Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living - The Global of the Nazarene's Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Sunday, 10 June 2018 "Repentance Brings Salvation" by Carol Rittenhouse - Isaiah 30:8-18.

Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living - The Global of the Nazarene's Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Sunday, 10 June 2018 "Repentance Brings Salvation" by Carol Rittenhouse - Isaiah 30:8-18.
Isaiah 30:8 Now go, inscribe it on a tablet,
write it for them in a scroll,
so that on the final day it will be
a witness forever and ever.
9 For this is a rebellious people;
they are lying children,
children who refuse to hear
the Torah of Adonai.
10 They say to the seers, “Do not see!”
to those who have visions, “Do not tell us
the visions you have as they really are;
but flatter us, fabricate illusions!
11 Get out of the way! Leave the path!
Rid us of the Holy One of Isra’el!”
12 Therefore here is what the Holy One of Isra’el says:
“Because you reject this word,
trust in extortion and rely on deceit,
13 this sin will become for you
a crack bulging out high on a wall,
showing signs it is ready to fall;
then suddenly, all at once, it breaks.”
14 He will break it like a clay pot,
ruthlessly shattering it into pieces
so tiny not even a potsherd remains
for taking fire from the fireplace
or scooping water from the cistern.
15 For this is what Adonai Elohim,
the Holy One of Isra’el, says:
“Returning and resting is what will save you;
calmness and confidence will make you strong —
but you want none of this!
16 ‘No!’ you say, ‘We will flee on horseback!’
Therefore you will surely flee.
And, ‘We will ride on swift ones!’
So your pursuers will be swift.
17 A thousand will flee at the threat of one,
you all will flee at the threat of five,
until you are left isolated,
like a flagstaff on a mountaintop,
like a banner on a hill.”
18 Yet Adonai is just waiting to show you favor,
he will have pity on you from on high;
for Adonai is a God of justice;
happy are all who wait for him! (Complete Jewish Bible).
***Have you ever needed to be rescued from a difficult situation? Desperate times can move us toward solutions that are outside of God. Fear can drive us toward taking matters into our own hands to move toward a solution. Because honestly, waiting is hard. Most of us would have to admit that even waiting on God is hard. Yet we are called to wait.
In the case of our passage today, Judah was nearing complete destruction. Isaiah was reminding them that even with the impending chaos, God alone would be their salvation. They could not save themselves. The same is true for us today. Our culture is flooded with the opinion that we are in charge of defending ourselves. When we take charge of our own circumstances and work feverishly to support our causes and defend our own reputations we are usurping God’s role. God and God alone offers salvation. We must always defer to God’s leading. Resting in repentance does not mean “doing nothing.” On the contrary it shiuld embolden us to vocaluze our belief that God will bring salvation into the circumstances that we face. Do you need to experience God’s salvation? Then wait in quietness and trust. God will bring it.
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Hymn for Today: "My Faith Looks Up to You" by Ray Palmer.
1. My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior Divine;
Now hear me while I pray;
Take all my guilt away;
Oh, let me from this day
Be wholly Thine.
2. May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart,
My zeal inspire;
As Thou hast died for me,
Oh, may my love to Thee
Pure, warm, and changeless be,
A living fire.
3. While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread,
Be Thou my Guide;
Bid darkness turn to day,
Wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray
From Thee aside.
4. All thru life’s transient dream,
Until death’s sullen stream
Shall o’er me roll,
Blest Savior, with Thy love,
Fear and distrust remove;
Make me Thy grace to prove
Transform my soul.

Thought for Today: So if the Son frees you, you will really be free! (John 8:36(Complete Jewish Bible)).

Please pray: For the development of Christian leaders in Cameroon.
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