LIVING HOPE - Reading With the People of God: Part 18ಮಾದರಿ

A Prayer for Deliverance

In Isaiah 63:7-64:12 we have an overpowering image of the wrath of God against the godless on earth which is just what many in Israel were waiting for. But the same holiness of God that motivates this destruction motivates God’s severe chastisement of his people’s sins. Tragically, Israel’s history was one of consistent rebellions against the grace of God. Even the most righteous people are “unclean” and our most righteous acts are “like a polluted garment (v.6). All of God’s people on earth “fade like a leaf, and our iniquities take us away like the wind” (v.6 ESV). So how can Israel specifically and everyone in general be saved (5b)?

Because God is a loving, compassionate father (v. 8) who loves us at our worst and doesn’t give up on us. Though the situation looked hopeless the story is not over. Isaiah confesses that Israel has greatly sinned, wandering far from God; but he also believes that God will take care of His children and bring them back to himself. And now through His Son, Jesus, all who call on His name and receive Him by faith are reconciled to God who is committed to making His people wholly and forever His!!

Let us give thanks for all that it means to belong to Christ, to realize that we are complete, forgiven and changed by the transforming power of his love. Jesus changes everything!

Transformed Living

Throughout this chapter Peter challenges us to follow Jesus even when it’s not easy. We suffer as Christians because we have chosen Christ over sin, Satan, and our old ways. What the world needs today is not more intelligent or more gifted people but more ordinary people who are completely “taken” with an extraordinary Christ. As believers we are called to take sin seriously, pray hard, love well, welcome much, use our gifts for others as we place our hope in a certain, glorious future.

Primer contributed by Norm Hudspeth, ministering elder.