Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - WordAction - The Foundry Publishing House of Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Monday, 1 January 2018 "Our Sins Bring Judgment" by Susie Shellenberger - Isaiah 3:1-11

Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - WordAction - The Foundry Publishing House of Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Monday, 1 January 2018 "Our Sins Bring Judgment" by Susie Shellenberger - Isaiah 3:1-11
Isaiah 3:1 For see! The Lord, Adonai-Tzva’ot,
will remove from Yerushalayim and Y’hudah
every kind of support —
all reserves of food and water;
2 heroes and warriors, judges and prophets,
diviners and leaders, 3 captains of fifty,
men of rank and advisers,
skillful magicians and expert enchanters.
4 I will put children in authority;
capriciousness will govern them.
5 People will oppress each other —
everyone his friend, everyone his neighbor.
The young will be insolent toward their elders,
the insignificant arrogant toward the respected.
6 A man will take hold of his brother
in his father’s house and say,
“You have a coat, so rule us!
Take charge of this ruin!”
7 But on that day, he will protest,
“I don’t have a remedy,
I lack food and clothing for my own house;
don’t put me in charge of people!”
8 For Yerushalayim is ruined,
and Y’hudah has fallen;
because their words and deeds defy Adonai,
in open provocation of his glory.
9 Their very look witnesses against them!
They parade their sin, like S’dom;
they don’t even try to hide it —
all the worse for them! —
they bring evil on themselves.
10 Say that it will go well with the righteous,
that they will enjoy the fruit of their actions;
11 but woe to the wicked, it will go badly with him;
for what he has done will be done to him.
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Like a child with his hand in the cookie jar, we sometimes think we can get away with breaking the rules. When we break God’s rules, things become serious. He makes it clear in today's passage that our sin brings His judgment.
Sometimes the ramification of sin is immediate, other times it’s delayed, but sin always has consequences. Yes, God is ready to forgive as soon as we confess, but His forgiveness doesn’t erase consequences we have brought on ourselves by the willful decision to disobey Him.
In Isaiah 3, we see severe consequences. God removed food, water, and trustworthy leadership from Jerusalem Judah. Disaster was the obvious outcome as people incited riots, robbery, and rebellion against each other and the Lord.
Today, we also live in a world that demonstrates continuous defiance against God and His Word. Though we cannot determine the decisions of others, we can commit to making wise choices and living in obedience to His Lordship. How is this possible? Through the power of His Spirit released in us. And when does that happen? Through our total surrender to His will and His authority.
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Hymn for Today: "Trust and Obey" by John H. Sammis
1. When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain: Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. 
2. Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey.
Refrain: Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. 
3. But we never can prove
the delights of his love
until all on the altar we lay;
for the favor he shows,
for the joy he bestows,
are for them who will trust and obey.
Refrain: Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. 
4. Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at his feet,
or we'll walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do,
where he sends we will go;

never fear, only trust and obey.
Refrain: Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. 
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Thought for Today: Trust in Adonai with all your heart;
do not rely on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him;
then he will level your paths.(Proverbs 3:5-6)
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Please pray: For the development of Christian leaders in Israel.
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