Old Testament reading: Isaiah 6-8
There are a number of familiar verses in today’s reading. Isaiah 6 is a beautiful passage detailing Isaiah’s Divine call to preach. Years ago, I heard Demar Elam preach a masterful sermon on this text titled, “Getting Close to God.” There were four main ideas: Getting Close to God: 1) Causes me to see God’s holiness and glory (v 3); 2) Makes me keenly aware of my sin (v 5); 3) Places forgiveness within my grasp (vv 6-7); 4) Makes me sensitive to God’s call (v 8). In chapter 7 we find the great Messianic prophecy of the virgin birth of Jesus (v 14). But chapter 8 contains several statements that leapt from the page as I read. In verse 12 God warned Isaiah that the response of the wicked to his preaching would be to claim “It’s a conspiracy.” In other words, ‘He’s out to get us!” Jeremiah would face the same in Jeremiah 37. Far too often the sinful accuse those who are trying to correct them of being “against” or “picking on” them. Such could not be further from the truth! Another text I found interesting was Isaiah 8:19-22, wherein God instructs Isaiah on how to respond to those who seek the counsel of the dead as opposed to seeking the counsel of God’s word: “Should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living?” We face this today when teaching those who prefer the counsel of their deceased relatives over the counsel of the living word of God which is able to save their souls.
New Testament reading: 2 Timothy
Some things just aren’t as important as they used to be. Isn’t it interesting how our perspective changes as we grow older? I speak not only of those things we once considered as important or even vital, but also to our attitudes on dealing with important things. 2 Timothy is a book that shows the power of maturity and perspective. Paul once considered John Mark as unworthy to take along after John Mark had earlier deserted Paul and Barnabas. His adamancy on this matter led to him and Barnabas going in different directions (physically, not spiritually Acts 15:36-41). Now years later, Paul recognized John Mark as being useful to him in serving the Lord. A lot had changed in the intervening years, and Paul did not continue to hold a grudge against Mark.
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