Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

I would love to claim this scripture for myself. I try to keep my mind stayed on the Lord and for the most part I do a fair job of it. I am not in perfect peace all the time, but I have moments. So is it wrong of me to try and claim this verse?

Isaiah 26:1 and 27:1 both begin with “In that day…” which is prophecy content directed at a specific day and specific events. Verse 3 is caught up in that prophetic vision and by virtue of inclusion relates to those on that day. I have read all the prophecy related and must say I am not in that day.

Psalm 85:10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

I would be better off claiming this verse because the blessings of peace are not dependent upon me. They stem from the salvation offered in 85:9 and acts of the Lord in 85:11. That leaves me out of it as pertaining to perfect performance.

I saw this today because I jumped at a conclusion associated with “In that day”. I learned a valuable lesson in reading the prophetic word by making that error. If I could pass this lesson on, perhaps others might benefit from it.

If your assertions do not lead to the same conclusions that are identified at the end of the prophetic message, you were hasty. Here is the conclusion.

Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

Do not be hasty. Wait on the Lord.

Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

Yesterday I posted the results of a web search at biblegateway.com. I made no comment about the results. I saved that for today. What I found so intriguing about the results was the progression of scriptures that is literally stepping out of the darkness and into the light.

That first verse indicates self-defilement, what we do to ourselves alone without Christ. The last verse is so powerful, it is walking with the Lord and standing against the devil by holding fast the name and faith of Jesus Christ.

There is a steady progression of attitudes and results as we examine those results. The pride of life in Ecclesiastes, the hiding of our faces in Isaiah, and the declaration that the Lord is coming for you in Jeremiah.

Daniel begins the acknowledgement of God’s sovereignty and surrender to His Lordship. From there on into the New Testament there is the worship and glory of what the Lord has done in us. Not that we have done anything of ourselves, by our own will, but by the mere fact that we are in Christ, and He takes care of His own.

It is such a perfect picture of the gospel of Christ and answered simply by asking the bible one poignant question, “Who Works In” me. Darkness? Or Light?

If you can see yourself in darkness, come out of the darkness and step into the light.

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.