"Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go." Isaiah 48:17

The principal object of most of the wonderful promises found in Isaiah is the nation of Israel. Don't ever forget that—as some Christians do who have surrendered to the error of "replacement theology" by assigning all the biblical curses to Jews and all the blessings to the Church.

Of course, they have no better explanation for the miracle of 4,000 years of Jewish survival and the 1948 rebirth of Israel than to say, "What marvelous coincidences." Nor can they explain the incredible contributions of the Jews to society as God has brought forth wondrous and life-saving discoveries through them. He has truly taught the Jews to profit and has enriched the world through their gifts.

But these encouraging words are also for you and me. We also need God's promise to teach us how to profit and to guide us to His choice of pathways. It's easy to only visualize dollar signs after the word "profit." But that would be a big mistake that could cause us to miss a greater meaning of "What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?"

Of course God cares about our physical needs and delights in teach­ing us ways to profit materially. But even that is to give us the means to bless others through greater generosity rather than build bigger barns only for ourselves. Let the Lord Jesus teach you how to profit spiritually by loving Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Then you can be sure He will teach you how to profit materially in a way that will demonstrate integrity in you and bring glory to Him.

My prayer: "Thank You that You are my Lord, my Redeemer and the Holy One of Israel. Teach me the true meaning of the word "profit" that I might be first enriched spiritually and then witness Your hand in material supply.”

"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (I Corinthians 11:1)
The ST. PAUL SCHOOL, with Frank Eiklor, Eileen Young and Cecilia Contreras