“Wash you, make you clean;
put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes;
cease to do evil;
Learn to do well;
seek judgment,
relieve the oppressed,
judge the fatherless,
plead for the widow.
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:16-18 KJV
We love verse 18!
The promise of the stain of our sins being cleansed!
It sounds almost too good to be true! But our God is a big God and He loves us! Right? We can't do it - He does it for us! Right?
The above list, that He says we must do, is short and doable. It doesn't require much on our part - right? (At least the last two) Then God does the rest! Right?
No one reads the next verse.
“If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:” Isaiah 1:19 KJV
Verse 19 is the game changer!
Short, sweet, to the point!
Are we - willing and obedient?
Willing to do what?
Willing to obey?
Well that depends!
Obey what?
Humble yourself: that would indeed make you willing. But we take Pride in our pride! To obey would mean laying aside our pride. Hmmmmmmm!
Will we obey the commandments we don't like? The uncomfortable ones; the ones we read over or around, like they aren't there? Like how we have done verse 19? The ones that say Repent, Forgive, Confess one to another, Judge not, Love.
You know when God says to do something it is not a "suggestion". Just because it wasn't itemized in the big Ten, doesn't make it less of a Commandment.
Verse 19 does show, we have a choice. Just like everything else, He tells us to do, we either choose to comply or not! Oh and it helps if we obey with a joyful heart, but He will honor our obedience, just for the sake of obeying!
Willingness makes it easier! Wanting to please The Father produces a willing heart! His desires become our desires. Obedience like breathing; involuntary! He says forgive, instead of arguing, we purpose in our heart to live and walk in forgiveness; all to please Him!
Oh, I almost overlooked verse 20!
“But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.”
Isaiah 1:20 KJV
Very serious!
So choose to be willing and obedient!
Don't pray, "Lord help me to be willing!" It's a choice. Your choice! You choose to be willing!
My prayer today: Father, I repent for my lack of willingness to obey Your Word, in the past! I choose, today, to lay down my will and be obedient! Show me the areas in my life that I have not submitted to you, and I will be quick to comply! I desire to do Your will! In Jesus precious, precious name I pray!
Even so - MARANATHA!
From 7/24/14
