Strong love

Isaiah 40:9-11

“Behold your God!” 

 10  Behold, the Lord God comes with might, 

and his arm rules for him; 

  behold, his reward is with him, 

and his recompense before him. 

 11  He will tend his flock like a shepherd; 

he will gather the lambs in his arms; 

  he will carry them in his bosom, 

and gently lead those that are with young

Strength, endurance, gentleness, love

This is the love that God displays. His love is strong. Just looking at these verses shows me that God's  love can: withstand, endure, be demonstrated, gentle, calm, peaceful, powerful, careful and caring as well as effect change. 

It seems to say that although, 'God comes with might', He also will, 'tend his flock'. They sound like two different aspects of love. A strength and power as well as a caring, nurturing side. However, a shepherd wouldn't be much good at, 'tending his flock' if he were weak. Sheep would get lost and killed by predators if that were the case. 

We need strong love. 

Love that is strong enough to forgive, can overlook our problems, and still care about us. 

We need strong love. Weak love is no good.

Weak love may be caring, empathetic and sympathetic but it cannot effect change, may not last, and will probably give up. Weak love may be aware of others needs and discomforts but not able to do anything about it.

Likewise strength without love isn't much good either - it has power to implement change forcefully or directively but not from a caring relationship. This can result in headstrong decisions and a tendency to run through people. Doing whatever without consideration to others. 

Some may recognise that God is strong and mighty, but He also carries us 'in his bosom' and will 'gently lead' those that need it.

God 'comes with might' and tender love. Just the right mix! 

Righteous and peaceful?

'justice will dwell in the wilderness, 

and righteousness abide in the fruitful field. 

 17  And the effect of righteousness will be peace, 

and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. 

 18  My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, 

in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.'

Isaiah 32:16

Oooh, I like the sound of this! 

Things being fair, knowing what is right and doing it, quiet, trust, security, rest and peace. That sounds like a great life doesn't it? Is it possible? Can it be true that we can live free from the internal angst that can sometimes plague us?

Let's look at this passage bit by bit.

First of all it mentions justice. The right balance, fairness for all. Even in 'the wilderness'. This could be the places inhabited by only a few, but even there the right rules will be lived by. The wilderness could also refer to the times when we feel like we are in a difficult, lonely situation in life where help, company and abundance seem a long way off. Even there justice reigns.

 

'Righteousness in the fruitful field' In a fruitful field it may me tempting to be greedy, but if you're working hard and being successful, then the right balance can be kept. So it doesn't matter whether you feel like you're in, 'the wilderness' or 'in the fruitful field', God's justice still reigns. People can know they are right with God wherever there are. 

We have responsibility to look at what we are doing in those places. Are we being 'just' ourselves with those around us? Are we keeping the right balance and being fair? or are we overwhelmed or taking advantage of our situation? God's righteousness is accessible anywhere, are we allowing it to access us?p and make a difference to us?

'the effect of righteousness will be peace, 

and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.'

So, righteousness brings about peace. Peace is what happens when we are right with God. It's like a natural response to our decision to walk right. I think I can relate to that. When I've done the right thing in a situation, even if something has gone wrong, I feel a sense of 'I'm in the clear', I feel alright. When we know we are right with God we can walk with a clear conscience, and that brings peace.

The consequence of righteousness then is, 'quietness and trust forever'. The outcome of choosing to live right is a quiet confidence, not just now, not just in different situations, but eternally. It's an assurance. What a great result! Quietness within your soul. This implies a lack of anxiety, pain and confusion. I think we could all do with that!

God then promises a, 'a peaceful habitation'  for His people. Those who have chosen a life with Him can have this. What would it be like? - a home without strife or argument, no skeletons in the closet. It doesn't mean a place where there's no-one else either, it's easier to be peaceful when no-one else is around. However, can you imagine what it would be like to live with others, but for you all to enjoy peace, there's no internal angst, no unmentionable issues, no outbursts... That sounds pretty good to me. 

