Morning Mist

Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. Today's reading, titled Morning Mist, was written by Jennifer Benson Schult. One morning I visited a pond near my house. I sat on an overturned boat, thinking and watching a gentle west wind chase a layer of mist across the water's surface. Wisps of fog circled and swirled.

Many tornadoes rose up and then exhausted themselves. Before long the sun cut through the clouds and the mist disappeared. This scene comforted me because I connected it with a verse I just read in Isaiah chapter 44. I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. I visited the place hoping to distract myself from a series of sinful thoughts I'd been preoccupied with for days. Although I was confessing them, I began to wonder if God would forgive me when I repeated the same sin.

That morning, I knew the answer was yes. Through His prophet Isaiah, God showed grace to the Israelites when they struggled with the ongoing problem of idol worship. Although He told them to stop chasing false gods, God also invited them back to Himself saying, I have made you. You are my servant. I will not forget you. I don't fully grasp forgiveness like that, but I do understand that God's grace is the only thing that can dissolve our sin completely and heal us from it. I'm thankful His grace is endless and divine like He is, and that it's available whenever we need it.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Isaiah chapter 44 verses 9 through 11 and 21 through 23. All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind, they are ignorant to their own shame. Who shapes a god and casts an idol, which can profit nothing? People who do that will be put to shame.

Such craftsmen are only human beings. Let them all come together and take their stand. They will be brought down to terror and shame. And now verses 21 through 23. Remember these things, Jacob, for you, Israel, are my servant. I have made you. You are my servant, Israel.

I will not forget you. I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you. Sing for joy, you heavens, for the Lord has done this. Shout aloud, you earth beneath. Burst into song, you mountains, you forests and all your trees, for the Lord has redeemed Jacob.

He displays his glory in Israel. Let's pray. Dear God, thank you for your gracious presence in our lives and the reminder that you have swept away our offenses like a cloud, our sins like the morning mist. Help us to turn away from the sins that we continue to struggle with and live in the freedom that comes from being freed. Thank you for your forgiveness, Lord. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.