It couldn't be clearer. Throughout the book of Isaiah we have heard
God’s gracious invitations.
“Come
now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall
become like wool. (Is 1:18)
“I, I am
he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember
your sins. (Is 43:25)
Remember these things, O Jacob, and Israel, for you are my
servant; I formed you; you are my servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten
by me. I have blotted out your
transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have
redeemed you. (Is 44:21-22)
“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. (Is 55:6-7)
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits
eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell
in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly
spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the
contrite. For I will not contend
forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would grow faint before me,
and the breath of life that I made. Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain
I was angry, I struck him; I hid my face and was angry, but he went on
backsliding in the way of his own heart.
I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore
comfort to him and his mourners, creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to
the far and to the near,” says the LORD, “and I will heal him. (Is 57:15-19)
God is gracious to offer to heal, us to
revive us and give us peace. But before we can be cleansed and healed we
must acknowledge our need.
Thankfully God’s grace that revives
also reveals. God’s mercy includes
showing us the reality of our hearts. Isaiah
57:11 summarizes it well: Whom did you dread and fear, so that you
lied, and did not remember me, did not lay it to heart? Have I not held my
peace, even for a long time, and you do not fear me? Isaiah says we do not fear God as we
should. We lie to him, others and ourselves. We fail to remember God and we don't esteem
him as we should.
I have spent some time this week
considering these two quotes from John Piper and Alvin Reid. As you prepare for worship this
Sunday I encourage you to take some time to consider these thoughts in light of
God’s revealing and reviving grace.
“Sin is
the glory of God not honored, the holiness of God not reverenced, the greatness
of God not admired, the power of God not praised, the truth of God not sought,
the wisdom of God not esteemed, the beauty of God not treasured, the goodness
of God not savored, the faithfulness of God not trusted, the promises of God
not believed, the commandments of God not obeyed, the justice of God not
respected, the wrath of God not feared, the grace of God not cherished, the
presence of God not prized, the person of God not loved.” John Piper
In our
current book study Sharing Jesus
Without Freaking Out Alvin Reid says, “all of us are excellent
evangelists for the things that matter most to us.” Hence, one of the reasons we don't share
Jesus with others as we should is because we’ve “gotten over” the amazement of
the gospel.
Preaching
the gospel to ourselves using these four points will help us get over “getting over”
God’s amazing grace.
1. God is
great, so I don't have to be in control.
He is sovereign and He has the power to save. But we are all control freaks who are guilty
of not trusting him. Of this sin we need
to repent.
2. God is
glorious, so i don't have to fear others. But all of us, at some level, are people pleasers. We fear man more God, and more often than not
wanting the approval of others is the primary motivation for what we do. Of this sin we need to repent.
3. God is
good, so i don't have to look elsewhere.
Temptation can be powerful, but the moment we choose to sin we are in
that moment saying what we want is better than what God has for us. We don't believe God is good. Of this sin we need to repent.
4. God is
gracious, so i don't have to prove myself. The culture says success is based on my
performance plus other people’s opinion of me.
We have been forgiven completely by the one we have offended
immensely. We need to be living our
lives for the approval of One. Not doing
so is unbelief. Of this sin we need to
repent. (Adapted from Sharing Jesus Without
Freaking Out, p 37-38)
I look forward to worshipping with you this Sunday.
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