Sept 30th - Something Different

I will probably post a more conventional post later today. Kelsey, Andy & Lydia stayed here overnight last night. Their first night in their new "home", our lower level. It is a little after 7 AM and I can occasionally hear Lydia talking and laughing. I think she is up with Andy as he gets ready for work. (They are putting their house up for sale and saving money by staying here, so that they can are better able to afford the home they want, when they find it.)

Now for something different.
 

I am part way through a “read the Bible in a Year” program (really part way because I only started in June). Part of today’s reading was Isaiah 60:1-62:5. I didn’t sleep well last and so I’m sitting here at the dining room table at 6 AM  reading today’s versus. As I started reading these thoughts came to my mind,

“Is there any reason why the promises don’t apply to Centertown Baptist Church (where Kathy and I attend); or, for that matter, to me as an individual?” Is there any reason why I shouldn’t read verse 3, which says, “Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”, to read “Neighbors will come to your light, and community leaders to the brightness of your dawn.”?

Of course the promise assumes that I am living life as God would have me do so. Also, I don’t think the things promised in the passage will happen unless we, as individuals, have an expectation that they will occur. I certainly fall short of living with that expectation being in the forefront of my mind. On one had I sense the Spirit telling me that things are going to happen, but I don’t think I live in expectation of such things occurring. It is more like a thought on the sidelines of my mind.

Sadly, after opening other bible translations and a commentary to read more about these verses I already sense the worldly side of me wanting to move this from being more of a God moment to a venue for cold, calculating study. But there is hope on that front.

As I have been reading through the Bible this past few months one very important item seems to come up again and again. I am not capable of changing myself, the way I live and approach life. Only God can do that, and He will if I sincerely ask Him to do so. For me it is never a “Damascus road experience” like Paul’s. My walk with the Lord is more like turning a supertanker around. It is a VERY slow change of direction. In fact, I think my “rudder’ breaks at times and I go extended periods with no change at all. I think those times are when I basically get tangled up in the world and essentially forget about God.

The reason I even bring any of this up is because there are so many hurting people in our world today. I, who call myself a Christian, have to do a better job of being a light that draws those folks to the peace of knowing Jesus Christ as my/their personal Savior. Once we have accepted Christ’s free gift of salvation God forgives us of ALL our sins. He promises that he will provide for us and ultimately provide us with a home in Heaven.

God can change me so that “my light” shines brighter. Not so that I can be a “grand” person, but so that the light attracts others so that they can be offered a better way of life. Jesus didn’t chase people down. They came to Him because they wanted the peace that showed in the way He lived His life. A peace that showed through no matter what hardships He was facing at the moment.

 

May God bless you and yours this glorious day.