Scripture:
Isaiah 55:8-11 NKJV
[8] “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. [9] “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. [10] “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, [11] So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
Observation:
I often find myself asking the question, “ok GOD what are you doing?” Honesty, I hope I’m not the only one. Sometimes people do things that they don’t understand. But in the end, it leads to greater things. As I look through the scripture this morning, my heart was drawn to this passage. It’s one that I am pretty familiar with and tend to quote on a regular basis. Honestly, it explains all the stuff that happens in our lives that we just don’t understand. As I think about what Isaiah is saying sometimes it baffles me. What do you mean your ways are not our ways? Are you not our GOD? But as I look at all the things I have prayed for that have not happened, and think, will I guess GOD knows better than I do. I believe what is being said in these verses is probably a little simpler than most of us would think. GOD doesn’t think like us, because HE stands outside of time. HE sees what we don’t and he will do things according to what HE sees that we can’t. You see, Isaiah was saying that God’s ways protect us from what we don’t see coming. HE doesn’t think the way that we think. It’s because HE sees what we think we have to have, and knows what it will do to us, so for our own protection, HE takes us another route. HE our deepest thoughts, and HE knows that what we think is good for us is no good at all. HIS way will produce fruit. Our way produces thorns and thistles. What Isaiah is telling us is that the words of GOD will produce something other than that. It will produce something useful and profitable. It’s not going to leave you in a place where things are not going to work out. His hidden question is Do you trust that GOD is good. Do you trust that HE knows better than you do? Do you trust HIM enough to do it HIS way and see what happens? Because what HE is saying is that HIS way works.
Application:
I’m going to be honest here. I have been distracted for a while now. So much is going on that I honestly just don’t understand. People are falling away from what works, and people are being removed from my life. That part I seem to have gotten used to. As I step back and look at how things are going. I can see GOD is doing something. I’m just not sure what. You see HE is a master craftsman. HE knows just how to maneuver everything so that the best results take place, or so that the least amount of damage happens. Although the things you see happening in your life may not make sense to you know they will when HE is done. Hold fast and see the deliverance of the LORD. With HIM what looks like an end is really only the beginning. I want to take us to the cross for an example. All of the disciples truly thought that Jesus being nailed to a cross was the end of it all. But it was HIS resurrection gave them…. and all of us victory. HIS death brought new life. Not just to HIM but to what the disciples believed as well, you see, they had heard HIM say HE had to die and be risen again, but they had a hard time believing that, and in fact they didn’t until it happened. At that point, they knew it in the deepest part of themselves and were willing to die for it. GOD’S ways are not our own. What looks like the death of something in your life is only the beginning. Jesus said Unless a seed dies and falls to the ground it can not produce fruit. The fruit that came from Jesus Christ dying and rising out of the tomb has honestly changed the world. HE came to break the power of sin. But what does that mean? Well sin’s power is found in 4 thing’s, shame, guilt, fear, and death. HIS resurrection was the final blow. It crushed the head of the serpent and showed us we have absolutely nothing to fear. Now I’m going to be honest with you. When I turned to this text this morning I had no idea that the gospel was going to be present in this fashion. There has to be a reason for that. I don’t believe the Holy Spirit would lead this in the direction HE has without a purpose. I’m not sure who reads these anymore, and at times I wonder why GOD still has me writing. But I feel like someone who is reading this right now needs to know that they are loved. To such an extreme that GOD HIMSELF would step out of heaven to walk this earth as a man. Teaching us HIS ways. Showing us how to love, leading us the whole time right to the cross. Where we can lay down the life we had and pick up the life HE has always intended for us to have. A life where victory is the final word. Victory over all of it. Fear, shame, guilt, and death. HIS example set us free. If you are reading this and you do not know HIM. If you have never felt that victory I’m speaking of. I hope you have the courage to speak up. Because I know from experience GOD has a plan for you. A plan that you may not understand at first but its a good plan. A path to freedom beyond your wildest dreams, and I want you to experience that. Please its that’s you send me a personal message. I would love to talk to you. I would love to tell you what HE has done for me and countless others. HE has a plan for you, all you have to do is receive the gift of salvation. Don’t let this moment slip by you. Be strong and courageous and leave that old life behind.
Prayer:
Father, I honestly have no idea how we got to where we are, but here we are. Now it’s time for you to do what only you can. Take what has been said and use it to produce what only you can. I know that you are never done, and my prayer is, “Just one more, Father, just one more.” Bring them to the kingdom. Your word tells us that today is the day of salvation. You tell us you will make us fishers of men. So this morning under your direction we have cast our net. To the right side of the boat. We ask that you will bring an abundance of fish. So many that we will have to row to the shore with the net still in the water. Its in the mighty name of Jesus we pray amen