Never Stop Trusting God

Isaiah 31:1 and 3 -  Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help;  and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many;  and in horsemen, because they are very strong;  but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD.  Now the Egyptians are men, and not God;  and their horses flesh, and not spirit.   When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together. 

 

Isaiah’s words were for those that had stopped trusting God…and began to call on other Gods. It got so bad that they even began to call on the other nations God had told them to have nothing to do with. They forgot the miracles of God…and began to trust in the visual strength of huge chariots…and sheer numbers of people in the armies. They began to trust in men instead of God.

 

It is always tempting…to place our trust in what we can actually put our hands on…what our eyes can see.  Many of us are like Thomas…who need to see the holes where the nails pierced his hands and feet… and feel the scar where Christ was pierced before we believe. But while we are waiting for God to appear in that upper room…satan is hard at work trying to trick us with that concrete object that he knows our heart is longing for.

 

If we bite that lure that satan dangles in front of us…because we begin to doubt that God is really still at work in our lives…not only do we miss the miracle…but we miss the chance to learn more about trusting the father with everything.  It’s like those trust exercises where you have to fall into the locked arms of two other people…you are a good chunk of human…and the two picked to catch you are small frail chunks of God’s creation.  You have to trust that they will catch you…and it’s hard for the logical side of your brain to believe that they can do it.  The odds are just not in their favor.

 

Trust works with a different part of your body.  It works with the heart and soul.  It takes the unseen and makes it a strong enough dream in your soul so your mind and spirit and help it grow into something that is just not of this world…because it is from God.  If we trusted God as much as we trust other things…then we would see the kind of miracles that Jesus showed people while he lived on this Earth.

 

It must be really hard though…cause we don’t read in the Bible that all of them started performing miracles with the faith and trust Jesus had tried to build.  Peter sure got it...his trust grew into such faith …that people found power in just his shadow. (Read Acts 5.) Peter used his faith to strengthen others…and heal…and preach the gospel under all kinds of stress and persecution.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that you want me to trust you more than I trust anything else.  Forgive me for the times that I have placed my trust in anything else but you.  And thank you for cleaning up the mess my bad choices made.  Help me to focus on you so completely that my heart stays totally dedicated to trusting everything you tell me to do.  Amen.

Trust In God Enough To Ask For His Help

Isaiah 30:1-2 - "Destruction is certain for my rebellious children," says the LORD. "You make plans that are contrary to my will. You weave a web of plans that are not from my Spirit, thus piling up your sins.  For without consulting me, you have gone down to Egypt to find help. You have put your trust in Pharaoh for his protection.

 

Isaiah was never afraid to tell the people like it was. God told him what to say…and he said it...exactly the way God wanted it said. This time it was a message to the rebellious people who had made plans that did not include God. They had put their trust in everyone but God and woven a web of sin that disgusted God.

 

Reminds me of those lies I used to tell when I was younger…. You know the cover up lies you hd to tell to cover up the first lie you told.  Pretty soon you had told your third or fourth...and dug a hole so big you needed help to get out of the hole. In fact…one of the hardest lessons I ever learned because of  lie happen when I was just in second grade.

 

The short version involves blowing a bubble…with that old style bubble gum…. so big it popped on my face…made a huge black mark around my mouth…that stayed there till I got home.  I simply lied and told my mom the teacher taped my mouth shut. That was easier than getting in trouble for having gum at school…right…wrong.  The web of lies I told prompted my mom to go talk to the teacher…and she convinced my mom not to tell me the truth…that I had been caught.  No…my mom asked me every day for two weeks if I had been good…if the teacher had taped my mouth again.  And yes…it worked…I finally broke and told on myself….and oddly enough…that was my punishment.

 

The sins we commit are just like that if left in rebellion.  We keep making more plans without God and end up in a huge mess. And if we leave our souls in rebellion too long…we will destroy ourselves. God sure doesn’t want that for us…so he made a way for us to repent of all that rebellion.  To ask his forgiveness…to begin to consult with him about what we should do…and when we should do it.

