Repent And Be Forgiven

Good Morning!! An apology cannot undo a wrong, that has been committed. Saying I'm sorry for adultery, or murder, does not undo the unfaithfulness, or restore the loss. So how then does repentance somehow make our red-handed sins clean and white, before God? We might have fully expected for Isaiah to speak of how justified God's judgment would be,...because of Israel's sinful rebellion. He also surprises us with this reasoning from the Lord: "if you turn to God in repentance, then all your past mistakes will be utterly washed away." 

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.—Isaiah 1:18 (NIV)

The answer, the rationale from the Lord, is found later in this same prophecy. A suffering Servant would come, who would be "wounded for our transgressions;" our chastisement, our punishment would be put upon him, and with his wounds he would heal us, clean us (53:5). You see, there is nothing we can do for ourselves, that will take away our past sins and guiltiness, before a Holy God,...but God Himself, has promised; when we turn to Him in repentance, that our sin-stains will be washed completely away,...by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

The living think they here "repentance" far too often,...the dead wish they could hear it, just once more.

Come now, says the Lord, to hear and consider this promise of forgiveness.

"Being a disciple of Christ means agreeing to take on His priorities, agendas, and missions, as our own." 

Called to Worship

Good Morning!! Religious skeptics often suggest that Christianity is only for the weak-minded, uneducated, the poor, and for the ignorant,...but everyone is called to worship the Lord. Kings and children, strong young women and feeble old men,...everyone is to exalt the One True God. Why? Because His Name alone is excellent. Paul speaks of the surpassing glory of Christ, who has "a name which is above every name" (Philippians 2:9). There are rulers, there are kings, there are dictators, there are czars,...but then there is the unique, supremely reigning King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and women, old men and children. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.— Psalm 148:11-13 (NIV)

He is always worthy of every person's praise, service, and trust. He is not a fad, or a momentary phenomenon,...like so many of the things, which we so easily and so quickly give our admiration, affection, and attention to. Perhaps you have excused yourself from whole-hearted devotion, to Jesus Christ. Everyone has an excuse,...young people tell themselves that they will serve Him "later", and elderly people decide they are too far gone, to be of any use. And people in the middle are just too busy, to be bothered at all.

Wherever you are,...whatever your age, or circumstances,...you need to worship and praise Him, now.

O' Lord, we hear Your call, and we obey,...for You are worthy of all the praise, honor and worship that we can give,...and so much more. Amen.

"Being a disciple of Christ means agreeing to take on His priorities, agendas, and missions, as our own."

Our God Has A Name

Good Morning!! Speaking to Moses out of the burning bush, God gave himself a personal name. It has been pronounced "Jehovah" or "Yahweh", but the meaning is unmistakable. God is the great I AM, the eternal, self-existent One. He has always been, and He will always be. He depends on nothing and no one, and He never changes in His essential nature and being. He is not limited by time. He is not the "I was" or the "I will be",...He is always the I AM.

God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”—Exodus 3:14 (NIV)

If you're like every other human being, your life has been anything but stable. Most likely your circumstances have seen many ups and downs, and moved backwards and forwards. You may have regrets about the past, or worries about the future. None of us controls our own life, circumstances, or surroundings. But this same God has enlisted Himself on behalf of His creatures. He is not only an unchanging rock in the middle of a constantly changing world,...He invites you to build your life and love on the stable rock of His character, goodness, and promises.

Build your foundation on the great, and unchanging, I AM,...not in any parts of this fast-sinking world?

Lord, You are our rock, our all in all. You are more than we need in our time of need. Let us always remember to call on You. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

"Being a disciple of Christ means agreeing to take on His priorities, agendas, and missions, as our own."