A Devotional Thought From The Prophet Isaiah

And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever.     Isaiah 32:17

The LORD God of Israel throughout His speaking to His people, in the inspired Old Testament of the Bible, has given them a constant call to righteousness. Here through Isaiah he defines the great earthly work of righteousness for Israel, and the wonderful effect that it will bring. The work of righteousness is peace, striving for peace, reaching out to other people and other nations and other races and other religions for peace, coming to the One, True, Living God in faith to receive peace with God and of heart and mind and soul. With this constant, daily, moment by moment seeking after peace when it comes the effect is quietness and assurance. People can live in freedom without fear. 

With this standard it is easy to judge the people and groups, and nations who are righteous. They are not those who invade the sovereignty of other nations; they are not those who butcher others because they are of a different ethnic group or religion; they are not those who rejoice in killing and murder; they are not those who use economic terrorism to force others to go against sincerely held religious beliefs; they are not those who participate in drive-by shootings; they are not those who use the cover of legitimate protest to loot and burn; these are not the works of righteousness and people who do them do not seek peace. And, if they do not seek peace they will not find it.

A Devotional Thought From Isaiah

… the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly.     Isaiah 33:7

Arguably the nuclear negotiations re: Iran and the bomb are the most important going on today anywhere, because of their worldwide implications. But negotiations with a nation that has no concern for other nations, or cultures, or religions, is perilous to say the least. Already one leader of the Western nations after describing what was in the framework of a deal has been contradicted by the Supreme Leader of Iran. So whose interpretation is Iran going to follow, if they follow anything, because they are notorious for being less than willing to sacrifice to develop peace with those who do not subscribe to their religion. None dispute the desire for peace in the Middle East that the other negotiating nations have, but this phrase lifted from Isaiah 33:7 describes what is likely the outcome the world will see, …the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly.

A Devotional Thought From Ecclesiastes

The things that have been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.     Ecclesiastes 1:9

The preacher of Ecclesiastes tells us in this verse that in the cycle of life there continue the same sins and actions today that were done yesterday and years ago; centuries and millennia ago. The human race, when unredeemed, lives committing the same sins that have been the wicked deeds of all societies. Adultery, terrorism, murder, political intrigue, war, horrendous atrocities, lying, theft, repeat themselves over and over again, and will until Jesus comes. The reason? Human beings are sinners, and when they are unredeemed by salvation through Christ, we can expect nothing more than a continual repeating of the usual sins. There is no new thing under the sun. This makes George Santayana’s famous philosophical statement, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” a truism. Good government, and the ministry of the Holy Spirit are designed by God restrain sin.