Daily Devotional for July 7, 2010

Isaiah 43:1

Descendants of Jacob, I, the LORD, created you and formed your nation. Israel, don't be afraid. I have rescued you. I have called you by name; now you belong to me.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

Recently I was watching episodes of TLC’s Cake Boss. A man from Italy came into the shop and asked Buddy, the “Cake Boss,” to make an authentic Italian tiramisu cake for his parents, who were coming from Italy for a visit. Buddy made the cake, following a family recipe his own father had used, and he created a beautiful tiramisu for this man. He also made an extra cake in a small container. When the man and his wife came to collect their cake, Buddy passed out spoons and invited them to taste the smaller tiramisu. Buddy took the first bite and proudly showed off his skills as a baker.

Why is this important… and why did the baker take the first bite? It goes back to an old adage among good cooks… “Never serve your guests something you would not eat yourself.” And in some instances, kings and rulers even had tasters who “tested” food for them to make sure it was safe for them to eat!

You may be wondering what on earth this has to do with Isaiah 43:1. My point is that God has created us… He’s done all the prep work AND the sampling, and we are His pride and joy – His beautiful creation. We belong to Him, and He has put His “stamp” on each of us. So we truly have nothing to fear. This is the ultimate endorsement. Whatever we face, God is there with us… guarding His prized possessions and clearing the way for us.

The question for us becomes… “Are we living up to this honor?” None of us deserve it, but we can do all in our power to show our honor and respect to God for this gift by operating in confidence and courage. Are you courageous today? No matter what you are facing, have you put your trust in your Creator to guide your steps? Thank God for choosing you, and honor Him in the way you live each day. Do all you can to be a person of courage and faith… and believe in God to do the rest.

©2010 Debbie Robus

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