Today’s Reading, Isaiah 1-4
Focal Scripture: Isaiah 1:4 “Oh sinful nation, people weighed down with iniquity, brood of evildoers, depraved children! They have abandoned the Lord; they have despised the Holy One of Israel; they have turned their backs on him.”
The book of Isaiah is full of judgement and hope. It explains that if the nation of Israel continually revels against the Lord they would fall into the hands of foreign countries and be oppressed. However, later on a remnant of people from Israel will pursue holiness and pursue God. They will be true worshippers.
Here in this verse we see the declaration that the nation of Israel is sinful. They are depraved and rebelled against the Lord. They have turned their backs on him. They have abandoned true worship. They have turned to idols. They abandoned the Lord and his commands.
The application for believers is to understand that we can be just like the nation of Israel. We know what is expected of us and we don’t do submit. We know God wants all of our hearts yet we hold onto the parts that we want control of in our lives. We also don’t follow him the way we are called to daily. We rebel against his ways.
As believers we need to know that our rebellion comes at a cost. It ruins our testimony. It demonstrates to others that our faith isn’t real. It shows our family we go through the motions of Christianity but don’t have a changed heart. We will one day be held accountable for our lives and our actions. That should push us to obedience.
For the unbeliever you will be held accountable as well. However, you have hope. Submit your life to the one who can forgive sins. Follow him and go wherever he commands. Live a life completely surrendered to God. It’s worth it and will change your life.
The challenge today is that we will rebel. The believers will be judged for our actions and how we don’t follow him completely. Unbelievers will be judged for their unbelief unless they turn to God and repent.
For both surrender to the Lord matters.
Tomorrow I plan on reading Isaiah 5-8
