Keep Not Back
Tuesday’s Devotion
Keep Not Back
“I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, KEEP NOT BACK: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth” -Isaiah 43:6
Because of Israel’s backsliding, they were taken captive by surrounding nations. God was commanding those to the north to release their hold on His people and “KEEP NOT BACK.”
Saints down through the ages “keep not back,” from God. Abraham kept not back his son Isaac (Gen. 22:12). The lad kept not back his two small fishes and five barley loaves. The poor widow at the temple treasury kept not back her two mites, but “cast in ALL that she had, even ALL HER LIVING” (Mk. 12:44). The Macedonians kept not back while in deep poverty, “For to their power. and beyond their power they were willing of themselves” (2 Cor. 8:3).
This admonition can be applied to all Christians today. We should “keep not back” anything from God. This was Paul’s testimony to the elders at Ephesus. He said, “…I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you.” What a testimony! How many Christians can honestly say that?
First, consider that God “kept back nothing,” in His care for you. He promises, “No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Ps. 84:11). “He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things” (Rom. 8:32). God “giveth us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Tim. 6:17). We’re walking on His ground, breathing His air, drinking His water, and enjoying His sunshine. God has kept back nothing!
God “kept back nothing” when He have His Son, the gem of the glory world, to come to this sin cursed planet to die for our sins!
Second, consider that Jesus Christ “kept back nothing” in providing a way for us to go to heaven. “Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Cor. 8:9). Jesus said, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head” (Luke 9:58). He “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:7-8). Christ “kept back nothing.”
Jesus kept back nothing in paying the debt of our sin. He gave His cheeks to the smiters- They blind-folded Him and smote Him. They plucked out His beard. They spit in His face. He gave His back to the scourging. He gave His head to the crown of thorns. He gave His body to the tree (1 Pet. 2:24). He gave His hands and feet to the nails. He suffered, bled and died because He kept back nothing from us. He gave it all.
God said, “KEEP NOT BACK.” Are you keeping back anything from God? Since God the Father kept back nothing from us. Jesus kept back nothing in saving us. Paul kept back nothing that was profitable to us, how can you and I keep back anything from the Lord? You “are not your own. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, WHICH ARE GOD’S” (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Therefore, “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God, which is your REASONABLE service” (Rom. 12:1).
Preacher
