We all have experiences in life when we do not know which way to turn, or who to turn to. The Lord is effectively saying Turn to Me, I will show you the way forward. How sad that many believers do not do as Isaiah suggests in our verse today.
God sees what is happening in our hearts, and His plan is that our lives follow the example of Jesus and His way of loving others. The consequence of our actions may then inspire others and be instrumental in leading them to Jesus. Our behaviour must be a good example.
The first phrase in our verses today is a message for many believers to stop mixing with the wrong people, or to stop sinful habits. We have all met people who could be a bad influence. And many Christians have resisted getting involved with them, but they need our prayers.
Adam and Eve must have seen that tree in the middle of the garden hundreds of times. But the had not really looked at it, because in their memories, they had heard the order from God to not touch it. Sadly Eve remembered too late not to eat from it.
As a child in Sunday school I was always encouraged to learn a Bible verse each week. As I remember some of those verses even today more than 70 years on, I realise that it was a good thing to do. Jesus encouraged His disciples to remember what He said.
The image of millions of obedient believers sitting at the side of Jesus on His Heavenly throne is a difficult one to imagine. We must not think of the throne as being like an earthly throne for an earthly king. But more an inner chamber where major decisions are made.
The suggestion in the verses above is that eating together helps us get to know each other. In many cultures of the world people invite new colleagues or neighbours for a snack or a meal, as a gesture of friendship. The church on earth should be a reflection of Heaven.
When Jesus was in the temple courts one day, some of the Jewish elders brought a woman caught in adultery, they brought her to Jesus expecting to be able to trick Him. But as always, He won the day and in the end nobody accused her of anything (John 8).
The last of the seven churches is far from perfect in the eyes of God. That is a sad reflection on our churches today. Many see these letters as being to a different time period in church history, starting with the early church and finishing with our modern day churches
The fact is that Jesus might be coming soon to take any one of us home to Heaven. Most of us have no real idea of when we will die and leave our earthly bodies. We should live heeding His advice in the rest of these verses we read today.
EN
FR