ISAIAH

It is Friday morning, and I have enjoyed reading in Isaiah and into Jeremiah this morning.  I marked more verses than I could possibly share, and I enjoyed spending the time in God's Holy Word this morning.  Last night I was able to pray with 12 teenagers and children and lead them to Jesus Christ.  I sat with five young teens on a playground table and shared the Gospel and answered their questions.  At first they all wanted to be saved, but not pray in public, but after explaining that we cannot be ashamed of Jesus Chris and expect to accept Him the oldest girl, Maria, said:  "Let's Pray!"  All five of them prayed out load to accept the free gift of salvation.  I so enjoy explaining the wonderful Gospel of Christ.  Well, here are some thoughts from Isaiah: 1) JUST FOR A MOMENT- For seventy years, Israel was in captivity, but here is God's thoughts about that in Isaiah 54:7,8  "For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.  (8) In a little wrath I hid my face from thee, for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer."  Whenever God turned from Isaiah, it was in God's eyes, "just a moment of time".  How wonderful it is to know that we can have the everlasting kindness of Almighty God!  He loves us eternally and is always there for us.  All of earth's trials and adversities will be for "just a moment of time" in light of eternity.  Let us bear it well, and cast on His shoulders what we were not meant to bear.  Time is fleeting, and we have "just a moment of time" left here on earth.  Let us use it wisely for Jesus Christ! 2) IF WE WILL RETURN- In Isaiah 55, we have an amazing promise to the wicked.  Sometimes we may feel like we are wicked and truly we are without Christ, but in Christ, we are saints and adopted sons of God.  Here is what verses 7-9 tell us:  "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts:  and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.  (8) For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith 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."  Here we see that God's thoughts being higher than ours deals with His wonderful ability to forgive the wicked of their ways and thoughts IF they only "return" unto the LORD!  Wow!  God's forgiveness is truly unexplainable and we cannot comprehend it all, but we can enjoy the forgiveness that He freely gives to us!  Praise the LORD!! 3) FASTING- Do you fast?  Do you need to fast?  You might be needing to fast, but are not fasting.  Here is what God's Word tells us in Isaiah 58:5-6  "Is it such a fast that I have chosen?  a day for a man to afflict his soul?  is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him?  wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?  (6)  Is not this the fast that I have chosen?  to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?"  In other words:  Fasting is not for a show of mourning or affliction, but to break the bands of wickedness that have wrapped around God's children.  Fast and pray and God will break the bands and undo the heavy burdens.  4) TO THIS MAN!  I love to read Isaiah 66:2:  "For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD:  but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word."   God is looking for someone poor in spirit, contrite in spirit, and who trembles at His Word  (Highly esteems His Word.)  5) RETURN IF YOU WANT- Jeremiah is a wonderful book.  God tells Israel that He has divorced her, but still wants her back.  Still loves her with an everlasting love.  God loves us not for who we are, but for who He is!  Jeremiah 4:1 says:  "If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the LORD, return unto me: ... "   Whenever you are ready to "get right" with God; He is already ready for you!  Well, my time is gone.  Have a blessed day!  Pastor Mike Mutchler