Guest devotion from my brother Chris
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Link to daily bible reading calendar (chronological - one chapter per day)
Arguing
With God
Isaiah
1:18-20
"Come, sit down. Let's argue this out..."
Have you ever said these words to
a coworker? A family member
perhaps? A neighbor? For many, arguing is something to avoid at
all costs. We fight to avoid
conflict. For others, confrontation is
the best way to bring things to a head, get them dealt with and move on. Which
group do you fall into? Do you look
forward to an argument? Do you cringe at
the thought of raised voices and heightened emotions? Regardless of your answer, imagine now that
it's God asking you to sit down and argue.
I don't know about you, but the thought of arguing with God terrifies
me. What could I possibly have to say to
support my stance? He is perfect. I am the opposite. He created this amazing world AND me;
everything I've ever done is filth in His sight. This is not going to go well.
In the section of scripture we're considering today we
read...
"This is God's Message:
If your sins are blood red,
they'll be snow white. If they're red
like crimson, they'll be like wool."
No argument from me! This is
GREAT news. Unearned salvation and the
COMPLETE washing away of all my filthy thoughts, words, actions; sins. Well...that wasn't so bad, right? Wow, what was I so worried about? This arguing thing is a piece of cake! But wait, there's more.
"If you'll willingly
obey, you'll feast like kings..." Uhoh.
This part sounds like it relies on me. That's where the argument
begins. Time and again I commit to doing
the right thing. Thinking only good
thoughts. Saying only good things. Doing only good things. Time and again, I do the opposite. I continuously fail to willingly obey. So, it looks like I'm not going to be doing
any feasting, that's for sure.
"But, if you're
willful and stubborn, you'll die like dogs.
That's right, God says so."
Gulp... Willful and stubborn? That's me
alright. I know what's right, but choose
what's wrong. I try, but fail. Over and over, I fall short. I'm like an obstinate child who continuously
disobeys. My punishment is death. There's no way out of this argument. I was right to be afraid.
Wow...this argument isn't going well at all. As I imagined, my chances of winning an
argument with God are not good. I'm
doomed; crushed by the weight and reality of my hopeless situation and
guilt. I am worthless. Wait.
I hear someone speaking; arguing on my behalf. Who would bother to stand up for me when I continually
prove my worthlessness?
The one who argues on my behalf is none other than the one
who condemns me. The Son, 1/3 of the
Triune God, comes to my rescue, puts on my sin and argues with His Father on my
behalf. WOW! The argument is won. I am saved.
I continue in my daily struggle to do right, think right, live right,
NOT out of fear or guilt or some misguided belief that I will earn my way to
Heaven. Instead I strive to live a life
pleasing to God to show gratitude for the gift he has given me. He argues on my behalf when I am unable to do
so. GREAT is our God!
We pray, Blessed God. Thank you for creating me. Thank you for sustaining me. Thank you for condemning me in my sin to make it clear that I cannot do this on my own and to prepare me for the unimaginable gift you gave me in Your Son, who argues on my behalf and wins the argument to grant me eternity in paradise. Amen.
=========================Link to daily bible reading calendar (chronological - one chapter per day)
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What's the big deal about Jesus?
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