Isaiah 3
The first and the scariest that is mentioned is that God will take away food and water. It is a frightening thing because God is so angry that he’s going to take away their sustenance, which without them they will starve, so already they are on their road to death. There will be conflict within households and communities, and children will end up governing. Because people have been governing and ruling with oppression, God is going take his rightful place in court to judge everyone accordingly. Then he turns to the women and their vanity. He will take away everything that makes them proud (e.g. perfume, clothes, etc) and replace them with “baldness” and “stench”. The whole nation becomes chaotic with systems falling apart, people turning against each other, and eventually crumbling within.
The first thing I thought of while reading this was chaos. How chaotic a society has (will) become when its people, from the officials to everyday citizens, refuse to follow God. I can feel God slowly withdrawing his spirit from these people, and start to fear that this is exactly what will probably happen to us. My challenge to myself is how to live as a salt and light figure among all of this. How can I love those who question and spit on the very God who created them?
Lord thank you that even thought you knew we would choose evil, you still gave us power and authority to govern on earth. In the midst of all the wickedness that’s happening in our society, it’s becoming more and more clear just how good you are and how weak and destitute we are. Thank you for revealing that to me this morning.
God I pray for this nation. We are becoming more and more evil each day, and children are coming to governing power. People who refuse to know you, listen to you, or even acknowledge your existence are the ones starting to control how we should walk and talk in this ‘free country’. I pray for my heart that you would be the supreme ruler of it, and that I would not fall prey to their teachings. Keep me grounded in your word.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Monday, September 23, 2013
materialism, idolatry. tomato, tomahto.
Isaiah 2
This chapter goes more in depth what will happen towards the last days. Isaiah emphasizes how all the things man built and put his pride upon will come to mean nothing. All of the idols that have been accumulated and worshiped will all disappear, and only God will be lifted up. People will run and hide from God’s splendor and wrath, while the proud men will be “brought low”. Verses 12-18 mentions the things that are considered high and majestic when seen through our eyes, but none match to the glory of God.
Despite all the evil that’s happening on earth, God your righteousness will still prevail. So many people refuse to open their eyes and see the truth that’s in front of them. Thank you that you've opened my eyes to your truth. Thank you for enabling me to see a minuscule glimpse of what you are probably seeing.
God you know my struggles with materialism. There are those people around me who are so immersed in their things, I can't help but follow suit. Help me not to want more things, but instead a deeper relationship with you. Help me then to minister to others about the poison they are spreading around in their hearts.
I admit that I partly want a job so that I can buy more things. Even though I know that the more I have, the emptier I feel, but that still does not deter my attention from online shopping sites. It’s not that I have an unhealthy compulsion or have been accumulating debt from endless shopping; it’s nowhere near that. But I feel that pull towards that temptation in my heart every so often, especially when it’s late at night and I’m mindlessly clicking around on the internet. Verse 8 talks about a society that’s lost in materialism, which is virtually a form of idolatry. That’s our society today. I can’t check my email without seeing an advertisement of some sort, telling me of a 50% discount on a pair of boots. “How do I make myself not want” is a meaningless wonderment, because trying to make something right cannot be done on my own willpower but only with the help of God. At some point, I need to let go of trying to control myself (even if it’s for good) and let God take the reins.
This chapter goes more in depth what will happen towards the last days. Isaiah emphasizes how all the things man built and put his pride upon will come to mean nothing. All of the idols that have been accumulated and worshiped will all disappear, and only God will be lifted up. People will run and hide from God’s splendor and wrath, while the proud men will be “brought low”. Verses 12-18 mentions the things that are considered high and majestic when seen through our eyes, but none match to the glory of God.
Despite all the evil that’s happening on earth, God your righteousness will still prevail. So many people refuse to open their eyes and see the truth that’s in front of them. Thank you that you've opened my eyes to your truth. Thank you for enabling me to see a minuscule glimpse of what you are probably seeing.
God you know my struggles with materialism. There are those people around me who are so immersed in their things, I can't help but follow suit. Help me not to want more things, but instead a deeper relationship with you. Help me then to minister to others about the poison they are spreading around in their hearts.
I admit that I partly want a job so that I can buy more things. Even though I know that the more I have, the emptier I feel, but that still does not deter my attention from online shopping sites. It’s not that I have an unhealthy compulsion or have been accumulating debt from endless shopping; it’s nowhere near that. But I feel that pull towards that temptation in my heart every so often, especially when it’s late at night and I’m mindlessly clicking around on the internet. Verse 8 talks about a society that’s lost in materialism, which is virtually a form of idolatry. That’s our society today. I can’t check my email without seeing an advertisement of some sort, telling me of a 50% discount on a pair of boots. “How do I make myself not want” is a meaningless wonderment, because trying to make something right cannot be done on my own willpower but only with the help of God. At some point, I need to let go of trying to control myself (even if it’s for good) and let God take the reins.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)