Isaiah 7:7-18:7

In the past, people would build statues of idols to worship. Today, we build idols to worship in our minds. However God is the sole being who deserves our worship. There is no other god who is greater than my God. He deserves all our praises, our trust, our faith. No one else. Our eyes will be only set on You, Lord Heavenly Father. We will not look at the alters that our mind has made or even physical alters for the apparent worship of other deities. 

God, I fully acknowledge that you are my Rock. You are my foundation and the fortress that protects me from the evil of this world. And I know that if I don't believe that then no matter how much good work I put into this life, it will do nothing on the day of Judgement. The harvest of my work can't be used to determine my faith in You. 

As I'm going through this passage, one thing that it reminded me was humility. Am I humble before the Lord, knowing that I'm small but He's great? Can I accept any rebuke or criticism from the Lord, knowing that it's always for my benefit and never for harm? There are times when I get prideful and arrogant, but God reminds me in small ways but with impact that I should be the opposite: humble and modest. 

Isaiah 18:2

which sends envoys by sea in papyrus boats over the water. Go, swift messengers, to a people tall and smooth-skinned, to a people feared far and wide, an aggressive nation of strange speech, whose land is divided by rivers.

Another great reference to missions. Missions isn't suppose to be a comfortable journey. It's uncomfortable and sometimes risky. Global missions involves us going to a place where we're not familiar with, with possibly people who don't speak the same language as you. However those are not reasons to not go, it's the more reason to go. If everyone stepped back from missions because of these simple barriers, then how would the Good News be spread to the unreached. How will they get to experience God's love and grace. If we think like that then we're too selfish. We're holding onto God's blessing for ourselves. Don't let that happen!

Once a banner is raised and once a seed has been planted, people will begin to take notice and realize the Lord around them. They will begin to see and hear it, but it starts off with taking that leap of faith and risk, to go into an area that is unknown to you.

God will provide us the resources, the perseverance, the boldness, the courage, the strength, the heart, and the love that's needed and should be given to the unreached. It will be a constant stream of the Lord's love upon us, so that the outpouring of His love in us can extend to those who've never felt His mighty and great presence. 

Isaiah 18:7

At that time gifts will be brought to the lord Almighty from a people tall and smooth-skinned, from a people feared far and wide, an aggressive nation of strange speech, whose land is divided by rivers-- the gifts will be brought to Mount Zion, the place of the Name of the Lord Almighty. 

Our initiative to spread the Good News will not be wasted. There is bound to be some people who will accept the Lord as their saviour. My God will be showered with gifts and praises out of love and thanksgiving. People who we initially think will never encounter the Lord may in fact be the ones who sees the greatness of God and the power of Jesus. God, we love you and may everything we do bring you all glory, honour, and power!