Latest / UCT Youth Daily Devotion / Choose Jesus, He is Forever
Transcript
- 0:00Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and welcome to another episode
- 0:05of the United Church of Tonga Youth Devotion.
- 0:09Our Bible reading for today is taken from the book of Isaiah, chapter 40, verse 8.
- 0:15It says, Grass dies and flowers fall, but the word of our God lasts forever.
- 0:23Our theme, choose Jesus, for he is forever. This is a very short,
- 0:31simple, straightforward, and meaningful verse.
- 0:34God uses comparisons, contrasts, metaphors, and similes to convey a message
- 0:42to his listeners, teaching those who have faith an important scriptural fact.
- 0:50However, when God highlights a truth, it's because he wants to emphasize a point,
- 0:56and we would do well to listen to the Lord's word,
- 1:01taking to heart everything he has to teach us and applying it in our lives.
- 1:08The passage describes us as grass.
- 1:11Just like grass, we grow, thrive, and eventually die.
- 1:17I believe that when this passage mentions flowers falling, it indicates that
- 1:24the buildings around us, as well as a person's status and lifestyle,
- 1:30will eventually come to an end.
- 1:32Now imagine everything you have, the privileged position you think you hold,
- 1:39the club in town that you love,
- 1:42the bakery you frequently visit, and the idea of being incredibly wealthy.
- 1:49Then picture waking up one day and finding that all those possessions you once
- 1:56cherished disappeared.
- 1:59What would you do now? What will you do if you wake up one day and find that
- 2:06all the earthly pleasures you enjoyed are no longer accessible?
- 2:11Also consider the temporary
- 2:14nature of jobs you won't have your current position forever and think about
- 2:20the fleeting nature of health you hold a certain power level right now but it
- 2:26will diminish I don't mean to sound gloomy but it will fade away.
- 2:33While all the pleasures of this earth, authority, and worldly desires fade and
- 2:39die, the Word of God lasts forever.
- 2:44His Word, meaning the Bible, and all its promises and teachings.
- 2:51The Spirit of God moved over the face of the earth in the beginning to bring
- 2:57light and life to a darkened world.
- 3:02God's Holy Spirit breathed life into God's empty shell, causing him to become
- 3:10a living soul made in the image and likeness of God.
- 3:16Just as the Spirit of God caused the breath of life to trigger creation into
- 3:25being and breathed new life into those born from above,
- 3:30He is also the one who causes flowers to fade in the grass,
- 3:37to wither with a single blow.
- 3:40Let this scripture encourage you, brothers and sisters of UCT.
- 3:46Let it serve as a reminder that while all your earthly adventures and desires
- 3:54might make you think you're higher than others due to whatever authority you believe you hold,
- 4:02it will all eventually fade away.
- 4:05The only thing we would have left is to rely on God and His eternal Word.
- 4:13It has been written and brought to life.
- 4:17Therefore, choose wisely before it's too late.
- 4:21When you accept Jesus and walk with him wholeheartedly.
- 4:26You may die on earth, but in heaven you will live forever, for you have eternal life. Let us pray.
- 4:37Lord, I thank you that even though we will one day leave this earth,
- 4:43you have shown us the way to eternal life through grace by faith.
- 4:50I pray and ask that you guide us through the darkness and lead us in the light of your word.
- 4:59Please remind us daily that your word is everlasting while the earth and its desires are temporary.
- 5:09In Jesus' name, amen.