Throughout the history of mankind, we see a pattern emerge. A pattern that outwardly can seem very harsh and sometimes even cruel.
Man sins, and persists in his sin. The Lord is gracious and patient with them. Showing them love in the hopes that His kindness will lead them back to Him in repentance. But should His advances go unheeded, He then turns to discipline to get man's attention.
This is a call for perseverance and patience among the saints. God disciplines those whom He loves. When God sent a prophet with a message of doom for Israel, He always followed with a promise of restoration and renewal. Though He was punishing them, He would restore them. Job was a man who did no wrong, who trust fully in the Lord, and seemingly was being punished for some crime as his friends alluded too. Yet God restored him, for Job waited patiently for the salvation of his God.
Micah 7:7-11 (BSB)
But as for me, I will look to the LORD;
I will wait for the God of my salvation.
My God will hear me.
Do not gloat over me, my enemy!
Though I have fallen, I will arise;
though I sit in darkness,
the LORD will be my light.
Because I have sinned against Him,
I must endure the rage of the LORD,
until He argues my case
and executes justice for me.
He will bring me into the light;
I will see His righteousness.
Then my enemy will see
and will be covered with shame—
she who said to me,
“Where is the LORD your God?”
My eyes will see her;
at that time she will be trampled
like mud in the streets.
The day for rebuilding your walls will come—
the day for extending your boundary.
Maybe you've been going through a storm or you've been in a drought or famine, wondering where your God is. And not just a storm or famine of material needs or the like, but a lack of hearing God's voice and word as you once did.
The LORD is calling out to you, and to all of us!
Malachi 3:7 (BSB)
Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD of Hosts.
Isaiah 1:16-19 (BSB)
Wash and cleanse yourselves.
Remove your evil deeds from My sight.
Stop doing evil!
Learn to do right;
seek justice and correct the oppressor.
Defend the fatherless
and plead the case of the widow.”
“Come now, let us reason together,”
says the LORD.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they will be as white as snow;
though they are as red as crimson,
they will become like wool.
If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the best of the land.
Seek Me and LIVE! He says!
Let the day for rebuilding the walls commence! Let what has been shattered, be restored! Let what has been broken, become mended. Return to God your Father! Return to Jesus Christ our Savior and through the power of the Holy Spirit allow Him to wash over you and restore you in His presence!
He is the vine... apart from Him we can do nothing! Though He has shattered and torn down, it was to teach our utter dependence upon Him and when we return, He will restore! And He will not just restore the walls that have been torn down, but he will expand them as well!
1 Peter 5:10-11 (BSB)
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you. To Him be the power forever and ever. Amen.
Man sins, and persists in his sin. The Lord is gracious and patient with them. Showing them love in the hopes that His kindness will lead them back to Him in repentance. But should His advances go unheeded, He then turns to discipline to get man's attention.
This is a call for perseverance and patience among the saints. God disciplines those whom He loves. When God sent a prophet with a message of doom for Israel, He always followed with a promise of restoration and renewal. Though He was punishing them, He would restore them. Job was a man who did no wrong, who trust fully in the Lord, and seemingly was being punished for some crime as his friends alluded too. Yet God restored him, for Job waited patiently for the salvation of his God.
Micah 7:7-11 (BSB)
But as for me, I will look to the LORD;
I will wait for the God of my salvation.
My God will hear me.
Do not gloat over me, my enemy!
Though I have fallen, I will arise;
though I sit in darkness,
the LORD will be my light.
Because I have sinned against Him,
I must endure the rage of the LORD,
until He argues my case
and executes justice for me.
He will bring me into the light;
I will see His righteousness.
Then my enemy will see
and will be covered with shame—
she who said to me,
“Where is the LORD your God?”
My eyes will see her;
at that time she will be trampled
like mud in the streets.
The day for rebuilding your walls will come—
the day for extending your boundary.
Maybe you've been going through a storm or you've been in a drought or famine, wondering where your God is. And not just a storm or famine of material needs or the like, but a lack of hearing God's voice and word as you once did.
The LORD is calling out to you, and to all of us!
Malachi 3:7 (BSB)
Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD of Hosts.
Isaiah 1:16-19 (BSB)
Wash and cleanse yourselves.
Remove your evil deeds from My sight.
Stop doing evil!
Learn to do right;
seek justice and correct the oppressor.
Defend the fatherless
and plead the case of the widow.”
“Come now, let us reason together,”
says the LORD.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they will be as white as snow;
though they are as red as crimson,
they will become like wool.
If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the best of the land.
Seek Me and LIVE! He says!
Let the day for rebuilding the walls commence! Let what has been shattered, be restored! Let what has been broken, become mended. Return to God your Father! Return to Jesus Christ our Savior and through the power of the Holy Spirit allow Him to wash over you and restore you in His presence!
He is the vine... apart from Him we can do nothing! Though He has shattered and torn down, it was to teach our utter dependence upon Him and when we return, He will restore! And He will not just restore the walls that have been torn down, but he will expand them as well!
1 Peter 5:10-11 (BSB)
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you. To Him be the power forever and ever. Amen.
