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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Saturday, 8 July 2023:
Isaiah 65:1-7 – 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; a people who provoke me to my face continually… who say, “Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am too holy for you….” they made offerings on the mountains and insulted me on the hills.
“I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me….” God has taken the initiative in reconciliation and has offered salvation to all, but many do not ask for Him or seek Him. Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20)
“I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good.” Many who claim to be children of God, religious, or ‘spiritual,’ reject His word and His truth. Paul, in Romans 1 describes who their rebellion brings them the wrath of God:
- Romans 1:18-31 — For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools…. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
“…a people who provoke me to my face continually… who say, ‘Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am too holy for you….’ they made offerings on the mountains and insulted me on the hills.” Many believe they have achieved a higher enlightenment than God’s word, perhaps feeling too intellectual for God’s word, perhaps believing they have received a special revelation beyond God’s word, perhaps arrogantly presuming God’s word needs to ‘evolve’ with the changing times. Still others wittingly, or unwittingly, muddy the waters of God’s pure word by adding to it or by blending it with teachings of man, in their minds, making it just a little better. All this is an insult to God, provoking Him to anger. “You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.” (Deuteronomy 4:2)
Often, those who claim to be the most religious are the most offensive to God. The true followers of Jesus walk with Jesus in obedience and continually generate the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) — with contentment (2 Corinthians 12:10, Philippians 4:11, 1 Timothy 6:6-8, Hebrews 13:5) and thanksgiving (Ephesians 5:20; Colossians 3:15; Colossians 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Revelation 11:17; Psalm 7:17; Psalm 30:12; Psalm 107). Jesus said, you should judge those who claim to be religious by the fruit of their lives. Christianity is practiced in love and purity. God does not tolerate self-righteousness.
God has provided you with forgiveness of your sins at a tremendous price – the crucifixion of his perfect, one and only son, Jesus Christ. He provided you with mercy, grace, and eternal salvation out of His perfect, unconditional love. So how have you responded to that grace? To continue in or make light of the sin that Jesus sacrificed Himself to pay your penalty would be a tremendous insult to the LORD, the highest form of ingratitude and disrespect. God detests religiosity without obedience and submission – “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word (Isaiah 66:2).” Having received grace, God calls us to live in gratitude, love, holiness, and obedience. Reverent obedience is an act of love and respect and how we worship in Spirit and in Truth.
Isaiah 65:17 – For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.
God will create new heavens and a new earth and will restore order; until Christ’s return, we are to live on this world as heralds, ambassadors, and citizens of His Kingdom which has yet to be fully realized. We are His messengers of reconciliation until the final restoration.
Isaiah 65:17-25 – But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy,
and her people to be a gladness. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress.
Where God reigns, there is joy, peace, life, success, and unity.
Psalm 76:1 – In Judah God is known; his name is great in Israel.
Nations are great when God is known by the people and respected by the people as God.
Psalm 76:1, 11 – In Judah God is known; his name is great in Israel…. Make your vows to the Lord your God and perform them; let all around him bring gifts to him who is to be feared.
Asaph’s Psalm explains where God is truly “known” He is truly worshipped, feared, and obeyed. When speaking to the Pharisees who pursued obedience and religion motivated by pride and self-righteousness, Jesus reiterated this truth — you must not be like the hypocrites [actors]. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward…. Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:5, 9, 10) Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionary says that “hallowed” means to “mentally venerate,” and venerate means to revere, adore, esteem, honor or worship. When God is truly hallowed, and honored as KING in the heart, genuine worship and acceptable obedience is the result.
1 Kings 10 and 2 Chronicles 9 tell of how the Queen of Sheba, having heard of Solomon’s greatness, visited him and said this, “The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of your wisdom, but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, half the greatness of your wisdom was not told me; you surpass the report that I heard.” (2 Chronicles 9:5, 6) Her experience with Solomon seems like a great example for the Christian life. Hearing about Jesus and believing enough to go to him is the first step – “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17; Galatians 3:5) However, our faith blossoms when hearing transitions to experiencing. We are not witnesses to what we have heard, nor witnesses to a philosophy or religion. We are witnesses to what we have seen and experienced first-hand; and we are witnesses to who we know personally and genuinely. It is the reality of Christ within us that produces fruit and works which will not be destroyed (see 1 Corinthians 3:12). When the queen of Sheba experienced first-hand the truth of Solomon, then she offered him many gifts with a heart similar to what Asaph describes in today’s Psalm – “let all around him bring gifts to him who is to be feared.” In response to the queen’s honoring of him, Solomon “gave to the queen of Sheba all that she desired, whatever she asked.”
Consider how Solomon’s response to Sheba compares to the words of Jesus in John 15: “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing…. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” Let it be said “In [your heart] God is known; His name is great in [your heart].” John 15:11 — “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
Psalm 76:11-12 — Make your vows to the Lord your God and perform them; let all around him bring gifts to him who is to be feared, who cuts off the spirit of princes, who is to be feared by the kings of the earth.
The nation who obeys God is the nation God blesses. Again, our only hope for America is repentance and revival.
When you must choose between your loyalty to God or government, always remain loyal to God.
Proverbs 8:2 – At the crossroads she takes her stand.
At the crossroads of life, you will choose to listen to wisdom or folly. Both are available to anyone and everyone.
Proverbs 8:12, 13 — “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.
Wisdom is greater than knowledge – wisdom is knowledge rightly applied, which requires the Holy Spirit’s counsel. Wisdom involves not only knowing what is right but doing what is right; it involves self-control, self-discipline, and willing obedience. Many know what is right, but don’t have the heart to do what is right. You will only be willing to do what is right when God Himself is your goal, your prize, your crown, your greatest love, your life aim. Pride and arrogance are the product of a heart that places self over God, and your mouth reveals whether you love God and others most or yourself the most. God hates perverted speech, yes, hates.
If you are comfortable with or tolerant of evil, you are distant from God. If you love God, you must hate evil, pride, arrogance, and perverted speech. Don’t hate the sinner; hate what is controlling them and what they represent.
Proverbs 8:17 – I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.
You cannot approach God casually or complacently. Love requires diligent effort.
- Jeremiah 29:13 — You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
All relationships are two-way. Your character will be revealed in your closest relationships, first and foremost by your relationship with God.
If love for Jesus is not your motivation today, you won’t see what God wants you to see today. Your goal, whatever it is, influences how you see and judge everything else. For example, a parent who has lost a small child in a large crowd, will frantically search for the child, paying little attention to anyone or anything else, with the exception of those they think might be able to help them find the child. When you are seeking a closer relationship with Jesus, worldly distractions become irrelevant.
Proverbs 8:34-36 – Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord, but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.
There is abundant, eternal life in Christ and only death apart from Him. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” and He said, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11). When He said, “The Kingdom of God is at hand,” and, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things [life needs] will be added to you,” He was saying that the Kingdom of God is available to you now if you would submit to God’s will (reign) in your heart, and when His will becomes your will, you will be subject to the power of God in your life, and the fullness of God’s blessings will be available to you. (Mark 1:15; Matthew 6:33) You must learn to see life from God’s perspective, to be guided by His word, and to be of one mind with Him. You must learn to do what God would have you do rather than what you would desire to do. Often, you must dutifully obey God’s word until duty becomes desire and delight, until your heart truly desires to do what He desires you to do and delights in it, regardless the challenges which come from obedience. This is a daily growth process. If you refuse to do what you know God has told you to do, your heart will harden, and you will lose the desire to obey more and more.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 8 July 2023: Today, seek first the Kingdom of God by surrendering your will to His will until your will is His will. Acknowledge where your will is not one with His, and pray that God will increasingly give you His heart.
- 1 John 5:3 — For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 