November 7

Morning

Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are ever before Me. — Isa 49:16 BSB

No doubt part of the wonder wrapped up in the word "Behold" is stirred by the unbelieving lament in the preceding sentence. Zion said, "The Lord has forsaken me! My God has forgotten me." How shocked the divine mind seems to be at such faithless doubt! What could be more astounding than the baseless fears and suspicions of God’s favored people?

The Lord’s gentle word of correction should cause us to blush. He says, "How could I forget you—when I’ve engraved you on the palms of My hands? How dare you doubt My constant remembrance, when your very image is set upon My flesh?" O unbelief, how strange you are! We hardly know what is more amazing—God’s faithfulness or our unbelief! He keeps His promise a thousand times, yet the next trial we face makes us question Him again. He never fails. He is never a dry well, never a setting sun, never a fading vapor. Yet we are constantly troubled by worries, harassed by doubts, and plagued by fears, as if our God were a mirage in the desert.

"Behold" is a word meant to inspire admiration. And truly, here is something to marvel at! Heaven and earth should be amazed that rebels like us are granted such closeness to the heart of infinite love, as to be engraved on the palms of His hands. "I have engraved you." It doesn’t say, "Your name." The name is there, but that’s not all—"I have engraved you." See how complete this is! I have engraved your person, your image, your story, your circumstances, your sins, your temptations, your weaknesses, your needs, your works! I have engraved all of you—everything about you, all that concerns you is right there. Will you ever say again that God has forgotten you when He has engraved you on His own hands?

Evening

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. — Acts 1:8 BSB

To learn how to fulfill your duty as a witness for Christ, look to His example. He was always witnessing—whether at the well of Samaria, in the temple in Jerusalem, by the lake of Gennesaret, or on the mountain. He was witnessing day and night; His powerful prayers were as much a witness to God as His daily acts of service. He witnessed under every circumstance; neither scribes nor Pharisees could silence Him. Even before Pilate, He gave a bold testimony. He was so clear and distinct in His witness that no one could misunderstand Him.

Christian, let your life be a clear testimony. Be like a stream so pure that you can see every stone at the bottom—don’t be like a muddy creek where only the surface is visible. Be transparent, so that your love for God and for others is clear to all. You don’t need to say, "I am true!"—just be true. Don’t boast about your integrity—live with honesty, and your testimony will be undeniable.

Never hold back your witness out of fear of others. Your lips have been touched with a coal from the altar, so let them speak as lips touched by heaven should. "In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening don’t withhold your hand." Don’t watch the clouds or worry about the wind—whether the time seems right or not, witness for the Savior. And if for Christ’s sake and the gospel’s you face suffering of any kind, don’t shrink back—rejoice that you are counted worthy to suffer with your Lord. Rejoice also that your suffering, your losses, and your persecution will become a platform from which you can witness for Christ with even greater power. Study the example of Jesus, and be filled with His evangelistic spirit. Remember, you need much teaching, much support, much grace, and much humility if your witness is to glorify your Master!