Today you should read: Isaiah 30
Isaiah starts off this chapter by calling God’s people stubborn children. Have you ever been around a stubborn child? If not, feel free to contact Jessica or me to babysit our 4 little crazy kids for a night and I’m sure you’ll see what Isaiah is talking about when calling Israel stubborn. As God’s people today we’re no different than the Israelites. Like them, we want to carry out our own plans when life doesn’t go in the direction we were expecting. We’ll make alliances with people who add sin to our sin and take refuge and shelter in government/authorities other than God. And as much as God may warn you…
“Don’t settle for that person out of your discontent because they are dragging you down spiritually.”
“Don’t pursue that position or job because instead of being a missionary to those people you are participating and justifying sin with those people around you.”
“Don’t seek refuge and salvation for our country in a political party because you’re starting to idolize it and talk more about politics than Jesus anymore.”
We’re still stubborn to His voice like children to their parents or Israel was to God. However, in spite of our rebellion, God is gracious to us, as He was gracious to the Israelites.
Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you,
and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
blessed are all those who wait for him.
-Isaiah 30:18
Although instruction, discipline, consequences for disobedience is needed when my kids act stubborn, I notice that true repentance (v. 15) seems to come from the GRACE I’ll give to my kids. That despite their stubbornness, my love and mercy for them nonetheless causes them to say “I’m sorry and I want to change” more often than not.
What may God be warning you about that you’ve been stubborn to lately?
How can GRACE from the Gospel of Jesus spoken into your unwillingness to listen to God or follow Him lately?
Blessed are those who wait for God and His ways instead of trying to create their own. God’s grace reveals that to us and saves us from the messes we make when we try to live without Him.
By: Erik Koliser — West Campus Pastor
JumpstartCPC.com 