Confession that leads to forgiveness

 

Meditation from Isaiah 64,65

I enjoy the good promises from the Bible, but here, like other places we have words of confession of sin. Even the gracious Lord Jesus exposed sin as a root problem in all humanity – Mark 7:21

Isaiah 64:5

“But we are not godly. We are constant sinners, so Your anger Lord is heavy upon us. How can people like us be saved? We are all infected and impure with sin. When we proudly display our righteous deeds, we find they are but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall. And our sins, like the wind, sweep us away. Yet no one calls on your name, or pleads with you for mercy. Therefore You have turned away from us and turned us over to our sins.”

Then the prophet takes the humble place “We are the clay,  You are the potter….”

Then the LORD says (Chapter 65) : “People who never before inquired about Me are asking about Me. I am being found by people who were not looking for Me. To them I have said “I am here”.

I opened my arms to My own people but……………”

And so the good news for repentant sinner holds true:

‘Whoever will call upon the Name of the LORD will be saved ‘ (Romans 10:13) . 

 Let us take time to confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1John 1) .

It is not the purpose of God for us to live in morbid introspection, but it is healthy to humble ourselves and see the situation as by the holy vision of the Lord.

Peter wrote “God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble.” 

   (1 Peter 5)

The change God can make

 

As I return to my work with migrants the following Bible verse gives encouragement. Many have suffered much and lost much. But now they have an opportunity for good change. Best of all the opportunity to have God’s love, joy  and peace.

Isaiah chapter 61:

God gives beauty for ashes

Joy instead of mourning

Praise instead of despair

The Lord God through our Lord Jesus Christ is in the work of recovering wasted and crushed lives.

Are you one of those -  seek HIM today !

Heaven's activity

 

Present activity in heaven.

“Seek those things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God …… you also will appear with Him in glory.” (Colossians 3)

Heaven seems a far off place – especially when we are too distracted by the things of this world. (love not the things of this world or the things that are in the world 1 John 2).

Heaven is a place of constant activity – every time a sinner repents and turns to the Lord God, the angels celebrate. (that means more than 2000 times each week).

It is a place of ultimate authority and the one who sits on the throne is aware of all things on earth. Remember Jesus said “My Father knows”. The patience of God, waiting for people to repent is amazing. He will decide when enough is enough, and will send out the angels as reapers in the harvest of the earth.

In heaven, our Lord Jesus Christ, is consciously attending to the prayers of His people.  With deep understanding and sympathy He enables the Holy Spirit to work in and for His beloved people.  For those who fail and fall, He intercedes as an advocate -  pleading the value of His once offered sacrifice to gain forgiveness and restoration for the wanderers.

Heaven is also involved in the conflict against evil. Satan accuses and persecutes the believers. The Lord Jesus, who sits on the right hand of the majesty on high, is well able to put him in place.

Most interesting -  in heaven the Exalted Christ is seen not as a despotic king in heaven, but as one with the purity and meekness of a Lamb.

And so the chorus echoes through the heights of heaven:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing forever and ever” (Revelation 5)

So much more could be written about activity in heaven – I encourage you to go search for yourself.

Alive and active

 

What makes the promises of the past have any value in the present?

For example, Jesus promised that his sheep would never perish! (John 10)

The promise is only true if the person who made the promise is alive , powerful and active. Otherwise it is a hoax.

And that’s just the reason, that the statement of Revelation chapter one is so significant.  The Lord Jesus Christ said:

“Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forever more, and I have the keys of death and hell.”

Because He lives, the present and future security of His sheep is secure. No one can snatch them out of His hand.

Among the many things happening in heaven, this gives great assurance to all believers, that the living Lord cares, and will keep His promises.

Trust in the Lord and don’t despair

He is a friend so true

No matter what your troubles are

Jesus will see you through.