Living in the Spirit

Living in the Spirit

June 14, 2022

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 65:1-9

I was ready to be sought out by those who did not ask,
   to be found by those who did not seek me.
I said, ‘Here I am, here I am’,
   to a nation that did not call on my name.
I held out my hands all day long
   to a rebellious people,
who walk in a way that is not good,
   following their own devices;
a people who provoke me
   to my face continually,
sacrificing in gardens
   and offering incense on bricks;
who sit inside tombs,
   and spend the night in secret places;
who eat swine’s flesh,
   with broth of abominable things in their vessels;
who say, ‘Keep to yourself,
   do not come near me, for I am too holy for you.’
These are a smoke in my nostrils,
   a fire that burns all day long. –Isaiah 65:1-5

This is a sad scripture. Isaiah indicates that God was available and accessible for the Israelites who were in desperate need of the gifts of God’s love and guidance, and they would not turn to God. Things haven’t changed much over the centuries. Sounds like the Israelites responded to God as many today are doing, defining God as we want God to be rather than as God is. It is sad because God’s ways protect our self-interest. The world does not accept that because greed, for example, is inconsistent with our self-interests.

We as individuals, disciples, and citizens of this world are called to examine ourselves and bring our way into sync with God’s ways. We might be amazed at how much better our lives would be if we conformed to the love of God.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we ignore your presence in our lives and jump from one distracting answer to another while trying to address the challenges of living in the world today. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.