Reference Verses
"The bed is too short on which to stretch out, and the blanket is too small to wrap oneself in." - Isaiah 28:20
"Because this people draw near with their words and honor me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts far from me, and their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote.." - Isaiah 29:13
"Woe to the rebellious children who execute a plan, but not Mine.." - Isaiah 30:1
"Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses and trust in chariots because they are many and in horseman because they are strong, but they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the Lord!" - Isaiah 31:1
"The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You." - Isaiah 26:3
"Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed." - Isaiah 28:16
"On that day the deaf will hear words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see. The afflicted ones also will increase their gladness in the Lord, and the needy of mankind will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel." - Isaiah 29:18-19
"Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long/wait for Him... ...Your Teacher will no longer hide Himself, but your eyes will behold your Teacher. Your ears will hear a word behind you, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right of to the left." - Isaiah 30:18, 20b-21
"Until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field is considered as a forest... ...and the work of righteousness will be peace, and the service of righteousness quietness and confidence forever." - Isaiah 32:15, 17
Examining Texts
Wow. Over and over I keep seeing the same things in these passages. God is denouncing those who have put their trust in their own abilities or the abilities of others instead of looking to Him. People are making their own plans.. and going their own ways, and I love the description God gives of this in Isaiah 28:20 - it is like laying down on a bed too short with a sheet to small to cover you... It just won't work. That is what our works are - too short... to small to cover our sin. On our own, we cannot make it. There are even those who say all the right things and do many of the right things, but their hearts are far from God. They do these things because they have disciplined themselves to live in such a way, but they remain masters of their own souls. This too is disaster. Works cannot cover our heart problem. How we respond to this truth says everything about our souls. Many, when faced with this dilemma, will turn to others - to Egypts and horses and chariots - because they are big and strong, but this will not work either. The blind cannot lead the blind! The people must seek the Lord! Those who look to the Lord and trust in Him will have perfect peace, and God offers this perfect peace by laying a stone, the tested stone, the costly cornerstone. All who believe in it - in Christ! - will not be disturbed. The deaf will hear His voice, and the blind will see Him. The afflicted ones will rejoice, and the needy will rejoices in the Lord. Why? The Lord longs to be gracious. It is His desire to save us. Those who long/wait for Him are blessed - because they will know their Teacher. They will see Him and hear His voice leading them in every way. His Spirit will be poured out on them, turning wildernesses into fertile fields and forests. Why? Because the work of righteousness brings peace, quietness and confidence forever. When God's Spirit is poured out on a man - his/her soul is made alive for ever! It has rest from all these works that cannot cover the problem... and is free to see and know GOD, leading to confidence forever in Him. His plan has and always will be salvation and rest in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. To try and go any other way is to be a rebellious child executing a plan that will always lead to death...
Application
Application
Well, there is so much in this, but I will stick to what is truly hitting me hard this week. In my Christian walk, it is so easy to make things about me - doing the right thing and avoiding the wrong. I can make plans for going out and doing godly things, and I can dream about future works and plans... but if these plans are not His plans, I am sleeping on a bed too short for me. Somewhere in all of this there is a subtle shift that takes God's things and turns them into MY things. I look to my own plans... I look to help from others... and I wonder why it is hard to find rest and peace. Especially right now as I think about the future. I do not know what life after June has in store, and I catch myself obsessing over what is next. Why can't I walk in peace? MY EYES ARE NOT SET ON HIM!! I AM NOT TRUSTING HIM! I was made to seek Him, to know Him, and to walk with Him. I was made to set my eyes on Him and to long/wait for Him. He has been so gracious to me. He has given me the chief cornerstone, and He has placed His Spirit within me. If I cannot walk in peace, it is because I am not seeking Him and listening to Him. My job has and always will be to look to Him in faith. I love Isaiah 32:17 - "The work of righteousness will be peace and quietness and confidence forever." Who accomplished the work of righteousness? Christ! In Christ their is peace, quietness, and confidence forever. So application for today... and always needs to be - look to the Lord and trust in Him. His plans are always for His glory and to produce a crop for Himself. I can trust in His plans and His mercy. In Christ, He has given me a bed long enough to sleep in, and a sheet long enough to cover me. He alone is my Teacher, and He alone will tell me when to turn and where to go. I can trust that.
Prayer
Prayer
"Father, I come before you with a thankful heart. Your constant reminders to look to You above all else are exactly what I need, because all that I need is You. You are my Teacher. You have laid a perfect foundation in Christ, providing a righteousness that brings real peace, quietness, and confidence in You forever. You have given me Your Spirit - transforming my heart and soul from death to life! You have given me a new heart, that I might seek and know you. Help me to hide Your word in my heart - to treasure it that I might not sin against you. Grant me a steadfast mind. Give me eyes to see You and ears to hear Your voice. Help me to walk in faith - to trust You in all things. You hold my future in Your hands. My life is Yours. I no longer live, but it is Christ alive in me. Lead me as You please. May I not wander from Your path, devising my own plans. Help me to wait on You. I want to know You and to trust You. Help me! Father, I do not ask these things for me own gain. I ask them because I want to live a life worthy of Your name. I desire to be found faithful with what You have given me. For the glory of Your name, Lord. Amen."
No comments:
Post a Comment