August 19, 2011
It ALL always goes back to God. Isaiah 41:4 - "I, the LORD, am the one. I was here at the beginning, and I will be here at the end."
The Life Lesson by A.W.Tozer is interesting. Here is the summary. God is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Man has no say about the time and place of his birth, God determines that. Yet one day the "little man" finds himself in consciousness and finds that he "is" and suddenly thinks everything is about him and he is in control. Before that he had nothing to say about anything but after birth he struts around and boasts of his freedom, declares his independence of God and proclaims his own will. Man had no voice in the beginning and will have none at the last. God reserves the right to take up at the last what he began at the first and we will all be in the hands of God whether we like it or not. Live your life pleasing God—and that is a blessing. Live your life demanding your rights and your way, ignoring or rejecting God—and you are in the disciplining hands of God.
So, knowing all that, knowing God is the beginning and the end, and knowing He is in control, we can have confidence. Not in ourselves and our own strength, but in God and His strength.
It ALL always goes back to God. Isaiah 41:4 - "I, the LORD, am the one. I was here at the beginning, and I will be here at the end."
The Life Lesson by A.W.Tozer is interesting. Here is the summary. God is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Man has no say about the time and place of his birth, God determines that. Yet one day the "little man" finds himself in consciousness and finds that he "is" and suddenly thinks everything is about him and he is in control. Before that he had nothing to say about anything but after birth he struts around and boasts of his freedom, declares his independence of God and proclaims his own will. Man had no voice in the beginning and will have none at the last. God reserves the right to take up at the last what he began at the first and we will all be in the hands of God whether we like it or not. Live your life pleasing God—and that is a blessing. Live your life demanding your rights and your way, ignoring or rejecting God—and you are in the disciplining hands of God.
So, knowing all that, knowing God is the beginning and the end, and knowing He is in control, we can have confidence. Not in ourselves and our own strength, but in God and His strength.
"So don't worry, because I am with you. Don't be afraid, because I am your God. I will make you strong and will help you; I will support you with my right hand that saves you." Isaiah 41:10
That one verse contains volumes! There has to be a constant letting go of self, and letting God have His rightful place as LORD. Constant! Because we as "little man" are just so sure God somehow needs our help, advice, ideas, thoughts, or plans. What arrogance. Did we make the stars? Can we measure the ocean and sky, the dust, or the mountains? God gives us our instructions. It's clear and simple—Trust ME. Trust me! Am I not God? Do I not know the stars by name? Trust me! Did I not form you in your mother's womb? Am I not the beginning and the end? Am I not strong enough? Am I not wise enough? Trust me! Do not worry! Do not be afraid. I am with you. I am your God. I will make you strong. I will help you. I will support you. I will save you. Don't look at the situation around you. Look up to the one who is in control.
Our instructions are simple but not always simple to do. It requires constant surrender. Trust me!
I AM the LORD!
Our instructions are simple but not always simple to do. It requires constant surrender. Trust me!
I AM the LORD!
All those people who are angry with you (NCV), who rage against you (NIV), who are incensed against you (KJV), they will be no more. "I am the LORD your God, who holds your right hand, and I tell you—'don't be afraid (NCV), do not fear (NIV), fear not (KJV), I will help you'... do not be afraid (trust me)... I myself will help you says the LORD... you will be happy in the LORD; you will be proud of what God has done..."
"But, I the LORD, will answer their prayers. I will not leave them..."
I will:
I AM the LORD.
Three time in these two chapters it talks about God's discipline with the result being "blown away like chaff." Chaff—what is left over after the good is harvested. No value. Worthless. Psalm 1 speaking about the wicked says, "They are like the chaff that the wind blows away. So the wicked will not escape God's punishment. Sinners will not worship with God's people. This is because the LORD takes care of his people, but the wicked will be destroyed." Strong words. God's Words. God's position of authority, not man's.
Next Entry: Isaiah 42:1 – 43:28
"But, I the LORD, will answer their prayers. I will not leave them..."
I will:
- Make the rivers flow on dry hills
- Change the desert into a lake
- Will make trees grow in the desert
"People will see these things and understand; they will think carefully about these things and learn that the LORD's power did this, that the Holy One of Israel made these things."Then God says (to those of you who refuse to follow me and instead rely on your own gods), "Present your case." Show me what you and your idols can do. Tell me what you have done in the beginning and what will be done in the end. Do something that shows you and your idols (anything more important than God—self, pride, fame, wealth, anything, even "good" things like family, church, etc.) are more powerful than me. "Tell me your arguments." What you are relying on is false. They/it cannot do anything, and are worth nothing. Present your case! But it is God who is in control. Those who follow anything but God are following wind and confusion. (NIV)
I AM the LORD.
Three time in these two chapters it talks about God's discipline with the result being "blown away like chaff." Chaff—what is left over after the good is harvested. No value. Worthless. Psalm 1 speaking about the wicked says, "They are like the chaff that the wind blows away. So the wicked will not escape God's punishment. Sinners will not worship with God's people. This is because the LORD takes care of his people, but the wicked will be destroyed." Strong words. God's Words. God's position of authority, not man's.
Next Entry: Isaiah 42:1 – 43:28
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