Sunday
From the very first moment of creation, God has always planned a way for us to live with Him in eternal peace. The work of Jesus on the cross, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, fulfilled that plan. The lamb that was led to the slaughter was to remove the iniquities (the sins) of everyone. (53:6) And by his suffering, death and resurrection we are able to be a part of God’s plan for salvation.
When someone you love has been separated from you, you know the joy that you experience when you see them again. That is the joy that heaven experiences when a sinner (who had been separated from God) repents of their sins and asks for forgiveness. God “with deep compassion … brings them back.” God has provided a way for that to happen.
And now in chapter 55, God invites everyone to come to Him. What is more important; our physical needs being met? Or our spiritual needs? Isaiah is saying that physical needs are temporary, but spiritual needs are eternal. Where do you spend most of your energy? On reading you Bible, or reading the latest news on facebook? Eating spiritual food, or eating out? Praying to God, or texting your friends about the latest pinterest idea? Do you spend time in church worshiping or sleeping in on Sunday? Don’t get me wrong, facebook, eating out, pinterest and sleeping are all good things (to a certain point) but is your time spent well-balanced between spiritual needs and physical needs.
I just had to share one more thing, 55:8-9. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways”, declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” We can never know or even pretend to know all of what God is, what He does, how He’s going to do it, all I know is that I want to spend the rest of my life, trying to get closer to Him.
Singing God’s praise!
Pastor Kathy