Beautiful and Glorious ... and Holy

Daily Reading: Isaiah 3-4

Scripture Focus: In that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel. And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy. (Isaiah 4.2-3)

Devotional Thought: The prophet saw the Branch and the remnant (those who remain).  The remnant is holy.  The Branch is beautiful and glorious.

The Remnant Is Holy

There is a remnant from all mankind who seek the Lord (Acts 15 and Amos 9).  Since that remnant is from allmankind (not just Israel), we know that it is the Church.  Note that the Church's holiness is not innate, but rather it is acquired: their filth is washed away and their stains are cleansed (v. 4).  We know from Hebrews 13.12, that the Church is sanctified by the blood of Jesus Christ.  Paul wrote about that in Ephesians when he said, "Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5.25-27, KJV).

The Branch is Beautiful and Glorious

As we have seen, the holiness of the Church is derived from the Branch - the Messiah, Jesus Christ.  Jesus is described as beautiful.  Though Isaiah would later describe the crushed and broken Messiah as having no beauty (Isaiah 53), that is from unredeemed man's perspective.  Jesus is truly beautiful to those who have been saved!  Jesus is also glorious.  He shares the glory of the Father, who himself lives in unapproachable light.  His glory is so great that the kings of earth hide from him in fear; the earth and sky flee away.

I am reminded of that children's chorus: "Beautiful, beautiful, Jesus is beautiful!  And Jesus makes beautiful things of my life."

Prayer: Jesus, you are indeed beautiful to me. Show me your glory, Lord.  Make me holy as you are holy.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 40.1-8

1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry.

2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.

3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.

4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!

5 You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.

6 In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.

7 Then I said, "Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me:

8 I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart."