Week of Monday, January 9 - January 15
Tried and True– Man as Chaplain
“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
Isaiah 55:6-7 ESV
These two verses contain three clear aspects of one’s journey to faith in Christ. First, there is a clear warning: “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.” God’s word is full of warnings so that we might not miss the very best that God has in store for our lives! A warning is defined as notifying with authority, to caution. God cautions mankind to seek Him while there is time.
Secondly, we are blessed to observe the remedy” “let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord.” Men, we can’t fix the sin problem in our lives or anyone else’s—that takes a Savior! Remember the words of Hebrews 2:1: “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” Jesus is the remedy for sin!
Lastly, in these verses, there is a promise: “let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” 1 John 1:9 says it this way: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” And don’t miss that word “abundantly.” It means more than enough! God has more forgiveness than you’ve got sin! The key is listening to His warning, applying the remedy, and trusting His promises.
Consider this story:
"Before refrigerators, people used ice houses to preserve their food. Ice houses had thick walls, no windows, and a tightly fitting door. In winter, when streams and lakes were frozen, large blocks of ice were cut, hauled to the ice houses, and covered with sawdust. Often the ice would last well into the summer. One man lost a valuable watch working in an ice house. He searched diligently, carefully raking through the sawdust, but didn’t find it. Fellow workers also looked, but their efforts proved futile. A small boy who heard about the fruitless search slipped into the ice house during the noon hour and soon emerged with the watch. Amazed, the men asked him how he found it. “I closed the door,” the boy replied, “lay down in the sawdust, and kept very still. Soon I heard the watch ticking.” James D. Hamilton, Directions: Insights for Christian Living (Beacon Hill, 1976)."
Men, be still and listen to God’s voice today!
These verses, given to us on the heels of God’s detailed description of the coming Messiah and His suffering and sacrifice on the cross, remind and challenge us that our response is necessary to access the grace offered by a loving and compassionate Creator! Is God speaking to you today? Has He gotten your attention through His Word? If so, respond to His voice and allow Him to change your life forever!
• If you are a Christian, these thoughts may be for you to share with someone you know who is lost without God.
• How many people have you led to the Lord in the past year? With how many have you tried to share Christ?
• If you are not a Christian, have you heard God speak to you through His Word, and if so, will you respond quickly to His invitation?
Tried and True– Man as Chaplain
“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
Isaiah 55:6-7 ESV
These two verses contain three clear aspects of one’s journey to faith in Christ. First, there is a clear warning: “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.” God’s word is full of warnings so that we might not miss the very best that God has in store for our lives! A warning is defined as notifying with authority, to caution. God cautions mankind to seek Him while there is time.
Secondly, we are blessed to observe the remedy” “let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord.” Men, we can’t fix the sin problem in our lives or anyone else’s—that takes a Savior! Remember the words of Hebrews 2:1: “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” Jesus is the remedy for sin!
Lastly, in these verses, there is a promise: “let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” 1 John 1:9 says it this way: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” And don’t miss that word “abundantly.” It means more than enough! God has more forgiveness than you’ve got sin! The key is listening to His warning, applying the remedy, and trusting His promises.
Consider this story:
"Before refrigerators, people used ice houses to preserve their food. Ice houses had thick walls, no windows, and a tightly fitting door. In winter, when streams and lakes were frozen, large blocks of ice were cut, hauled to the ice houses, and covered with sawdust. Often the ice would last well into the summer. One man lost a valuable watch working in an ice house. He searched diligently, carefully raking through the sawdust, but didn’t find it. Fellow workers also looked, but their efforts proved futile. A small boy who heard about the fruitless search slipped into the ice house during the noon hour and soon emerged with the watch. Amazed, the men asked him how he found it. “I closed the door,” the boy replied, “lay down in the sawdust, and kept very still. Soon I heard the watch ticking.” James D. Hamilton, Directions: Insights for Christian Living (Beacon Hill, 1976)."
Men, be still and listen to God’s voice today!
These verses, given to us on the heels of God’s detailed description of the coming Messiah and His suffering and sacrifice on the cross, remind and challenge us that our response is necessary to access the grace offered by a loving and compassionate Creator! Is God speaking to you today? Has He gotten your attention through His Word? If so, respond to His voice and allow Him to change your life forever!
• If you are a Christian, these thoughts may be for you to share with someone you know who is lost without God.
• How many people have you led to the Lord in the past year? With how many have you tried to share Christ?
• If you are not a Christian, have you heard God speak to you through His Word, and if so, will you respond quickly to His invitation?