Isaiah 48:1-2, 17-18 NIV
"Listen to this, you descendants of Jacob,
you who are called by the name of Israel
and come from the line of Judah,
you who take oaths in the name of the Lord
and invoke the God of Israel—
but not in truth or righteousness—
you who call yourselves citizens of the holy city
and claim to rely on the God of Israel—
the Lord Almighty is his name:
you who are called by the name of Israel
and come from the line of Judah,
you who take oaths in the name of the Lord
and invoke the God of Israel—
but not in truth or righteousness—
you who call yourselves citizens of the holy city
and claim to rely on the God of Israel—
the Lord Almighty is his name:
This is what the Lord says—
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
"I am the Lord your God,
who teaches you what is best for you,
who directs you in the way you should go.
If only you had paid attention to my commands,
your peace would have been like a river,
your well-being like the waves of the sea.
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
"I am the Lord your God,
who teaches you what is best for you,
who directs you in the way you should go.
If only you had paid attention to my commands,
your peace would have been like a river,
your well-being like the waves of the sea.
"If only..." Those have got to be some of the most distressing words in the English language. "... your peace would have been..." It makes me wonder how often we have come close to blessing only to leave God saying, "If only..." It makes me wonder how many sit in our churches on Sunday morning called by the name of Christ, taking oaths in the name of Christ, "but not in truth or righteousness." It makes me wonder how many prayers have been prayed, "but not in truth or righteousness." It makes me wonder how many call themselves citizens of Heaven and claim to rely of God, but don't.
It causes me to look again at my own life. Has my faith become only words or am I truly trusting God? Have I missed out on seeing God work powerfully in my life or in the lives of others because of my own failure to pay attention to God's commands for and demands on my life? Am I more like Israel than I care to admit?
Father, despite Israel's failure, you chose to use her, protect her, restore her and bless her. I am always amazed by your patience and grace with hardhearted, dull of hearing, self focused people. "Why should he love me so?" becomes my theme song. And yet you love me. Father, forgive me for my own fickleness. Thank you for your grace, mercy, patience and love. Today may I walk with you. Don't allow "what might have been" to be the epitaph of my life.
By His grace,
Rick Weinert
Rick Weinert
Comments
Post a Comment