Isaiah 45:18 - "I am the LORD, and there is no other."

For this is what the LORD says- he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited- he says: "I am the LORD, and there is no other.

For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens He is the God who formed the earth and made it, He established it and did not create it a waste place, but formed it to be inhabited, "I am the LORD, and there is none else."

Isaiah 45:18

Commentary

Previously in the chapter, God discloses His plan to use King Cyrus to reestablish the nation of Israel and rebuild the city of Jerusalem. Here, God declares that he is the creator of the heavens and the earth, and He did not create them in vain but for the benefit of humanity. Together, the two themes highlight that God intended the region promised to Abraham to be populated by the Jewish people, despite their current exile in Babylon. And, He will ensure that His intentions come to pass. Christians can also take comfort knowing that God created and redeemed us to participate in His plans of eternal significance on the earth. Therefore, if we surrender our lives to Him, He will ensure we accomplish those purposes.

1 Corinthians 13:11 - When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.

1 Corinthians 13:11

Commentary

Barack Obama referred to this Scripture during his historic inaugural address as the 44th President of the United States. His reference to the nation putting aside the childishness of old thinking that has divided our country captured the apostle Paul's original intent for this famous passage. The Christians of Paul's day were guilty of childish thinking that divided the church. There are many times in our spiritual growth that we have to put petty, childish things away. What childish thinking are you facing today? What petty walls of division need to be put behind you? As we take on the bigger picture of adulthood, we will see those minor infractions for what they are - childish reasoning that point more to our need for change than anything else.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC