The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
Isaiah 5-8
Act 2: God’s Covenant People
Scene 6:Kings and Prophets: God divides the kingdom people.
Background Information: Isaiah 5-8
Isaiah spends the first five chapters urgently calling for repentance and announcing judgment. Finally, in chapter six, he allows us in on the vision that propelled his mission and outlined his message. It was the year of King Uzziah’s death. Tragically, and fittingly, he died as a leper for not taking seriously the holiness of God. His death date gives both a time stamp and a real-world illustration of Isaiah’s vision of the holy God. The burning fire of God’s holiness must not be trifled with. In his vision, Isaiah sees the Lord on his awesome kingly throne. In actual fact, he saw a manifestation of God; no one can see God and survive the encounter. God’s royal robe spilled from heaven to the temple on earth. The Temple was the earthly “hot spot” of God’s holiness. Spiritual beings called Seraphim, literally burning ones, attended him as servants. Fire is a key symbol for the holiness of God. Their perpetual song had a single theme: The Lord is holy! His glory, the manifestation of his hidden holiness, filled the whole earth. The mere declaration of God’s holiness shook the foundations of the temple, and Isaiah’s response to this manifestation of the holy God was to immediately recognize his own sinfulness. When atheist Bertrand Russell encountered God after his death, you can be sure that his words to God did not match what he had claimed he would say to God while he lived: “I did not believe because you did not give enough evidence.” What he said just before he died was, in fact, “Woe is me for I am ruined!” Isaiah did not stay in his sinful ruin; God provided cleansing fire to remove his sin. The result of his experiencing the holiness of God, his confession of sin, and the gift of forgiveness was that he was commissioned to go and represent God to others. This was the engine that drove Isaiah’s life. What drives your life? What are you giving your life for? Ask God to help you see his holiness more clearly. Beware, because as you see him more clearly, you will see yourself more clearly. This will be good, and this will be painful.
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Pray for Jason & Lisa and kids as they begin a short stay here in Wichita. Pray God uses us to encourage them before they head back overseas.
Ask God for… (what else concerns you?)
Reflect:
Write down one passage of scripture that stood out to you today.
Write down why this passage stood out to you.
Engage Community:
Text or call someone now and tell them…
– What you are praying for.
– What stood out from God’s word today.