Today I'm inviting you to join me as we listen to God speak through Isaiah 59:1-13. This passage may convict you personally or it may make you feel for the people around you, the masses who need Jesus so desperately. What are you hearing?
Their thoughts are evil thoughts; ruin and destruction mark their ways. The way of peace they do not know. (v. 7-8)
We humans are a sad lot. We think by asserting our own desires above God, doing whatever we want, that we will get the good life. We're consistenly attracted to evil. Our community is filled with people going their way, so oblivious to the place their choices are leading them. When we go recklessly down that path, what do we get? Ruined relationships, deep disappointment, broken hearts, diseases bodies, corrupted thinking, and lots of worry and frustration. A strong sense of inner peace, peace with God and peace with other people is in pretty short supply in America today, and the world as a whole.
Yet God can and will give us a new start. If only we would learn to trust him! And once we have given our lives to him we have got to look around us and see who we introduce to the peace we have found. People need Jesus! They will never find the good life and real peace without him. God, I know you want me to be deeply impressed with that fact. You want me to long for others to know you and the peace you bring. But it's more than wanting it for them. It's reaching out to them. It's taking the time to get to know them, to invest in their lives. And it's finding those natural moments to put in a word for you about the difference you make in my life and asking thoughtful questions to help get them thinking about their own. So I am a tool in your hand today, Lord. Direct me to the people you want me to touch and give me enough love for them to not just go on my busy way. Make me a peacemaker in this most important sense--someone who helps others find peace with you. Amen.
Please share your thoughts and impressions on what God is saying to you in this text! Log into your Google account first or just select Anonymous from the drop-down men below. Go ahead!
Oh I SO thank God for restarting my life. EACH and EVERY time I needed it, and WILL need it. God's not finished with us yet, and until He is, we'll keep living and learning and perhaps making the wrong decisions. But God's love and grace will guide us through, each and every time. I am SO SO grateful! He brings peace to my troubled mind. I pray that I can share that peace and love with others. I pray that when others look at me or to me, that they see God and not Kristal. I pray in the name of Jesus that the peace of God be with each and every one of us reading this blog and putting into practice God's word. AMEN
ReplyDeleteI was one who was convicted by this reading! When I read this for the first time yesterday, I was in the middle of "going on my busy way" and had to take a step back after reading this. So, thank you, Chris for choosing these verses to focus on!! I can be really good about sharing Christ's love w/ others when time is not an issue, but when I feel pressed for time I tend to focus more on completing the task. When I do this I am not focused on sharing the love of Christ with others. Boy, I'm sure glad God doesn't do that to me!
ReplyDeleteLord, thank you for speaking to my heart about my need to share your love w/ others at all times, no matter how much time I have at hand. There are others who need your love and, in my work, I may be meeting w/ those who are at the end of their time here on earth. Help me, Father, to be intentional about my witness for you. Please, Holy Spirit, fill me and move me to share your love with those around me. Thank you for saving me and help me to remember that someone took the time to share your love w/ me when I was so lost myself. I love you Lord....help me to show that to others!
Michele