Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
“O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger. The staff in their hand is my indignation. I will send him against a hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a commandment to take the spoil and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither does his heart think so, but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.”
Isaiah 10:5-7
With those words, long before it happened, God foretold of the Assyrian conquest of the nation of Israel. God chose the Assyrians to strike the death blow to His rebellious people. God put it into the Assyrian king’s heart to conquer nations, including Israel, long before the Assyrian king was aware that such a thought was in him. At the time Isaiah was moved by the Spirit to make this prophecy, the king of Assyria had no idea that he had been chosen by God to destroy His people Israel. “His heart does not think so”, said Isaiah, and “he meaneth not so.” But man’s thoughts and intentions have never determined the fate of nations; God’s thoughts alone do.
What did God put in your heart to do today? With tears, David fervently prayed that God would incline his heart to do what was right. “Incline my heart to your testimonies!” he cried. “Oh, lead me in the way of your statutes!” Young David understood that he was not in control of his destiny. He understood that every right thought comes from God and that every good deed is a gift that God has given us to do. Oh, how blessed we are if we desire to do good and then are strengthened by God to be able to do it!
A wise man asks for no greater reward for doing good than just to be blessed by God to be allowed to do it.