Living in the Spirit

July 16, 2020

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 44:6-8

Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel
   and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:
I am the first and I am the last;
   besides me there is no god.
Who is like me? Let them proclaim it,
   let them declare and set it forth before me.
Who has announced from of old the things to come?
   Let them tell us what is yet to be.
Do not fear, or be afraid;
   have I not told you from of old and declared it?
   You are my witnesses!
Is there any god besides me?
   There is no other rock; I know not one.

I think we, in the USA, are exhibiting similar patterns of behavior as the Israelites did leading up to their exile. Prophets, like Isaiah, saw the bigger picture and warned that the people were self-destructing. They lived their lives primarily to satisfy self-desires without regard to the wellbeing of others. According to Amos, God did not accept their offerings because they created their own festivals and worship for their entertainment.

I hate, I despise your festivals,
   and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
Even though you offer me your burnt-offerings and grain-offerings,
   I will not accept them;
and the offerings of wellbeing of your fatted animals
   I will not look upon.
Take away from me the noise of your songs;

Hearing the report of a 30-year-old man who attended one of the COVID-19 parties died saddened me. At these parties, people with positive tests mingle with those who did not have the virus. They thought the whole thing was a hoax. Apparently, many who are contagious have no symptoms. The man was infected, and shortly before dying, he said something to the effect that he thought it was a hoax, but he was wrong. Is that the same sort of response that Isaiah and Amos and the other prophets encountered in their day? The distractions of the world can blind us to the reality of there cruelness.

God loves all God’s children, and God’s plan is designed to provide for all our best interests together. The Lord even gives us the freedom to follow it or not. We also must face the consequences of our choices. More importantly, we need to learn from our missing-the-mark and change our behavior to share in mutual love that includes wanting the best for one another.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we miss the mark and show us how-to live-in harmony and love. 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.