Hostile Territory

Daily Reading: Isaiah 38-39

Scripture Focus: Behold, it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness; but in love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my sins behind your back. (Isaiah 38.17)

Devotional Thought: Three decades ago, when I first moved to North Carolina, I was told, "They're still fighting the civil war."  Coming from a northern state, I felt as though I were in hostile territory.  So, when I was driving to church one evening and saw the flashing blue lights behind me, I got really nervous.  I was given a ticket for speeding, but something refreshing happened, something I didn't expect.  When I got to church, I somehow told my story to one of my new friends in the congregation.  It turned out he was a deputy.  He said, "Give me your ticket.  I'll take care of it."  I did, and I never heard about it again.  I wasn't in hostile territory!

King Hezekiah felt like he was in hostile territory.  He was told he was going to die.  There's not too much that's more hostile than death.  Hezekiah poured his heart out to God.  After God spared his life, Hezekiah prayed again.  (We should pray after God answers, too!)  Hezekiah thanked God that he had delivered his life from destruction.  Then he prayed, something unexpected: "You have cast all my sins behind your back."  Hezekiah wasn't in hostile territory!

What a wonderful reality!  We are no longer in hostile territory.  Though our sins separated us from God, Jesus Christ took them upon himself and nailed those sins to the cross!  Now those sins are cast into the depths of the sea (Micah 7.19).  They are removed from us as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103.12).  They will never be remembered against us again (Ezekiel 33.16).

Do you feel as though you are in hostile territory?  Tell it to Jesus!  You'll find that he has already taken care of it.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I thank you that I am no longer in hostile territory.  Though my sins were as scarlet, you washed them white as snow.  Amen!

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 66.1-7

1 Shout for joy to God, all the earth;

2 sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise!

3 Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.

4 All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name." Selah

5 Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.

6 He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There did we rejoice in him,

7 who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations-- let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah