Isaiah 5:18-19
Woe to those who draw sin along with cords of deceit, and wickedness as with cart ropes, to those who say, "Let God hurry, let him hasten his work so we may see it. Let it approach, let the plan of the Holy One of Israel come, so we may know it."
It is in our very nature to sin. We sin without knowing it. We sin before we realize we did. The list of things that make our Heavenly Father displeased can go on and on. We indeed draw sin along with cords, as though it's never leaving our side... but we can change that. Solution: keep the glory of God in mind at all times. Remember that all things you do should make our Lord pleased. If it's wrong, repent and we will be forgiven by our God who pours out His unconditional love for us.
I always wonder when I will meet my significant other... will I get one in this lifetime? It's hard to be patient for things that we desire. It's hard to waiting for the good things that God is "suppose" to present to us. Note that this is the wrong attitude. God does everything in His own time, in His own way because He alone is sovereign of all. We have no control of anything. Nothing. He will give us discernment... typically a yes, no, or later. Be patient just like how Christ was. Don't wait for good things because we don't deserve any of it in the first place.
Isaiah 5:20-22
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight. Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks,
We think we have good judgement in making decisions and that what we end up doing was the best choice. Definitely not all the time. The above verses meshes so well together to explain the one fact that we are not capable in determining what's good and evil. If you do think that you can do that, then woe to who is wise in their own eyes. However, it's so easy for us to sweep God to the side and adopt worldly minds. Sometimes it's peer pressure for me. Friends may want to drink to get drunk and I join them knowing that it says in the Word that we should not. Sometimes I'm ashamed to tell others that I am part of a Chinese Christian fellowship and instead I say I'm part of a club on campus because I don't want others to judge me. Clearly our minds deceive us in knowing what's right and what's wrong... what's bitter and what's sweet.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Isaiah 5:8-17
Woe to me, woe to you. Woe to mankind.
Woe is defined as great sorrow or distress... and yes, great sorrow and distress upon mankind.
Isaiah 5:12-13
They have harps and lyres at their banquets, tambourines and flutes and wine, but they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord, no respect for the work of his hands. Therefore my people will go into exile for lack of understand; their men of rank will die of hunger and their masses will be parched with thirst.
We have so many plans, events, and just different things to do that we end up pushing God away from where He is suppose to be... which is at the centre of our life. We don't care to remember that in all things we do it is by His provision. I always have to remind myself that He can actually take everything away with the snap of His fingers... but He doesn't, and that's because He loves us so much.
Jesus was received our exile on our behalf, died of hunger on our behalf, and was parched with thirst on our behalf... all so that we don't have to experience God's wrath for the sin in us.
Isaiah 5:15-16
So man will be brought low and mankind humbled, the eyes of the arrogant humbled. But the Lord Almighty will be exalted by his justice, and the holy God will show himself holy by his righteousness.
I am continuously humbled, my pride is broken because God, the righteous and mighty God, continues to call me His daugther each day. Nothing I do is through me alone. Everything I do is done through the Lord. I am a sinner that needs to strive to be like Jesus each day, for I can never be perfect but can always try to live out the perfect like like Jesus.
Woe is defined as great sorrow or distress... and yes, great sorrow and distress upon mankind.
Isaiah 5:12-13
They have harps and lyres at their banquets, tambourines and flutes and wine, but they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord, no respect for the work of his hands. Therefore my people will go into exile for lack of understand; their men of rank will die of hunger and their masses will be parched with thirst.
We have so many plans, events, and just different things to do that we end up pushing God away from where He is suppose to be... which is at the centre of our life. We don't care to remember that in all things we do it is by His provision. I always have to remind myself that He can actually take everything away with the snap of His fingers... but He doesn't, and that's because He loves us so much.
Jesus was received our exile on our behalf, died of hunger on our behalf, and was parched with thirst on our behalf... all so that we don't have to experience God's wrath for the sin in us.
Isaiah 5:15-16
So man will be brought low and mankind humbled, the eyes of the arrogant humbled. But the Lord Almighty will be exalted by his justice, and the holy God will show himself holy by his righteousness.
I am continuously humbled, my pride is broken because God, the righteous and mighty God, continues to call me His daugther each day. Nothing I do is through me alone. Everything I do is done through the Lord. I am a sinner that needs to strive to be like Jesus each day, for I can never be perfect but can always try to live out the perfect like like Jesus.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Isaiah 5:1-7
A story is told. The loved one looked for a crop of good grapes in his vineyard, but all it yielded was bad fruit.
That's us. We are suppose to be the good grapes that God produced but as we are consumed by sin we develop into the bad fruit. Easy metaphor to understand.
For the rest of the passage, it tells us of what God did to this vineyard that produced a bad crop. To summarize, he wiped it all out in hopes to get rid of this disease-- this sin-- that prevents the vineyard from producing good fruit.
Although this was written in the Old Testament, it foreshadows how the Son, Jesus, comes down to wipe away sin for mankind. His coming is not as destructive as how it is depicted in the passage but His love for us is mighty and powerful... indeed destructive to sin. Clearly the Gospel is highlighted and mentioned as early as in the book of Isaiah, and even earlier. How great is the love of God for me.
That's us. We are suppose to be the good grapes that God produced but as we are consumed by sin we develop into the bad fruit. Easy metaphor to understand.
For the rest of the passage, it tells us of what God did to this vineyard that produced a bad crop. To summarize, he wiped it all out in hopes to get rid of this disease-- this sin-- that prevents the vineyard from producing good fruit.
Although this was written in the Old Testament, it foreshadows how the Son, Jesus, comes down to wipe away sin for mankind. His coming is not as destructive as how it is depicted in the passage but His love for us is mighty and powerful... indeed destructive to sin. Clearly the Gospel is highlighted and mentioned as early as in the book of Isaiah, and even earlier. How great is the love of God for me.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Isaiah 4:2-6
It's been a long while since I did my devos... definitely doesn't show my passion for the Lord and to learn from the Word. I'm hoping to change this mentality. Starting today, again.
This passage was titled "The Branch of the Lord". When I hear the word "branch", I see in my mind a tree with its branches sticking out in all directions. It's like us. God is centre of it all and we Christ followers, his beloved children, are sent to the ends of the earth in all directions to spread the Good News.
Isaiah 4:4
The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire.
He forgives us and cleanses us the same way He did with the women of Zion. He is sovereign, always true in judgment. As strong and mighty as a sweeping fire. He takes away our sin with the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ...and from that we are free from the bondage of sin and are reborn. With the help of the Spirit we bear fruit on this earth for His glory.
Isaiah 4:5-6
Then the Lord will create over all of mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be a canopy. It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.
He loves us. He cares for us. He is our shelter from the storm of the evil and wickedness of this world. How great is that? He loves us. He loves me.
I am a branch of God's big tree and I shall never cease to bear fruit for You.
This passage was titled "The Branch of the Lord". When I hear the word "branch", I see in my mind a tree with its branches sticking out in all directions. It's like us. God is centre of it all and we Christ followers, his beloved children, are sent to the ends of the earth in all directions to spread the Good News.
Isaiah 4:4
The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire.
He forgives us and cleanses us the same way He did with the women of Zion. He is sovereign, always true in judgment. As strong and mighty as a sweeping fire. He takes away our sin with the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ...and from that we are free from the bondage of sin and are reborn. With the help of the Spirit we bear fruit on this earth for His glory.
Isaiah 4:5-6
Then the Lord will create over all of mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be a canopy. It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.
He loves us. He cares for us. He is our shelter from the storm of the evil and wickedness of this world. How great is that? He loves us. He loves me.
I am a branch of God's big tree and I shall never cease to bear fruit for You.
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