Tuesday after Cantate

Scripture: Isaiah 65:1-7 (NKJV)

65:1 “I was sought by those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am,’ to a nation that was not called by My name.

2 I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, according to their own thoughts;

3 A people who provoke Me to anger continually to My face; Who sacrifice in gardens, and burn incense on altars of brick;

4 Who sit among the graves, and spend the night in the tombs; Who eat swine’s flesh, and the broth of abominable things is in their vessels;

5 Who say, ‘Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am holier than you!’ These are smoke in My nostrils, a fire that burns all the day.

6 “Behold, it is written before Me: I will not keep silence, but will repay—even repay into their bosom—

7 Your iniquities and the iniquities of your fathers together,” says the Lord, “Who have burned incense on the mountains and blasphemed Me on the hills; Therefore I will measure their former work into their bosom.”

Devotion

“I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, according to their own thoughts…”

Unbelievers criticize the Christian faith because they think it is unkind or unfair in its doctrine and practice. But, as our Lord says in Matthew 11, the yoke and burden of His Church is easy compared to the realities of man’s ideas and works. The Church is taught to love others. And sometimes loving others means exercising discipline and judgment, but His Word teaches us to do so in a way that reflects His wisdom and benevolence as part of a bigger picture; whereas man’s thoughts fail to see beyond self-serving desires. Pride and rebellion are often dressed up as “love”.

Proverbs 3 teaches us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding…do not be wise in your own eyes…” God’s power and grace transcend our knowledge and perspective. It is a profound blessing that He reaches out to us and teaches us by His Word, enlightens us by His Spirit, and renews us in His forgiveness. Apart from Christ’s merciful blessings in His Church, all that remains is man’s selfish and vulgar ways.

We pray: O God, who makest the minds of the faithful to be of one will, grant unto Thy people that they may love what Thou commandest and desire what Thou dost promise, that among the manifold changes of this world our hearts may there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.