 

What’s really cool is that God lets the mess we got into….be our punishment…and then he even gives us a huge leg up out of the hole we dug ourselves into.  He just wants our full attention….so we will always ask him what to do.

 

Father…thank  you for the reminder that rebellion is not a good thing.  Forgive me for the times that I have let rebellion steer me far away from your will.  Help me to always keep my heart focused on you so that I will remember that you know the best way for me to handle everything. Amen.

Break Out Of Your Routines....Examine the Reasons You Do Things

Isaiah 29: 13-15 -And so the Lord says, "These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away. And their worship of me amounts to nothing more than human laws learned by rote.  Because of this, I will do wonders among these hypocrites. I will show that human wisdom is foolish and even the most brilliant people lack understanding."  Destruction is certain for those who try to hide their plans from the LORD, who try to keep him in the dark concerning what they do! "The LORD can't see us," you say to yourselves. "He doesn't know what is going on!"

 

Isaiah’s message here is pretty clear. We don’t always honor our commitments…to others around us…or God. He sees everything we think…and do….or will do in the future.  We could never hide anything from God. God is the smartest person ever…and no human will ever learn the deepest secrets of how he created the world…let alone what day and hour he plans on coming back to get us.

 

The real problem is that religion becomes too routine and ordinary…and we slip from the realness of his presence into a self-sufficient world of ‘I can do it myself.’  Jesus used almost the same words when he spoke with the Jewish leaders of his day…he said in Matthew 15:8-9… “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away. Their worship is a farce, for they replace God's commands with their own man-made teachings. "   Mark even recorded his direct quote from this passage in Isaiah in Mark 7:6-7.

 

The only way I know of to break the routines is to keep your worship and religious practice focused on the model of Christ.  To walk in humility…to put others before one’s self….to really pray with fervent emotions…to study the Bible with passion…to really seek God with your whole heart and soul…body and spirit.

 

I have to ask myself constantly if I am doing what I do for God because of a habit….or because I feel in my heart it is what he wants me to do. And I have to admit that I do things out of habit more than I should…because routines feel safe.  Routines help us set boundaries…and are not evil in themselves….but they become tools of evil if we let the routine become the reason for what we do. The Jewish laws were given to us ...the ten commandments are still valid and good.  But Christ who came to fulfill the law…wants us to really look inside them…and see the people they were written for….not the piece of paper they were written on.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that I need to guard my heart from being too routine.  Forgive me for the times I have done things out of pure habit. Help me to see the deeper meaning in each rule you gave us to follow…and see the reason you ask me to follow it…instead of the mere words that make it take form on the paper.  Amen.

Build Your House On The Rock...Then Care For It Every Day

Isaiah 28:16 - Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem. It is firm, a tested and precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never run away again.

 

Every chapter of Isaiah holds a new surprise. He shares every emotion available to us…from sadness…fear…joy…and humbleness. This chapter he shares with us a basic concept of Christianity.  God told him to tell us that God is to be our foundation.  We don’t need to take anything away from it…or add anything new.

 

Isaiah was not the only one to share this with us.  Luke 6 and Matthew 7 both record the words of Jesus about how important our foundation is.  If we build on God…his solid rock…then our lives will always have the support we need…even in a harsh storm.  But if we choose to build on anything else…it will be like sand…shifting with every wind that blows.

 

Having a great foundation allows you to grow and become a mature Christian….to stop drinking all that milk….bottle fed by what others say they have learned. He expects you to study his word…to read and discover its truths for yourself.  He expects you to build a deep relationship with him…deeper than the one you had with your parents…deeper than the most intimate relationship you have ever had with anyone else.  He wants to meet with you every day…and hear your troubles…catch your tears…comfort you.  He wants to hear you praise him and share all the joy you feel in the blessings he has allowed in your life.

 

I admit…as I do most days…that I fall so short of letting God be the consistent rock of my life.  My biggest sin…is building a house on the rock…but leaving it to the elements too many times.  When I leave it for too long...satan creeps in and weathers it greatly.I know it is always there…and I go to my house on the rock in the worst times…but venture too far away from it when things are going well.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that I need to stay closer to the foundation you gave me to build on.  I thank you for never letting the house we built together completely crumble…and praise  you for taking care of it for me when I strayed away.  Forgive me for not staying so close to you that I saw my sin on my own. Help me to remember the words of Isaiah….so you can build my house stronger than it has ever been. Amen.

Discipline Is Good....Use It To Learn How To Do It Right

Isaiah 27:7-9 -  Has the LORD punished Israel in the same way he has punished her enemies? No, for he devastated her enemies,  but he has punished Israel only a little. He has exiled her from her land as though blown away in a storm from the east.  The LORD did this to purge away Israel's sin. When he has finished, all the pagan altars will be crushed to dust. There won't be an Asherah pole or incense altar left standing.

 

Many of Isaiah’s messages gave warnings to the Jewish people to turn from the sin in their life and worship only God. God punished them greatly when they did not listen…even giving them second and third chances to change their ways. This message also included just how serious it was for those that did not know Christ at all….who lived in sin continually…and drew his people to worship false Gods and idols. Those places had been completely destroyed…no one left. 

 

Someone must have complained that their punishment was unjust…harsh…a little too undeserving.  For Isaiah takes the time to make a stark comparison between the two groups of people.  Punishment… harsh as it may have been…was a far less thing than death. Punishment….undeserving as each Jew felt it was….brought a way for them to stop sinning...and come back to God for one of those second …or third chances.

 

I can’t help but think back to raising my own children. As bad as life gets for them some days…cause nobody is perfect…how much worse their lives would be if I had never disciplined them?  Sometimes I think I was way too soft on them….and didn’t discipline them enough. But when I look at some of the lesson I know they learned…I know I didn’t drop the ball completely.

 

That’s how it is with God’s love.  We go off on a track by ourselves and lose our way…and he steps in with a lesson…sometimes devastating….to get our attention.  We either gripe and whine…even get angry and bitter …or change our tune quickly and get back on track.

 

We could be like Jonah….who accepted his call to preach…but did not like where he was sent to deliver the message of God.  He ran…hid on a ship…got tossed overboard…and swallowed by a fish.  (Read Jonah 1 for the unabridged version.)God left him there three days before he relented and obeyed. OR…we could be like Paul….who got way off track…even to the point of killing the very Christians that he was supposed to be worshiping with. (Look at Acts 9 for the whole story.) He definitely got the point quickly…and got to work correcting his mistake…even for the rest of his life.

 

The point to both of these stories is that even though God disciplined them...they both got the point and became willing vessels of God to spread the gospel.  At times I have mirrored the personality of both…and even though I have never murdered another Christian…I may as well of given those I did not share  the gospel of God with…. a death sentence.

 

Father…thank you for reminding me that discipline is good.  Thank you for providing times that I had to stop and rethink my walk with you.  Forgive me for the times I have been like Jonah… and ran…or just plain covered my ears to your will.  Forgive me for the times that I kept my mouth shut…and di dnot share your love with others.  Please God if it is not too late…and any of those people I let slip through the cracks has a chance to be saved….let someone…even me cross their paths…so they can learn about you…so I can even do it right this time.  Amen.

The Keys to Perfect Peace

Isaiah 26:3-4 - You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the LORD always, for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock.

 

It was one of the rare times we get to hear a positive word from Isaiah.  This chapter is full of the promises and blessings that God pours out on us when we stay in his perfect will.   Isaiah must have tucked this moment of positive thought away to help carry him through the harder days when he had to deliver harsh judgment from God.