So, it seems fair to ask, if this is what the Bible says, and if I am following God and investing in life with Him, why doesn't my life look like that? 

Why don't I have freedom from worry? Peace? Security?

I'm not going to go into all the reasons, but one may be, what are we putting our trust in really? Also, this world isn't God's initial design, so not all things will go smoothly. But whether we are in a fruitful or wilderness state, we can still enjoy 'righteousness'. The freedom from internal angst, freedom from a bad conscience because Jesus gives us that. For free. 

We don't have to measure up to anyone else's standards, because we have been accepted by God. He's the one who made everyone else, so He's the one who truly matters!

I wonder if the more we treasure and dwell on this fact, the more we will discover quiet, trust, security, rest and peace?

Are you listening?

Isaiah 29:9-14

To whom will he teach knowledge, 

and to whom will he explain the message? 

  Those who are weaned from the milk, 

those taken from the breast? 

 10  For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, 

line upon line, line upon line, 

here a little, there a little.

And the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed. When men give it to one who can read, saying, “Read this,” he says, “I cannot, for it is sealed.” 12 And when they give the book to one who cannot read, saying, “Read this,” he says, “I cannot read.” 

And the Lord said: 

  “Because this people draw near with their mouth 

and honor me with their lips, 

while their hearts are far from me, 

  and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men, 

 14  therefore, behold, I will again 

do wonderful things with this people, 

with wonder upon wonder; 

and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, 

and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.” 

Who listens to God? 

Can babies understand who He is? (V9-10)

Do those who can read, read the Bible? (V11)

Do those who can't read, gain knowledge of God? (V12)

Do those who worship God, and go to church actually listen to Him?

I think that list, probably covers everyone! 

So, who does actually, actively, listens to God?

I have learned that listening is not a passive thing, but an action. You have to put in effort and concentrate in order to listen. 

We can read without it going in, sing a song without much thought, but to listen, we have to engage. 

It's sometimes hard enough listening to people, but how do we listen to God? 

Well, this passage gives us some clues: read the Bible, be prepared to be taught, talk to Him and praise Him. We have to put in the effort and the time if we truly want to hear what God wants to say. That is if we really want to hear what He's saying rather than what we hope He is saying. 

When we do hear God speak, it doesn't always come in a booming voice, or with a blinding light, but it might be a sense or thought that you wouldn't normally have. Or something seems to jump out at you when you're reading. It may be that the same theme keeps cropping up. I encourage you to explore it, pray about it and see if anything different happens if you listen. 

What will you lose if you give it a go?

Ever feel like you're busy?

I often feel busy, and feel like there is probably more I should be getting done, I have a 'to do' list and quite regularly have to bump things on the list to another day. I'm very good at finding things to do, and there always seems to be something that I feel like I should do. It's not even that others put pressure on me to do stuff, I put it on myself. This can cause me to feel busy, and a bit stressed.

The other day, just as I was feeling busy and getting ready for the day, I read this little verse: 

O Lord, you will ordain peace for us, 

for you have indeed done for us all our works. - Isaiah 26:12  

 

Do you know what? That gave me such relief! It's not me that does all this stuff, but I have help! Phew! I remembered then that I have someone who walks with me, and works with me. God is not just by my side or watching over me, but He is working alongside me.

This made me question the importance of all that stuff that I get busy with. What should I really be doing? Yes, the housework will not do itself sadly, but do I need to get so bothered by it? Do I need to feel stressed that the bathroom hasn't been cleaned in x amount of days, or that I still haven't responded to that email/letter/phone call?

Knowing that God is doing it with me helps. God has, 'done for us all our works'. This is the stuff that concerns us, things we are busy doing and have a duty to do. We don't have to bear the burden alone.

The other brilliant thing about this verse is it says that God, 'will ordain peace for us'. He will give us an internal rest. The definition of peace is - freedom from disturbance, tranquility. 

So, next time I feel I have much to do, I am going to try to remember this. I am going to aim to remind myself that God is doing the work with me, and that He can give me peace.

 I might not seem any less busy but I can certainly feel it.

What is the point of your life?

We all come to an end. 

Each of us will experience our Earthly life finishing, however that may come about. 

Isaiah 10:3

'What will you do on the day of punishment, 

in the ruin that will come from afar? 

  To whom will you flee for help, 

and where will you leave your wealth? '

Have you thought about, 'what will you do' on that day? 'To whom will you flee for help?' Who can you rely on? Who will be there? What will it be like? 

That seems like a lot of things to consider, but surely it's worth considering. At the end, what will be the legacy of your life's work? What will you be leaving behind? 

Is what we do now, in this life, of any consequence to what happens after we expire?

We may come to our own conclusions about what is next after this life, is it just a void of emptiness, is there nothing? Or is there something? 

There are many theories, ideas and conclusions that have been reached about what happens after we leave this earthly life. We all need to make up our own mind about what we believe.I'm not going to tell you what to believe, I'd just like to ask you some questions.

If there as life after this one on Earth, then surely, what happens at the end of our lives should influence our current life. If this life has purpose, then we should live like it does and make the most of it. 

So, what are you living for? To leave a legacy? to store up wealth? To become renowned? To build up something of worth on Earth? To build a fortune or a family?

Really, in a few short years this life will be over, the average life expectancy is 71years, that's not so long. All the hard work and striving of this life, what will it of led to? 

What is the point to your life? 

It's an important question to consider, we all have one -  it's what motivates us, what we spend time doing and thinking of. Where are your thoughts, money and energies focussed? 

I cannot give you the answers, these you have to figure out for yourself. Just consider, the time we're alive on Earth is of small importance (an average of 71years) when compare that to the amount of time we're not on the Earth. So, surely we should make this time count for something. 

At the end of your days, when you reach your expriation date, what would your life really of been about? What impression will you be leaving to those around you? Will the purpose of your life do you good in the end?

It's worth considering your views on the 'hereafter' because it lasts longer than the here and now, we're not around on Earth for much longer than we are on it. 

At some point, we all consider, If there really is a God. At the end of your days, If there is, how will you measure up? 

Liberating Love

Most of us probably feel sad when we hear of family breakdown, and rightly so. We probably feel the same when we hear of children who rebel against their parents. We can think it's unjust, unfair and perhaps unfaithful.

Can you imagine if that parent was you? 

We all make mistakes, but how heart-wrenching would it be if one day any children you may have turned your back on you? You do the best you can to demonstrate your love, to protect and support your children, yet still, they reject you. 

As a good parent you would bring up children in the way you hope will lead them into a happy and healthy life, yet they throw out your sound advice. 

They do their own thing. 

They reject what they have been taught and shown about what is right. Then choose to live a life which becomes more and more debauched, degraded and distant. 

By their actions they seem to be intentionally rebelling against the instruction of their parents. As a result they seem to push you further and further away. They may not call. Your very own children become distant and seem lost to you. They may ignore you. They may speak falsley about you. It may appear that they hate you, their parents.

As the parent, how would that feel? 

What would or could you do?  

I cannot imagine how distraught I would be. 

It would feel to me like my life's work has been to no avail, the people that are a part of me, of my family, had rejected me, misunderstood me and didn't love me. The pain would be indescribable, the way the heart would ache. I am sure I would be mourning for them. 

Now, let me tell you...... 

                                                        we are those children.

Each one of us has done things we know are wrong and have turned our backs on what we know is right.

It pains our parent, our Father God, who has been actively involved in our lives since before we were born.

We have rejected Him, we have misunderstood Him and we have ignored Him.

We have thought we know better, we haven't understood all the purposes of the rules and regulations so we have broken them. 

As the parent, how would that feel for God? 

