It’s True! You are Different – June 20, 2022
Read: Isaiah 43:8-13
You are my witnesses, declares the Lord. You are my servant, whom I have chosen, so that you may know me and believe in me, so that you will understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, and after me there will not be another.
Isaiah 43:10
It’s True! You are Different
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” – Dr. Seuss
Dr. Seuss wrote those words in a book about birthdays—celebrating the fact that each of us is unique, with different abilities, interests, and responsibilities.
And it’s true! There’s no one quite like you, no one with the same interests or abilities. Take a moment to name something you’re interested in, something you enjoy, or something that you can do.
In today’s reading from Isaiah 43, God talks about his believers. He says they’re unique and different—and it’s true! You and I are different from those who don’t know Jesus. In the reading from Isaiah 43, God says that people without faith in Jesus are blind and deaf—even though they have eyes and ears.
The reason God calls them “blind and deaf” is because unbelievers don’t know God’s truth. In fact, God says they don’t know any truth!
“Today you are you, that is truer than true…” And God made you to be special, unique, and different. God bought you with the blood of Jesus and brought you into his family through Holy Baptism.
And there’s more! You know God’s truth. You know the truth about time—that God created us to love and serve him, and that we humans sinned against God. You know the truth about salvation—that Jesus died and rose from the dead to win forgiveness, and that he freely shares this forgiveness.
That’s why God says these words in our verse today, “You are my witnesses, declares the Lord. You are my servant, whom I have chosen, so that you may know me and believe in me, so that you will understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, and after me there will not be another.”
We have God’s truth. And he made us to be unique and different. He has made us his witnesses—that we may talk about our Savior to a world that cannot know him any other way.
Closing Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank you for making me your witness. Thank you for giving me certain truth in your Word, that I know where I came from, how you saved me, and where I’m going. Give me the words and the confidence to be your witness. Amen.
The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.
Questions for Younger Children
- What is one way that a Christian is different from someone who doesn’t believe in God (an unbeliever)?
- How did God make you his witness?
Questions for Elementary Age Children
- Why does God call unbelievers “blind and deaf” in Isaiah 43:8,9?
- Take a moment to think. Then name one Bible truth that the world rejects today.
Questions for Middle School and Above
- “We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.” Compare that explanation to the First Commandment with what God says in Isaiah 43:10. Think of at least one thing people trust as their god, even though there is no other God aside from our Triune God.
- God’s words create what God promises. In Isaiah 43:10, God describes three purposes for making us his witnesses. What are they? And how do these three purposes help direct our witnessing?
