The Joy of Glory

Isaiah 32:1-16 (click here)
For the palace is forsaken, the populous city deserted; the hill and the watchtower will become dens forever, a joy of wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks; until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is deemed a forest. Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness abide in the fruitful field.
(Isaiah 32:14–16)

Reflection
God’s people are in rebellion. Judgement is coming. In a little more than a year Assyria will invade (again). Cities will be deserted, and wild animals will make homes where God’s people once lived.

Can there be any salvation from such devastation?

YES! God promises that the day will come when his Spirit will be poured out upon his people! A people who were once barren will bear fruit! A people once consumed with self will now seek justice for the other. A people once dwelling in the darkness of unrighteousness will now shine with the bright righteous beams of the Spirit of God!

The good news of the Gospel is that this day has come! Because of Christ’s death and resurrection, the Holy Spirit of God has been poured out upon his people to empower them to live bearing fruit amidst the wilderness of the world!

This is how we are to live! In total dependence upon the Holy Spirit’s provision to be the people we have been recreated in Christ to be!

Today… are you depending on the Spirit’s power to bear the fruit of justice and righteousness? Are you asking him to provide all the power needed to bear fruit to the glory of God in the midst of this wilderness?

The day will come when God will bring redemption to completion and Easter will have it’s final effect! The wilderness of this world will become a fruitful forest to his glory… but until that day arrives… we live, bearing fruit by the Spirit’s power as witnesses to the fact that world is on its way… it is coming!

Can there be any salvation from devastation? Yes. There is. And God uses your fruit-bearing life to show the world where that salvation comes from… from him alone… through his son alone… by his Spirit alone.

So go today… depend on the Holy Spirit… and bear fruit for God’s glory, your good, and the spread of the Gospel.

*All previous devotionals may be found at www.thejoyofglory.com
*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.