Isaiah 51:1-6
“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn; look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth. When I called him he was only one man, and I blessed him and made him many. The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing. “Listen to me, my people; hear me, my nation: Instruction will go out from me; my justice will become a light to the nations. My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail.”
Isaiah 51:1-6 NIV
This marvelous section of scripture is gathered around the phrase, Listen to me which is repeated several times. When a passage begins with the words Listen to me it is calling for great attention and focus. There is something very important that is about to said to the people of Israel that are once again, in exile and need reminding of God’s redemptive hand. Notice He says that if you are discouraged, look back and see from where you have come. Israel was to look back to Abraham, back to the time before he left Ur of the Chaldees. He had nothing. He was but a rock in a hard place. God called him and gave him everything. Look at Sarah. She was 90 years old before she underwent the labor of childbearing. Yet God multiplied her offspring to become the nation of Israel. When we are discouraged, look back. We may not be what we want to be, or even what we ought to be, but thank God we are not what wewere. There are some specific events that have taken place that God has shown His faithfulness and they are reiterated here to remind them and us that there has never been a situation in which God was not able to save His people. One of the main examples that the faithfulness of God is shown is seen through the work He did in Abraham and Sarah. They were not able to have children for years and even when God promised them a child, He did so at an age that was almost scientifically impossible to have kids and all looked hopeless and bleak. Yet, there is nothing that can thwart God’s promises from coming about. He takes what was an impossible situation and makes it possible. This serves as a reminder that God has not forgotten about His people and His word and promises are true. Our lives are spiritual gardens and God is The Gardener. There are hidden areas in all our lives that are useless like a rock piles overgrown with thorns that God longs to dig up and plant His beauty in.God cares for us so much that He is willing to come into our world, comfort and change us so that all our barren and poisoned soil grows into something beautiful. It can be hard work to turn your life into a garden, but you don’t have to do the work. God is working on our hearts everyday and longs for us to let go of our anxieties and be rooted in Him. If we ask to be washed by God like water and give every last grain of dirt to Him, He can begin to grow flowers in our lives and spread seeds into the lives of those around us. There is the reminder that God will never stop working on behalf of His people and His faithfulness and love is steadfast. Look ahead. A new day is coming. God is at work. We are not headed for darkness and despair, we are headed for peace and light and glory, for power and service such as we could never dream!!!
Father thank You for this day and for raising our vision to be like Christ. Lord open the windows of heaven and rain down your abundant blessings upon my friend and family today. Lord let us not be satisfied with the likeness of those around us, but like the beautiful lily arises from the mucky bottom, may the Spirit of God call us above to reflect You. Lord we do not want the form of religion, but the heart, life and attitude of You. Lord we need Your deep motivation to be like our Father to stir our lives. Lord, please eradicate our warped image of what is to be Your child and renew our understanding of Your zeal to obey, care for the lost, desire to fellowship with God and earnestness in hearing from God. Lord use my friend to be the touch of Your love to all today. Daddy we love You amen. Be a blessing. Love ya !!
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