October 1
Isaiah 62:6-65:25 | PS 73:1-28 | Prov 24:13-14 | Phil 2:19-3:3
It is so easy to not only forget who we were, but who we are. If we have seen ourselves for the sinners that we are and repented, or changed our minds, and accepted Jesus' sacrifice on our behalf, we have become God's children, heirs of the kingdom. This is the beginning of a true relationship between Father and child and Husband (Jesus Christ) and wife (the church). So, we seek to find a church, get plugged in to various ministries. There is nothing wrong with this, in fact it is a good thing, that is unless you begin moving from relationship to religion. It can be so subtle, almost imperceptible at first. You move from unrighteous sinner, saved by grace, to self-righteousness, in which we adopt the standards of whatever religion and begin comparing and measuring ourselves according to these horizontal or earthly standards. Soon, it is easy to start feeling pretty good, as you are recognized as a solid member of your religious organization. Soon, you seek things other than the humbled position which first reflects how you initially came to the Father. If one forgets the unworthy sinner he or she is, without realizing it, they will find themselves moving further away from God, while at the same time, perhaps, seeking new heights in the eyes of others. May we all keep a healthy perspective of who we are and who God is, and but for His grace and mercy, we would all be nothing.
Isaiah was an amazing prophet, who spoke forth the words of God faithfully over a very long period of time, yet he saw things rightly as we read in Isaiah 64:6-7, "But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away. And there is no one who calls on Your name, Who stirs himself up to take hold of You; For You have hidden Your face from us, And have consumed us because of our iniquities." To understand the extreme nature of Isaiah's analogy, "filthy rags" were used menstrual garments. Yes, Isaiah was elevated in the eyes of many, but he remembered who he really was. God then, and still now reaches out to people, but most are not looking, focused too much on themselves and desiring the praise of others, as we read in Isaiah 65:1-2, "I was sought by those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me. I said, 'Here I am, here I am,' To a nation that was not called by My name. I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, Who walk in a way that is not good, According to their own thoughts." After describing some aspects of their false worship, he goes on to describe them in their self-righteousness in 65:5, "Who say, 'Keep to yourself, Do not come near me, For I am holier than you!' These are smoke in My nostrils, A fire that burns all the day."
He goes on in Isaiah 65 to describe a "remnant" who will be preserved. Unless one maintains a steady reliance on God's Word, one will lose perspective. Prayer must be based on God's Word or it can become overwhelmed with self. Worship can easily become all about us and less about God. We must avoid allowing church to become a "club" in which external factors elevate certain individuals and those individuals actually start believing they are somehow better than the other members. We read in Isaiah 64:8, "But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand." may none of us ever forget this. We are clay, that become usable due to the power of the Holy Spirit, which is given to us by the Father, through His Son. If we forget this, we become lost. It doesn't matter if you have been walking one day or fifty years with the Lord, we need to remember the sinners that we are and the humbled position we need to place ourselves in light of an infinitely holy God. Thank you God for your patience, your grace, and your mercy. Thank you God whenever you allow us to do things in Your name.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: