditating, He is our Redeemer.  This redeemer aspects has relationship to all other attributes.
1.  The Redeemer concept developed from Exodus onwards.  The Lord redeemed Israel from their physical bondage which has a direct implication of our redemption from sin and death, spiritual.    
2.  No redemption possible without shedding of blood.  Hebrews chapter 9 specifically deals with the issue of redemption,  comparing OT verses NT redemption ( 9:9 & 14).  3.  We were under the bondage of devil and his power (Colossians 1 13,14).  Jesus Christ our Lord paid it by His precious blood and redeemed us.  
4.  Christ is our Redeemer, like Boaz became the redeemer of Ruth.  Ruth symbolizes the church and Boaz as Christ.  
5.  We are redeemed to be His, His alone.  Complete recovery to be used by Him, to be His servants.  
Compared the following points and added into our meditation:
The purpose of God redeeming the people of Israel.  This is a wonderful imagery of the real lifestyle of Israel and the New Israel, we the church and each one of us.  The people of Israel are redeemed by God:
1.  To dwell among them (Ex.25:8;29;46; Deut. 23:14; Jn.1:14)
2.  To be their God (Lev. 25:38; 26:12,13; 2 Cor. 6:16)
3.  To sanctify them for Himself, a special people for Him (Lev. 22:32,33; 1 Thess. 4:3)
4.  To be His servants (Lev. 25:42,55; isa.41;8;42:1;43:10; Rom. 1:2)
5.  To separate them from the Gentiles (Lev. 20:24, 26; Deut.26:18,19; 1 cor. 10:20,21; 2 cor.6:14-17)
6.  To be a Priest and a Holy nation for the Living God (Ex. 19:5,6; 1 Peter 2:9,10).  

The redemption brings a special privilege for a special responsibility to perform.  
Our prayer today Lord discipline us, help us, give your grace to be used by you.  We're yours, your servants alone.  Give us a single eye devotion towards you and to live in your presence eternally.   
Amen.

(This is not our original work.  The original author is cited at the bottom).
Have you ever noticed how in the scriptures men are always going up into the mountains to commune with the Lord?
Yet in the scriptures we hardly ever
hear of women going to the mountains,
and we know why — right?
Because the women were too busy
keeping life going;
they couldn’t abandon babies,
meals,
homes,
fires,
gardens,
and a thousand responsibilities to make the climb into the mountains!
I was talking to a friend the other day,
saying that as modern woman
I feel like I’m never “free” enough
from my responsibilities,
never in a quiet enough,
or holy enough spot
to have the type of communion
I want with God.
Her response floored me,
“That is why God comes to women.
Men have to climb the mountain to meet God, but God comes to women where ever they are.”
I have been pondering on her words for weeks and have searched my scriptures
to see that what she said is true.
God does in deed come to women
where they are,
when they are doing their ordinary,
everyday work.
He meets them at the wells
where they draw water for their families,
in their homes,
in their kitchens,
in their gardens.
He comes to them
as they sit beside sickbeds,
as they give birth,
care for the elderly,
and perform necessary mourning and burial rites.
Even at the empty tomb,
Mary was the first to witness Christ’s resurrection,
She was there because she was doing the womanly chore of properly preparing Christ’s body for burial.
In these seemingly mundane
and ordinary tasks,
these women of the scriptures found themselves face to face with divinity.
So if — like me — you ever start to bemoan the fact that you don’t have as much time to spend in the mountains with God as you would like. Remember, God comes to women. He knows where we are and the burdens we carry. He sees us, and if we open our eyes and our hearts we will see Him, even in the most ordinary places and in the most ordinary things.
He lives.
Original 🖌: Heather Farrell

John 14:6—Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  No one comes to the Father apart from Him.  In other words, we are lost, in confusion and dead apart from Christ.
Proverbs 14:12—There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.  I can’t figure out my own way, become enlightened, or find wisdom on my own which will give me life.  Therefore, I am at God’s mercy for life.  Am I receiving His mercy?  Picture: ​
Kind of like Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, God is giving life to our mortal bodies, one day to be fully revived—resurrected.

-Romans 8:9-11—the spiritual life should be seen in my mortal body
God is making every effort to revive me.
    -Romans 8:18-21—God’s creation longs for this.
    -Sufferings are actually Holy Spirit breaths and pressure from God’s Word—from Scripture—to keep my new heart going.

I have to participate in the revival process—I have to receive God’s help!
Psalm 51:8, 10-13—David as an example.  He knew he needed a new heart.  He also knew he needed God’s help in sustaining this new life.

Ezekiel 37:1-6; 37:11-14—the Valley of Dry Bones.  God is the one who gives it life and he is the one who will be glorified.  This should be the same in my life!
John 15:1-2…God is making it so we will be more fruitful.  We have to participate in the “pruning.”  vs. 8-9…I have to let go of anything not helping me to love others

9th Commandment: You Shall Not Give False Testimony Against Your Neighbor (Ex. 20:16)
This passage in Deuteronomy illustrates how seriously OT Israel was to take this commandment: Deuteronomy 19:15-21…the person accusing falsely was to bear the punishment of the one convicted.  THE FIRST LIAR: Satan (Genesis 3)—when we lie in any way, we are aligning ourselves with the devil.
Why would a person give false testimony against their neighbor?  There could be many possible motivations.  Like most of the other commandments this sin is probably rooted in selfishness: bringing someone else down for my gain.  Whether that is profiting through bolstering my image/status, actually monetary or physical gain, or just simply feeling better about myself, it is a selfish action.  It is an attempt to put myself in God’s place, as if I actually know everything about a person’s actions and motives behind their actions.  I may even be convinced in my own mind about someone, but it could still be a false perception.  The Jews in Jesus’ time were convinced about their status as God’s children, but sought to justify themselves apart from Jesus—they were actually children of the devil! (John 8:42-47).
God is the only righteous judge—the one who has given the Law and set the standard (Psalms 7:11; James 4:11-12).  This was ultimately realized in Jesus. (I am the Way, the TRUTH and the Life—John 14:6).
This commandment can be broadened from the courtroom setting to everyday life—not even listening to rumors or gossip, or things that we are not certain are true.  The truth that the LORD is God (Exodus 20:2) is what *should* rein in our tongue/speech (James 2:3).  If we are undisciplined in what/how we speak, then we are perpetuating the way of death (James 2:4-8).
No human being can “tame the tongue” (James 2:8); therefore, all have broken this commandment and are under God’s wrath!  But Christ fulfilled the Law (Matt. 5:17).  By the power He gives, our tongues can be “tamed.” (John 8:31-38…have to have room for His word in our hearts!) In other words, we can subject ourselves to the truth of God—being made new creatures (2 Cor. 5:17)—and in His love, speak what is really true.  Love rejoices in the truth (1 Cor. 13:6).  Ephesians 4:23-25 also speaks to this.
James 3:9…takes this a step further.  If we truly are new creatures in Christ, able to tame our tongues, then why would we curse—or speak against—our brother?
Remember, it is not our place to judge people, but rather to love them out of the riches of wisdom in Christ (Matthew 7:1-5; Colossians 2:2-3).
“Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8)—>this should be one of our foundational guiding principles as Christians.  Everything we have is from God. His mercy; His love; His wisdom; revelation of His word; power of His Spirit.
Everything should be done to build up others in the faith, not tear them down. Ephesians 4:1-13 ; Jude 20-25.  This may require speaking hard things to people, but how we do it is important.  The reason should be to encourage, exhort, and build up.  1 Timothy 5:1-7 highlights how any teaching and correction in the body of Christ should be done with care, and in a personal way.
God’s Word, through the working of the Holy Spirit is what will convict people of sin and guide them into all truth as they seek Him. (Hebrews 12: ; John 16:13)
Therefore, we should leave judgment to God and simply speak the truth in love. (Ephesians 4:15)
What if someone speaks falsely against us?  Jesus cites Deuteronomy 19 in answering this question in Matthew 5:38-42, ““You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’  But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.  If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.  Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.  Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.”
    —We should even be seeking to build up those who are trying to tear us down!  It is not possible for a person to have this outlook apart from the Love of Christ.
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” (Romans 11:33).
Jesus, help us!
How we live our lives should be a clear picture of the mercy of our Savior and everyone’s need for Him. —2 Corinthians 4:1-12.
Let’s get rid of secret ways which always seek selfish ambitions and distort the word of God. ​