I am currently in a series with my church and growth group that is a read through of the prophets of the Old Testament. This is not an easy series. The prophets had a job that was rough, sometimes very bizarre, and did not always include an easy message.
God is constantly bringing conviction in these books. He is saying "This is wrong. There is no justice in that. I will bring destruction..." But then there are the breaks. When He talks about restoration and promises to save a remnant and bring healing to His people.
You know how we like to pick and choose what we think about or what we focus on? Imagine what it must have been like for these prophets. They were surrounded with constant reminders of the worst of humanity as they tried to bring God's message of Justice through to the people. I wonder how hard it was for them, especially when they had to do strange things. I feel for Hosea as he went back to a wife who was constantly cheating on him. I wonder how Isaiah felt as God told him to spend 3 years naked just to make a point. They didn't get to choose how they spread their message or what their message said. They just had to do it.
Right now our world is in a world of hurt. It is so easy to see where others are wrong without seeing our own sins. We each get so upset about the difficulties we feel we are faced with that we don't see what the other person is facing.
Did you know that there are people out there dying and being put in prison for what they believe in or for their lifestyle? Did you know that there are millions of people currently being held in slavery? One thing that I've noticed reading through Isaiah is that God finds sins in everyone. He brings judgement on all people, regardless of their nationality, sexual orientation, religion, or whatever else.
We know that Christ has fulfilled a provision of grace and even gone as far as to be a substitution for us on the Cross, if we will simply believe in Him, accept Him, and walk in repentance. Instead of getting proud of ourselves as we know "right from wrong" by reading His word, let us also be honest about our own sins and change. Let us live with grace, neither supporting the sins of others nor treating them like dirt. Healing this world starts with humble repentance as well as help to others.
God is constantly bringing conviction in these books. He is saying "This is wrong. There is no justice in that. I will bring destruction..." But then there are the breaks. When He talks about restoration and promises to save a remnant and bring healing to His people.
You know how we like to pick and choose what we think about or what we focus on? Imagine what it must have been like for these prophets. They were surrounded with constant reminders of the worst of humanity as they tried to bring God's message of Justice through to the people. I wonder how hard it was for them, especially when they had to do strange things. I feel for Hosea as he went back to a wife who was constantly cheating on him. I wonder how Isaiah felt as God told him to spend 3 years naked just to make a point. They didn't get to choose how they spread their message or what their message said. They just had to do it.
Right now our world is in a world of hurt. It is so easy to see where others are wrong without seeing our own sins. We each get so upset about the difficulties we feel we are faced with that we don't see what the other person is facing.
Did you know that there are people out there dying and being put in prison for what they believe in or for their lifestyle? Did you know that there are millions of people currently being held in slavery? One thing that I've noticed reading through Isaiah is that God finds sins in everyone. He brings judgement on all people, regardless of their nationality, sexual orientation, religion, or whatever else.
We know that Christ has fulfilled a provision of grace and even gone as far as to be a substitution for us on the Cross, if we will simply believe in Him, accept Him, and walk in repentance. Instead of getting proud of ourselves as we know "right from wrong" by reading His word, let us also be honest about our own sins and change. Let us live with grace, neither supporting the sins of others nor treating them like dirt. Healing this world starts with humble repentance as well as help to others.
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