Today we will continue our series entitled “God’s Grace & Our Faith.” We are looking at The Law given under Moses vs. the Grace provided by Jesus. Our primary scriptures are John 1:14 & 17.
(John 1:14 New International Version)
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
(John 1:17 New International Version)
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
For the past two days, we looked at Jeremiah. Today we will look at Isaiah. The prophet Isaiah said, “Listen to me, all you in distant lands! Pay attention, you who are far away! The LORD called me before my birth; from within the womb He called me by name.” (Isaiah 49:1). Four verses later Isaiah said, “The Lord is the one who made me in my mother’s womb, so that I could be his servant. He wanted me to lead Jacob and Israel back to him.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. You have a definite and distinct divine purpose.
Isaiah wanted people to pay attention to the fact that God called him before he was born. This was an important revelation back then, and it still is today. When you know God called you before you were born, you know you entered this world for a specific purpose and that your purpose is divine.
2. God’s call is grace-based and not works or performance-based.
God called you before you were born. This means you were called before you did anything to earn it or deserve it. God knew all you would do (good and bad), and He called you; not based on your works but based solely on His purpose and grace.
If this is true (and it is), then this means you cannot do anything to disqualify yourself from the call because you never qualified in the first place. When you grasp this reality, you learn to accept God’s grace, enter into His rest, and stop trying to perform for God.
— Your life is not an audition.
— You are not working for your assignment.
— Your call is not based on merit.
— God is not looking for you to live performance-based.
— When you finally embrace this truth, you are free to enter into God’s rest so you can become the man/woman God called you to be!
3. Isaiah knew that God knew him before he was born.
— Isaiah knew God knew him by name before his parents gave him a name.
— He knew God called him from his mother’s womb.
— He knew he was not a mistake and was on this planet for a divine assignment.
— When you know what Isaiah knew, you live your life with purpose and vision. And most importantly, you do so by the grace of God.
4. Isaiah knew he was on this planet to be God’s servant.
— He knew his life was not his own.
— He knew he was not on this planet to simply suck in and blow out air, have a little fun, go to a few parties, and then die.
— He knew he was on the earth to bring glory to the one who sent him here.
— When you know what Isaiah knew, you live every day focused on bringing glory to God. You work, but you don’t work like you are working for man. You know you are working God. You do everything with a spirit of excellence because you represent the God who sent you to the earth for His divine purpose.
5. Isaiah knew his assignment was to lead Israel back to God.
— Isaiah knew what he was called to do, so he did not focus on anything else. This is key!
— Your life can’t be about 10 things. Your life has to be about ONE THING, and that ONE THING is your purpose!
— If you don’t know your purpose, you can wander around aimlessly through life, existing but not truly living.
— When you know your purpose, your heart will be attuned to receiving God’s vision on a regular basis, your ears will be attuned to discerning the voice of the Holy Spirit, and you will live life with focus and clarity.
6. YOUR purpose informs YOUR grace.
— When you know what God sent you to the planet to do, you also know what He placed inside of you.
— If God called you to it, He already graced you for it. You have to remind yourself of this, over and over again, because the enormity of the call may cause you to doubt or question God.
— If you keep your heart open to the Holy Spirit, He will remind you that God only EXPECTS you to do what He already EQUIPPED you to do. And what He EQUIPPED you to do, He certainly EXPECTS you to do BEFORE YOU DIE!
— When you know your purpose, you know what you will need externally (things like resources, connections, relationships, etc.) to get it done. This will inform your prayer life.
— When you know your purpose, you know what you will need internally (things like wisdom, insight, knowledge, information understanding, health, longevity, grit, determination, etc.) to get it done. This will also inform your prayer life.
— When you know what God called you to do and who He called you to be, you know what to pray for, and your prayers will be answered becuase you are praying in accordance with God’s will for your life.
— My prayer for you is that the eyes of your understanding (where God’s purpose for your life is concerned) will be enlightened. May your heart be flooded with divine light, so you can know what God planned for you to do on this planet. And once you know, you will also know what God has already graced you to do. Once you get to this point, I pray that you will have the faith (confidence, boldness, courage) to walk In God’s grace. May you allow God to do (in You and with you) what He planned to do before the world began. May the grace of God overtake you, overwhelm you, and flow through you, so the world can encounter Jesus in you today and every day. May you become the fullest version of the person God called you to be!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your amazing grace and my requirement to live by faith.
I know that You knew me before the world began. I know I am not a mistake. I know I am on this planet for Your divine purpose. I know I am here to bring glory to Your name.
My life is not about me or my selfish desires. My life is about You and Your divine purpose.
I enter this day and every day focused on walking in my divine assignment, knowing that Your grace is on me to do what You sent me to this planet to accomplish!
I engage in every meeting, conversation, and activity today with a spirit of excellence because You are excellent, and I represent You. I am here to do Your bidding, to represent Your Kingdom, and to fulfill Your purpose.
I live my life to manifest Your finished work. I do this by faith. I do this with the full confidence that Your grace is on me to do what I was born to do. Therefore, I have the courage to believe the invisible and attempt the impossible because I have a revelation of Your grace!
Nothing is impossible for me because nothing is impossible for You, and You live in me. GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
