This morning my reading has taken me to Isaiah 2. Two verses popped out at me because they are basically the same, verses 11 and 17. Verse 11 reads:
The lofty looks of man shall be humbled. The haughtiness of man
shall be bowed down, And the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
Verse 17:
The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of
of man shall be brought low; The LORD alone will be exalted in that
day.
The first part of the chapter talks about the LORD's return and ruling on the earth. The next part describes the wickedness of Jacob. The last part is a cry for returning to the LORD for He will judge the earth.
As I read through this chapter, my heart was again pierced by my own sinfulness.
On Thursdays I meet with a dear older friend and we spend time reading the Word and praying. We are also in Isaiah. Our reading for that day was Isaiah 43. We were reminded that He had redeemed us and called us by name (verse 1) and that He "blots out [my] transgressions for [His] own sake; and [He] will not remember [my] sins." (verse 25)
I am so thankful for these verses in Isaiah 43. But daily I wish I wouldn't sin. That is one of my wants. I want to be sinless. I don't want to struggle with it any more. But my main reason for not wanting to do this anymore is I don't want to hurt Him anymore. I long for the day when I can worship Him with a pure and completely thankful heart. When I won't feel the sadness that my sin brings, not only to me, but to Him. I want to glorify Him in everything with no thought of me.
There are many things to look forward to on this earth even though it is damaged by sin. Family, friends, a new grandchild (yes, I'm expecting my first!), being alone with my husband. But more than all of these, I would have to say I truly long for the day when the LORD will rule this earth. To be in His presence is what I want most of all. To see Him as He is. To have Him be the Only One exalted in that day!
Even so come, LORD Jesus, come! Maranatha!
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Idols
It never ceases to amaze me how the Lord ties things together.
A couple of days ago my youngest son came to me and asked me if I had heard about what happened to one of actors from the sitcom "Glee". I told him I only heard bits and pieces. He said he died of an overdose. He then went on to ask me which country had the highest suicide rate. I told him the US. He said I was right. He then asked,"Which country is the most affluent?" I said, "The US." We then went on to talk about the idolatry of North America.
I'm reading through chronologically Kings and Chronicles as well as the prophets in my Quiet Time. Each year as I read through these portions, I find myself shocked by the way Israel and Judah turn to worship what the nations around them are worshipping. In fact one king conquered another, took his idols and began to worship them. How crazy is that? He had conquered this kingdom and began to worship THEIR idols? I don't understand.
I am also reading the book The Explicit Gospel, This is what Matt Chandler and Jared Wilson say:
...we were meant to worship, meant to give glory to something greater
than ourselves. So we interact with the earth in such a way that our heart
and minds should always be being stirred up to how good, beautiful, and
gracious God is to us in what He's given, from His creativity in crafting
flavors, to His beneficence in dispensing the warmth of the sun. The
Scriptural testimony is consistently this: God's chief concern is for His
own glory... the main part of the Bible is God's glorious self-regard. There-
fore, the main point of human life ought to be regard of God's glory.
Then in my reading from Let's Take a Walk Together:
As we consider the Holy and the Just One, perhaps we will more readily
tremble at the thought of sin in our own lives. Perhaps we will think just a
moment longer and resolve to be pure and holy rather than allowing our-
selves to just react or to given in to "this one little thing". And perhaps a
reawakening of holiness in our lives will be a stimulus unto the same in the
lives of those around us.
Looking at the Israelites, I don't believe most of them said, "Today I am going to choose to worship a false god." No I believe it began with small things. Like forgetting that God is the Holy and Just One and choosing to give in to a "little thing". We forget to give thanks to God for being so gracious to us in everything that He gives us from the delicious flavours of food to the wonderful warmth of the sunlight. And slowly but surely I replace Him with things.
Unfortunately, it's not hard to do because the biggest idol that I struggle with is myself. I want to be in control. I want to be happy. I want to do things my way. I am not saying that God is a kill-joy or anything like that. It's just that I don't take the time to put Him where He belongs, First Place. I am reminded of Colossians 1 beginning at verse 16.
For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are
on the earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or
principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and
for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
And He is the Head of the body, the church, Who is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the
preeminence.
Idols are all around me and it's very easy to follow them. What I must remember is that He must have the preeminence in my life.
A couple of days ago my youngest son came to me and asked me if I had heard about what happened to one of actors from the sitcom "Glee". I told him I only heard bits and pieces. He said he died of an overdose. He then went on to ask me which country had the highest suicide rate. I told him the US. He said I was right. He then asked,"Which country is the most affluent?" I said, "The US." We then went on to talk about the idolatry of North America.
I'm reading through chronologically Kings and Chronicles as well as the prophets in my Quiet Time. Each year as I read through these portions, I find myself shocked by the way Israel and Judah turn to worship what the nations around them are worshipping. In fact one king conquered another, took his idols and began to worship them. How crazy is that? He had conquered this kingdom and began to worship THEIR idols? I don't understand.
I am also reading the book The Explicit Gospel, This is what Matt Chandler and Jared Wilson say:
...we were meant to worship, meant to give glory to something greater
than ourselves. So we interact with the earth in such a way that our heart
and minds should always be being stirred up to how good, beautiful, and
gracious God is to us in what He's given, from His creativity in crafting
flavors, to His beneficence in dispensing the warmth of the sun. The
Scriptural testimony is consistently this: God's chief concern is for His
own glory... the main part of the Bible is God's glorious self-regard. There-
fore, the main point of human life ought to be regard of God's glory.
Then in my reading from Let's Take a Walk Together:
As we consider the Holy and the Just One, perhaps we will more readily
tremble at the thought of sin in our own lives. Perhaps we will think just a
moment longer and resolve to be pure and holy rather than allowing our-
selves to just react or to given in to "this one little thing". And perhaps a
reawakening of holiness in our lives will be a stimulus unto the same in the
lives of those around us.
Looking at the Israelites, I don't believe most of them said, "Today I am going to choose to worship a false god." No I believe it began with small things. Like forgetting that God is the Holy and Just One and choosing to give in to a "little thing". We forget to give thanks to God for being so gracious to us in everything that He gives us from the delicious flavours of food to the wonderful warmth of the sunlight. And slowly but surely I replace Him with things.
Unfortunately, it's not hard to do because the biggest idol that I struggle with is myself. I want to be in control. I want to be happy. I want to do things my way. I am not saying that God is a kill-joy or anything like that. It's just that I don't take the time to put Him where He belongs, First Place. I am reminded of Colossians 1 beginning at verse 16.
For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are
on the earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or
principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and
for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
And He is the Head of the body, the church, Who is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the
preeminence.
Idols are all around me and it's very easy to follow them. What I must remember is that He must have the preeminence in my life.
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