Mon., 6/16/14 Devotion (Isa. 48:17)

Today's encouragement comes from Isaiah 48:17, which says this:

"Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: 'I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go.' "

Observe (above) how good God is to His church. First of all, He redeems her. But the Lord goes further: He also teaches her (even how to "profit"). On top of that, our Father shows us the way--so that we do not have to try to figure it all out on our own.

These are all things that God does for His church, even when we do not *feel* like they are being done. Sometimes we wonder if we are lost--when in fact, if we are in Christ--we are quilte *found*. Let us not be discouraged. If we are a faithful Christian churchman by grace through faith in Jesus, then we are in a better condition than we could ever imagine ourselves to be.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Justifying faith is that by which the soul, which be-fore was separated and alienated from Christ, unites itself to Him . . . " --Jon-athan Edwards, in, "Justification by Faith Alone"]