God has mourned over you, his heart breaks for you, He yearns for the time to come when you choose Him above the other stuff. He does not want you to follow the rules, but to follow His heart. He will wait like the ever patient, ever loving Father that He is. He will not deny you, He will let you in, He will forgive you and He will live life with you. 

God has been distraught when each of us has chosen to walk away from Him and fulfill our own agenda. His heart has ached for you. 

He will show you, not a load of rules, but His heart when you truly set your mind to find Him. 

You just have to choose Him. 

Admit you are wrong, accept that you don't have all the answers and that maybe there is more to life than what is going on right now. 

God knew that we couldn't understand His heart until He revealed Himself to us, so He did that by sending His own son. His own son, who walked the Earth and faced the trials and temptations just as we do. Jesus showed us what all the rules and regulations meant, the true meaning of the Law by demonstrating the love and grace that was behind it. 

God loves us SO much that He chose to send His own son, to us. To us, who were; debauched, degraded, distant, dismissive and denying. 

Who would go after people like that? 

That is some heart of love!

God sees that you are worth it, you're worth the agony, worth the suffering, worth the cost of restoration. 

I am so grateful that God has chosen and chased me. I have not understood where He was coming from for many years, yet He has chosen to gently and faithfully reveal His heart to me.

Some people think that being a christian is about being a good person, and following the rules, but being a christian is about relationship. 

Would God of suffered all that if it was about rules? 

No!

It is about a heart-broken Father who sent someone who could understand our plight, someone who could walk in the circles we walk and demonstrate His Father's great love. It's about a rescue mission, for us. 

Not to confine us to rules but to liberate us through love. 

Isaiah 1:

 2  Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; 

for the Lord has spoken: 

  “Children have I reared and brought up, 

but they have rebelled against me. 

 3  The ox knows its owner, 

and the donkey its master’s crib, 

  but Israel does not know, 

my people do not understand.” 

 4  Ah, sinful nation, 

a people laden with iniquity, 

  offspring of evildoers, 

children who deal corruptly! 

  They have forsaken the Lord, 

they have despised the Holy One of Israel, 

they are utterly estranged. 

 5  Why will you still be struck down? 

Why will you continue to rebel? 

  The whole head is sick, 

and the whole heart faint. 

 6  From the sole of the foot even to the head, 

there is no soundness in it, 

  but bruises and sores 

and raw wounds; 

  they are not pressed out or bound up 

or softened with oil. 

living sacrifice

The following passage is one of my favourite pieces of scripture, it's challenges me every time I read it.

Romans 12:1-2

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God,  to present your bodies as a holy and living sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 

We are appealed to, asked, implored, to offer ourselves as a Living sacrifice. To me, that sounds pretty grim. 

A sacrifice usually involves; blood, suffering and pain. But, we don't have to die. 

We are to be a living sacrifice, Living is to be; dynamic, positive, full of life. Not dormant, distant or dead. 

The reason for this sacrifice, is to give up our own life so a better one can be lived. 

Making the definite decision that God has better ideas for our life than we do, and choosing, not just once, but each day to do what He wants of us. Giving up ourselves. 

We become an offering, which does mean that we probably have to give up certain things as we become wholly committed to a purpose not our own. That's what this sacrifice is about, committing to a purpose not our own. 

That involves a big sacrifice. 

This means we've got to give up the thoughts that we know best. We have to do as we are told!

 I don't think that sits very well with most of us. Every since we were young children we have strived for more and more independence. Yet here we are, reading the Bible and discovering that actually, that hard fought for independence needs to be given up! 

Not to just any cause though, but to the One, the One who created you, the One who Himself gave his life up for you. He did it out of perfect love. Surely He deserves our all?

The point of this sacrifice is to offer up - voluntarily, without coercion, the life we would choose to lead in order to live the life God wants us to lead. This sacrifice is not about laying life down, but having life in its fullness. To choose to put God first, not ourselves. 

It's not about living less but living more, it's not about giving up but living up.