11/11/2020
When people and countries lose sight of God, or walk away from the truth which is Jesus Christ, do not give up hope on them because just as the Lord’s hands are held out to them all the day long... your arms should be extending the Word of God, and the gospel of Jesus to them as well.
“I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices;”
Isaiah 65:2 ESV
Even when people hear, and do not receive the Word of God, He waits on them, but not in silence. As they resist Him, or worship strange gods, He pulls and prods them towards Himself, and His beautiful pastures. Sometimes He uses His staff to gently pull them towards Him, but at other times he uses his rod to give them a firm whack on their hindquarters. In either case He has not forgotten them, nor given them over to the world by turning His back on them.
“Behold, it is written before me: “I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will indeed repay into their lap both your iniquities and your fathers’ iniquities together, says the Lord; because they made offerings on the mountains and insulted me on the hills, I will measure into their lap payment for their former deeds.””
Isaiah 65:6-7 ESV
Our Heavenly Father has held out His hope for those who sin, and we should show that same hope towards one another. Just as God withholds His harshest punishment, and does not immediately destroy all those who turn from Him, we should remain merciful towards our countries, and the people who inhabit them, by presenting ourselves as a living example of His righteousness, and by continuing to speak the gospel of Jesus, and the Word of God to them.
“Thus says the Lord: “As the new wine is found in the cluster, and they say, ‘Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing in it,’ so I will do for my servants’ sake, and not destroy them all.”
Isaiah 65:8 ESV
Brothers and sisters, do not lose hope when the world appears to be winning the battles of faith, but trust in God’s revelation that although some battles will be lost, the war of the souls will be won. Even more... God’s hands will be held out to the sinners until the final moment of judgement, and their last breath. Jesus demonstrates this from the cross...
“One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.””
Luke 23:39-43 ESV
Are we losing hope in this sinful modern world, and the people who inhabit it? Are we folding our arms to our own breast, and giving up on those who appear to be lost by turning inward towards our own salvation, and hugging ourselves at the expense of those who might be saved? O my friends, keep your arms extended and your hands open to all those who might come to Christ, and receive our Heavenly Father as their God. Let God judge who will come to His door; our job is to deliver His invitation to them, and be prepared to open the door when they knock.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for giving us a strength of faith that allows us to extend our arms to those we believe to be lost in sin. Thank you Jesus for showing us how to dine in expectation with sinners who look for all intents and purposes to be lost to Satan, and the world. Holy Spirit speak through us, and touch the hearts of these lost souls with the words of redemption that you have given us to deliver. We pray Father that you will maintain the hope we have in you, and strengthen us as we remain obedient to your will by preaching the gospel of life to the dying. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who extends your hand to sinners, and doesn’t lose hope for their salvation. Thank you Father for giving us a full measure of your hope until our last breath, and for standing by the road waiting for us, your prodigal children, to come home. Praised be your name Lord for the soul of every lost lamb that your hope and patience has been rewarded with. You are merciful, forgiving, and full of grace! You never give up on the lost, or unrepentant, and send your Son Jesus, and Saints, to encourage them with a message of hope. Wash us all clean with the blood of Jesus, and send us into the harvest fields to bring souls into your house. In this way we pray that when Jesus returns to fetch us He will find us busy laboring in your fields, and shepherding your sheep. We pray that on that day you will be pleased with us, and find us worthy to enter your house.
“Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,” says the Lord.”
Isaiah 65:24-25 ESV
Rich Forbes