He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. (Isa. 53:3)
We want a warrior Messiah. We want the Jesus mean and wild. We want the celebrity Jesus all too often. So, when Jesus comes and identifies with the marginalized of our world and we find him in places like refugee camps, we don’t recognize him.
Read moreWhen the pandemic hit earlier this year, it was during Lent. A popular saying I heard among liturgical friends was this:
“This is the Lentiest Lent I’ve ever Lented.”
Read moreOne of the common mistakes we make in diagnosing current times is “how things are going.” If things are going reasonable “well” for us, we can’t see what might wrong beneath the surface, or care to explore that beneath the surface.
In the U.S., we can say, “Hey, the economy is humming along (for us saying it, of course), so what could possibly be wrong?”
Spiritually, we can say, “Look at our church! It’s growing! We bring in awesome speakers and have a great band!”
For us, all can seem “well”… and we can be blind. This is Israel’s case in Isaiah (and in many of the other prophetic books). Prophetic words calling “doom” on Israel didn’t always come in “down” economic times. They often came in GOOD economic times.
So, when Isaiah comes along preaching hypocrisy, they’re looking at him and asking, “What are you smoking?”
We, today in the American Church, are struggling. We may see verses from Isaiah and put them out there with the thought of, “Well, that’s for the OTHER part of the church!” (It can be a “liberal” Christian putting it out and digging at the “conservatives” or vice versa.)
Here is the problem: these words are for the AMERICAN church. Not just one segment. Friends, WE are in trouble… and are still struggling with spiritual blindness.
20 Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter.
21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
and clever in their own sight. (Isa. 5:20-21, NIV)
Being molded by Someone else isn’t always comfortable. We always have more “grand” ideas as to what we should look like or do. We end up trying to help God in forming our own image. Read more
The Lord has me praying and meditating through Isa. 60-61 and other places in the latter part of Isaiah. The past couple of days have been in Isa. 61. Read more
No matter the condition on earth, the action in heaven is worship. Read more
It is Advent and I like to follow this reading guide for reading in this time of year. Read more
There is a spiritual thirst. There is a spiritual hunger. I long for my life, and the life of my church, to reflect the position of spiritual travelers who have simply found fresh water and good bread. We journey together. Let this be place of refreshing. A place to settle in and ask questions. A place to explore. A chance for a weary soul to realize what real water can taste like. Lord, let us be this place!
Let the thirsty come. For the thirsty, please don’t delay. Hear the great invitation.
“Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare.
Give ear and come to me;
listen, that you may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
my faithful love promised to David.
See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
a ruler and commander of the peoples.
Surely you will summon nations you know not,
and nations you do not know will come running to you,
because of the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
for he has endowed you with splendor.”
Our church is moving into a critical time. The transitions are huge. We desperately need to hear the voice of the Lord. We are preparing our hearts to listen even more intently.
A couple of verses this morning drew my attention as I read again through Isaiah:
From now on I will tell you of new things,
of hidden things unknown to you. (Isa. 48:6b)This is what the Lord says—
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“I am the Lord your God,
who teaches you what is best for you,
who directs you in the way you should go.” (Isa. 48:17)
I pray for listening ears in the life of our church. I ask for boldness in our spirits as we step into uncharted waters! HE knows the way!
Isaiah 1:10-20 can be a reminder… SHOULD be a reminder of HOW we come before the Lord.
In all honesty, I think we need to evaluate our worship in this light. There are times I think the American evangelical church just comes with noise and thinks it’s worship. Are we coming with our hearts and lives ready to HEAR from heaven… and then respond?
12 When you come to appear before me,
who has asked this of you,
this trampling of my courts?
13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings!
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—
I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.
14 Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals
I hate with all my being.
They have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.
15 When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I hide my eyes from you;
even when you offer many prayers,
I am not listening.
Your hands are full of blood!
16 Wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds out of my sight;
stop doing wrong.
17 Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow. (Isaiah 1:12-17)
