Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - WordAction - The Foundry Publishing House of Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Tuesday, 9 January 2018 "Repentance Brings Humility" by Susie Shellenberger - Isaiah 6:1-13Isaiah 6:1 In the year of King ‘Uziyahu’s death I saw Adonai sitting on a high, lofty throne! The hem of his robe filled the temple. 2 S’rafim stood over him, each with six wings — two for covering his face, two for covering his feet and two for flying. 3 They were crying out to each other,
“More holy than the holiest holiness
is Adonai-Tzva’ot!
The whole earth is filled
with his glory!”
4 The doorposts shook at the sound of their shouting, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then I said,
“Woe to me! I [too] am doomed! —
because I, a man with unclean lips,
living among a people with unclean lips,
have seen with my own eyes
the King, Adonai-Tzva’ot!”
6 One of the s’rafim flew to me with a glowing coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 He touched my mouth with it and said,
“Here! This has touched your lips.
Your iniquity is gone,
your sin is atoned for.”
8 Then I heard the voice of Adonai saying,
“Whom should I send?
Who will go for us?”
I answered, “I’m here, send me!” 9 He said, “Go and tell this people:
‘Yes, you hear, but you don’t understand.
You certainly see, but you don’t get the point!’
10 “Make the heart of this people [sluggish with] fat,
stop up their ears, and shut their eyes.
Otherwise, seeing with their eyes,
and hearing with their ears,
then understanding with their hearts,
they might repent and be healed!”
11 I asked, “Adonai, how long?” and he answered,
“Until cities become uninhabited ruins,
houses without human presence,
the land utterly wasted;
12 until Adonai drives the people far away,
and the land is one vast desolation.
13 If even a tenth [of the people] remain,
it will again be devoured.
“But like a pistachio tree or an oak,
whose trunk remains alive
after its leaves fall off,
the holy seed will be its trunk.”
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How we view God determines our reaction to Him. If He is seen as merely a friend, we fail to honor Him. If He is viewed only as a miracle-worker, we respond with an indefinite wish list. If we see Him as a dictator, we tend to run from Him.
But when the Holy Spirit helps us see Him in His perfection and His holiness, we automatically realize our own wickedness. This brings us to confession. We are moved to pray, “Oh, Father! I’m not worthy of You. You’re perfect, and I’m so flawed. Will You forgive me? Will You help me become more like You?”
One who is proud can’t pray this prayer. But if we confess (admit our sin and seek His forgiveness), the Holy Spirit gently moves us to repentance (walking away from a sinful lifestyle). And this repentance brings true humility. The prideful person doesn’t understand this humility, because he/she isn’t willing to admit his/her need.
In Isaiah 6, the prophet recognized his sin and refused to let pride stand in the way of intimacy with God. He repented in humility. May we do the same.
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Hymn for Today: "Cleanse Me" by J. Edwin Orr
1. Search me, O God,
And know my heart today;
Try me, O Savior,
Know my thoughts, I pray.
See if there be
Some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from every sin
And set me free.
2. I praise Thee, Lord,
For cleansing me from sin;
Fulfill Thy Word,
And make me pure within.
Fill me with fire
Where once I burned with shame;
Grant my desire
To magnify Thy name.
3. Lord, take my life,
And make it wholly Thine;
Fill my poor heart
With Thy great love divine.
Take all my will,
My passion, self and pride;
I now surrender, Lord
In me abide.
4. O Holy Ghost,
Revival comes from Thee;
Send a revival,
Start the work in me.
Thy Word declares
Thou wilt supply our need;
For blessings now,
O Lord, I humbly plead.
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Thought for Today: Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.(James 4:10)
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Please pray: For the development of Christian leaders in Kosovo.
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