You ain’t seen nothing yet

You ain’t seen nothing yet

For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. – Isaiah 43:19

Revelation 21:5 Behold, I am making all things new.

On May 17, 1971, Godspell opened off-Broadway. Godspell is a musical composed by Stephen Schwartz. The 2011 revival played on Broadway from October 13, 2011, through June 24, 2012. Godspell is a modern-day song-and-dance musical based on the Gospel of St. Matthew.

It presents a series of Jesus’s parables interspersed with music set primarily to lyrics from traditional hymns, with the passion of Christ occurring at the end. It had several remarkably entertaining and poignant songs.

Among them are Day by Day

Day by day, Day by day

Oh Dear Lord Three things I pray

To see thee more clearly

Love thee more dearly

Follow thee more nearly

Day by day

Suppose a child of the King decides to walk with Father day by day; where do they start? Where do spiritual renewal and spiritual formation begin? Of first importance is to recognize that spiritual renewal comes from God. We are not to seek to experience spiritual renewal. Instead, we seek the One who renews the spirit.

The Father redirects our thinking. He teaches us to refocus our attention from the daily necessities of life to seek God first.

Matthew 6:33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

“Spiritual renewal doesn’t come from seeking spiritual renewal. That only results in a temporary emotional high lacking the true substance that God can provide. Instead, seek God and surrender your will to His. Let it be your first thought each morning when you start your day” (Steve Arterburn).

The Exodus from Egypt reveals the ways of the Father. The Exodus presents a repeatable pattern. “It is his standard modus operandi with us, through the finished work of Christ on the cross” (Ortlund and Hughes). The Exodus is the story of redemption. The people of Israel were redeemed from slavery on the one hand and provided the freedom to worship the Father in a whole new way. The Father continually repeats the spirit of the Exodus in the lives of the children of the King, redeeming them from slavery to sin so that they may worship Him in ever more profound, heartfelt ways.

As children of the King, as we walk with the Father, we are renewed day by day. The renewal is not external. It is within.

2 Corinthians 4:16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed day by day.

REFLECT & PRAY

“God loves new things: new songs, new hearts, new heavens, new earth, new names. We should not always look for Him to do in our lives what He has done before, but should learn to expect the unexpected” (Stanley).

Father thank You that You are always prepared to begin something new in our lives as we seek to walk with You day by day.

INSIGHT

Isaiah 43 concerns a not-too-distant future time when the Jewish people would be in Babylonian captivity. The Exodus from Egypt provides a pattern for future exodus-like redemption. The past provides an example of the Father’s miracle-working power. “God’s past actions provide the foundation for his present and future works because his nature is unchanging” (Briley). The Jewish exiles are to trust the Father and depend upon Him for redemption from Babylon.

Isaiah 43:19 For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.

The Father is about to do a new thing for Israel. From the Father’s eternal perspective, the Babylonian captivity is already over. It simply has to be worked out in time. This new thing will be innovative and unexpected. He likens it to a sprout from barren soil. “He would do for the captives in Babylon what He had done for their ancestors in Egypt, namely, make a highway for them through the wilderness and provide them with water (cf. Exodus 17). Instead of turning a sea into dry land, He would turn the dry land into waterways (cf. Isaiah 35:6-7)” (Constable).

As children of the King, we are to apply the principles and present-day circumstances rather than merely reminisce about the past and think about the good old days.

“God never acts out of character, but a part of his character is that he never runs out of new ideas. And he is able in amazing new ways to reenact the exodus in your life and to lead you through some Red Sea barrier confronting you today” (Ortlund and Hughes).  

2 Corinthians 5:17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

A whole new way of life is now open to every child of the King. Although this is true, it can only be actualized by faith in the Father, the living God. Sadly, many children of the King have lost their sense of the presence and reality of the living God in their lives. How do we regain it? It begins when we choose to walk with him day by day. We humble ourselves and ask the Father for help.

As the Father has helped and promised to help Israel, He helps every child of the King.

Isaiah 43:22-44:11

 22 But, dear family of Jacob, you refuse to ask for my help. You have grown tired of me, O Israel!

 25 I – yes, I alone – will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.

 6 This is what the LORD says – Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies: “I am the First and the Last; there is no other God.”

 8 Do not tremble; do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim my purposes for you long ago? You are my witnesses – is there any other God? No! There is no other Rock – not one!”

 22 I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.”

 23 Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done this wondrous thing. Shout for joy, O depths of the earth! Break into song, O mountains, and forests and every tree! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob and is glorified in Israel. Let’s set

Renewal and spiritual formation begin within us. “Reformation is the recovery of God’s purpose for us. Revival is the recovery of God’s life in us. God loves to renew confused and tired people . . .. What then is reformation? Reformation is God renewing in our hearts a passionate clarity about his purpose for us. It is God reawakening in us a love for his truth and his standards. It is God preparing us for the display of his glorious salvation as we reshape every aspect of our lives . . ..” (Ortlund and Hughes).  

We have only to seek the Father in our need and ask for help. A new beginning awaits. You ain’t seen nothing yet!

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© Dr. H 2022