 

I have to admit that I thought about the fact that just because I am being obedient…doesn’t mean I am gonna enjoy a peaceful calm life full of good things. But then again…Can I ever be sure that I am truly fixed completely on God…trust him so completely so that he can pour out the blessings and promise of Isaiah here.

 

My Life Application Bible pointed out that Isaiah defined the strongest relationship with God in the verses following.  Look closely at verses 8-9….and you will see that a righteous person was defined by Isaiah as one who does God’s will….searches for God day and night….and glorifies god with everything they do.  

 

I have to admit that I fall way short of this definition.  If I am totally honest I have to admit that most mornings I groan and stretch and beg god for a bit of time to be lazy….think way more about what I want to do instead of ask him what he wants me to do…and fall asleep most nights like the disciples did in the garden the night before Jesus died…my weak prayers slowly taken over by the physical need to sleep.

 

Thank God he does not give up on this old lady that has trouble staying focused on him…and he won’t give up on you either.   He told us in Deuteronomy 31:6… “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid of them! The LORD your God will go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you." And Jesus even told us in Matthew 28:20…. “Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

 

Father…thank you for the promise of being my BFF. Forgive me for the times that I have let my selfishness and pride get in the way of your plan for my life. Help me to embrace your promise anew this day…and carry your light to others who have lost their way. Thank you for never giving up on me…even chasing me down and gently tapping me on the shoulder till I listened.  Help me to focus more on you…so I can begin to grow and truly understand what it means to do your will….glorify your name…and search for you day and night.  Amen.

Its Gonna Get Worse....So Share The Gospel

Isaiah 24:3-5-  The earth will be completely emptied and looted. The LORD has spoken!  The earth dries up, the crops wither, the skies refuse to rain.  The earth suffers for the sins of its people, for they have twisted the instructions of God, violated his laws, and broken his everlasting covenant.
It must have been really hard for Isaiah to deliver these words to everyone.  He spoke of the time when Earth as we know it will be destroyed. It would dry up…refuse to rain….and be completely emptied.  God would reach his limits …and bring about a time of judgment for all.

I thought of the promise that God made to Noah in Genesis…and said to myself surely not.  But then I remembered his words to Noah were that he would not destroy every living creature. This passage says that he is only going to destroy the Earth…the people would remain to suffer from the sparseness of the land.
Perhaps God did this on a smaller scale in Isaiah’s day….but I believe that we still have a similar time to come. You can read more about the details in Revelation.  It’s gonna be super bad for anyone left on the Earth. My heart wants to believe that God will rapture me up before it happens…but the Bible is confusing about those details…and I may be left to prove my faith is strong enough….perhaps using me to help others during this horrible time.

That thought reminds me of the last visit he had with his disciples before his ascension.  Luke 24:47 records his words just before he blessed them and told them to expect the Holy Spirit to embed them with the same power he had used while he was here.  It says…. “With my authority, take this message of repentance to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: 'There is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to me.'” 

That message was for me…and anyone else who has given their heart and life to God. We were charged with the task of spreading his gospel.   We were charged with the task of healing the sick and broken.  We were charged to continue the work that Jesus modeled for us during his 33 years on Earth. Just read Matthew 28:19-20….or Matthew 10:1 …or 2 Timothy 4:1-2…or Mark 16:15…or Galatians 6:9….or Psalm 96:3…or John 20:19-23…or 2 Thessalonians 2:14-15…or 1 Corinthians 11:1-2 to name just a few places in the Bible he left as our guidebook.

Father…thank you for the reminder that I was given life to realize the great sacrifice you made to save me…and use my tie here on Earth to spread the power of salvation to others. Forgive me for not taking the charge to spread your gospel seriously enough in my 55 years of life.  Help me to focus more on you so I can be a more effective vessel of your love. Help me to never forget that a time is coming when you will judge me…so that I will always keep my eyes and heart focused on you.  Use me Lord…oh use me to do the work you have planned.  Open my ears and eyes and heart to hear you clearly all the time. Amen.