Bible Reading: Isaiah 61:1
Kids in the United States love playing with a toy called a “sticky hand.” I don’t know what these toys are made from. I do know that they are a gummy, jelly-like toy shaped like a hand on a long arm. When a kid swings the hand by the arm and slaps it onto the wall, the ceiling, or even another person, the hand sticks. Sometimes it can be really hard to get the sticky hand to let loose.
In Isaiah 61, Isaiah talks about his personal relationship with God. In verse one Isaiah says, “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.” Isaiah recognized that God had a plan and a purpose for Isaiah and his life. He understood that he needed to obey God and act on God’s plan.
Why? God had control of Isaiah’s life. In the Contemporary English Version of the Bible, Isaiah 61:1 starts like this: “The Spirit of the Lord God has taken control of me!” Like a sticky hand stuck to the ceiling, God clung to Isaiah and Isaiah clung to God. Isaiah knew that if he intended to do God’s work, it was important not to let go of God, to keep clinging to Him.
When it comes to obeying God and living His plan for our lives, we need to be like a sticky hand. We need to cling to God with all our might. It is only when we cling to God and allow Him to cling to us that we are able to obey Him and do things that are impossible for us without God.
“You shall follow the Lord your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him.” Deuteronomy 13:4 (NASB)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to cling to You so that You can fulfill Your plan for my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.