September 22

Today's Reading

Isaiah. Hezekiah had been a good king for many years, yet he developed what seems to have been a selfish attitude. He cried out to God for an extension of his life and it was granted, but during that time he fathered Manasseh who started out as one of the most sinful of all the kings. Then he showed off his stuff to Babylon. Finally, he rejoiced to hear that judgment wouldn't come in his lifetime. It's a rather sad ending.

Many of us love Isaiah 40:31, but those who -- like me -- are deeply moved by Handel's Messiah will recognize the opening verses of this chapter.

Paul opens his letter to the Ephesians with this great promise: "At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth." Something within us longs for that time to come! In the meantime, we are promised everything we need to live effective, Christ-following lives.

Psalm 66 has some awesome verses in it. Among them: "18 If I had not confessed the sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened." We are making a mockery of prayer if we refuse to open our hearts to the searchlight of God's Spirit, following that with sincere confession and repentance.

Proverbs today serves as another warning not to follow the siren song of fun, casual sex. It's a path to a broken heart and, perhaps, destruction.

What do you notice?