Reading: Isaiah 65
My Verse: "I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me;
I was ready to be 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 spread out my hands all the day
to a rebellious people,
who walk in a way that is not good,
following their own devices . . ." (Isaiah 65:1,2).
Oh, LORD God, it is as Edwards said. You are constantly emanating Your goodness out to us. You want us to know the goodness, truth and purity that You are! You beseechingly "spread out my hands all the day" calling us to come to You!
But we are a stubborn people. We stubbornly "walk in a way that is not good." We continue to "follow" our own "devices."
We walk "in the counsel of the wicked"
We stand "in the way of sinners"
We sit "in the seat of scoffers" (Psalms 1:1).
While our rebellious behavior disappoints and hurts, You do not stop loving us. You will not stop calling us to You! You sent Your only begotten son to die a most dreadful death, to make it possible for us to come to You! We cannot even begin to fully understand what that meant for You, LORD God.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).
You tell us that we must come to You, believe in You if we are to see heaven.
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. . . Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again" (John 3:5, 6).
The entire Bible speaks of Your relentless pursuit of us! The lyrics of Hillsong's "Relentless" say it so very well.
"Tearing through the veil of darkness
breaking every chain
You set us free
Fighting for the furthest heart
You gave your life of all to see" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3O_pAOiGuo
Francis Thompson's The Hound of Heaven speaks to this most eloquently . . .
"I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;
I fled Him, down the arches of the years;
I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways . . .
Of all man's clotted clay the dingiest clot?
Alack, thou knows not
How little worthy of any love thou art!
Whom wilt thou find to love ignoble thee
Save Me, save only Me ?"
Thank You, LORD God for pursuing me! Thank You, for holding onto me!
"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him Who called us by His own glory and goodness" (2 Peter 1:3).
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My Verse: "I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me;
I was ready to be 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 spread out my hands all the day
to a rebellious people,
who walk in a way that is not good,
following their own devices . . ." (Isaiah 65:1,2).
Oh, LORD God, it is as Edwards said. You are constantly emanating Your goodness out to us. You want us to know the goodness, truth and purity that You are! You beseechingly "spread out my hands all the day" calling us to come to You!
But we are a stubborn people. We stubbornly "walk in a way that is not good." We continue to "follow" our own "devices."
We walk "in the counsel of the wicked"
We stand "in the way of sinners"
We sit "in the seat of scoffers" (Psalms 1:1).
While our rebellious behavior disappoints and hurts, You do not stop loving us. You will not stop calling us to You! You sent Your only begotten son to die a most dreadful death, to make it possible for us to come to You! We cannot even begin to fully understand what that meant for You, LORD God.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).
You tell us that we must come to You, believe in You if we are to see heaven.
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. . . Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again" (John 3:5, 6).
The entire Bible speaks of Your relentless pursuit of us! The lyrics of Hillsong's "Relentless" say it so very well.
"Tearing through the veil of darkness
breaking every chain
You set us free
Fighting for the furthest heart
You gave your life of all to see" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3O_pAOiGuo
Francis Thompson's The Hound of Heaven speaks to this most eloquently . . .
"I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;
I fled Him, down the arches of the years;
I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways . . .
Of all man's clotted clay the dingiest clot?
Alack, thou knows not
How little worthy of any love thou art!
Whom wilt thou find to love ignoble thee
Save Me, save only Me ?"
Thank You, LORD God for pursuing me! Thank You, for holding onto me!
"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him Who called us by His own glory and goodness" (2 Peter 1:3).
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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