Isaiah 61: Double Honor

Instead of your shame, you shall have double honor,
And instead of confusion, they shall rejoice in their portion.
Therefore in their land, they shall possess double;
Everlasting joy shall be theirs.

Isaiah 61:7 (NKJV)

Our Father always goes the extra mile. When the prodigal son came walking home, his grateful father ran to embrace him. The son’s shame walk turned into a home run… that continues to move straying hearts home.

Therein, God always gives more than He asks. When we give Him a slim-cut ten percent, He gives us back more:

'Pressed down, shaken together, and running over' (Luke 6:38); to 'Open the floodgates of Heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it' (Malachi 3:10).

His standard is exceeding abundance,* and He applies it to restoration. After His servant, Job, lost everything, 'The Lord blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the former part' (Job 42:12). 'Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before' (v.10).

After Israel was left in ruins and its people taken to Babylon,** the Father ushered them home to blessings: 'Return to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope. Even today I declare that I will restore double to you' (Zechariah 9:12).

HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO ENTERTAINMENT?

When a morality code (the Hays Code), lost its place in Hollywood, Christians left.** Idols grew into unchallenged monsters that swallowed life as most people knew it. Like Jonah, we lived in the beast’s belly… because media is all-consuming.

The faithful few who traveled willingly… to what became earth’s greatest mission field were met with prejudice and even shame. For decades, major doors were closed to them. The reach of their witness was limited. Consider those actors your advance guard.

Today a new generation rises! Like David running toward Goliath, actors, models and talent for Christ run toward media. But instead of winning with a small rock, You win your roles on THE Rock called Jesus.

As you know, He changed battle strategies, because He won earth’s greatest war with love.

'The prince of the power of the air' (Ephesians 2:2) is POWERLESS to stop campaigns of love!

And YOU get a value-added bonus: double honor in this land at this time. Because God has opened this field for you!

Isaiah 61: Double Honor (Part 8)

* ‘Now to Him Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen’ (Ephesians 3:20-21).

** This epic disaster befell them as a terrible consequence of their stubborn greed, pride, and idolatry.

NOTE: This is a 2023 update of a 2013 Carey Lewis Devotion. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players. Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings.