The Starting Point – Returning to what is Important – A Morning Devotional.

Isaiah 43 Devotional

The Starting Point

Pastor Calvin Cook

March 17, 2025

Key Verse: Isaiah 43:5 “I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you.” (Isaiah 43:5)

For anything to be successful and satisfying there must be a starting point. One of the things that I believe we are experiencing these days and times is that we have no starting point. We jump into or expect others to jump into the same place that we are or think we are in our faith. A foundation has not been laid. The same is true in the expectations of those who have been secure in their progress in faith that they have not considered or remembered their starting point and the foundation that was established.

This is certainly true in our faith journey. It is like sometimes we expect others to be in places that we think we are.  We expect people to be able to jump in at the same place and this causes much despair and even disillusionment on the part of the one who is searching.  

Because of God’s desire to have an intimate and personal relationship with each of us, it is necessary that we also consider that the relationship for each of us will have varying focuses, attention and attitude associated with our relationship with God. Seriously, this should call each of us back to the heart of repentance to the place that we truly are and not where we think we are, especially in those moments of being proud and boastful of how good and religious we are.

The verse from Isaiah 43:5 that we are focusing on this morning should make us keenly aware of God’s desire to draw us back to the place where we need to be. That regardless of where we are, who we are, or where we have been – or even if we have never been in the place we need to be – God is calling us back to the starting point. The starting point being genuinely accepting Jesus, seeking forgiveness for our sins, experiencing redemption and becoming the child to a loving heavenly Father.

God’s promise to gather His people shows His desire to reach the entire world. This mission finds its fulfillment in Jesus, who said, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32). His death and resurrection unite believers across nations, languages, and cultures.

Reflection: During Lent, consider how Jesus is gathering you back to the starting point.