The Storms of Life

Have you ever sung the children’s song about the wise man who built is house upon the rock and the foolish man who built his house upon the sand . This was one of my favourites when I was a kid and I know my children enjoyed singing it.

It is based on a parable that Jesus told. It is recorded in Luke 6:46-49and  Matthew 7:24-27. The two men build their houses and then the storm comes. The house built on the rock stands firm but the house built on the sand is demolished by the storm

 

 My contemplations on these passages roused the questions “What are the storms of life” and “What storms have I faced”.

The storm, in the parable, is described by the words; ‘flood’, ‘vehement beating’ and ‘tumultuous’.

1.       Flood.

A recent TV news item was about a flood and I saw many photos of people sitting on the top of their houses or on the top of their cars waiting to be airlifted to safety. The flood waters were rising. The houses and gardens and cars were slowly sinking below the water level and the trapped people could do nothing about it They sat waiting and watching and hoping that they would be rescued before the water level over took them. They could do nothing to hold back the floodwaters and nothing to save themselves.

Similarly, we have had our shed flooded before. The more we tried to move boxes to higher ground the more we spread the water about and more things got wet. And then, after a little while, we would realise that the floodwaters had increased more than we expected and so the “higher ground” wasn’t high enough. We had to again move all the boxes to even higher ground 

One thing about floods is that they make you feel really ineffectual.

2.       Vehement beating

 The forces of the storm were hard and hurtful. There seemed to be no relief. One wave after another and one gale after another with hardly time to take a breath. The force in the storm was constant

3.       Tumultuous.

In this storm there was rain, wind, streams of water and floods all beating vehemently on the house. The weather was tumultuous. And in a tumult the unexpected happens. ‘A tumult’ by definition is disordered. Remember when you have walked in the storm and the wind suddenly blew your skirt over your face (like on the old movies) or blew your umbrella inside out – totally unexpected occurrences.

4.       Bleakness

The fourth characteristic of a storm (not mentioned in this passage) is bleakness. When you walk in a storm you feel like you are in a haze. You can’t see the road ahead. (or you can’t see what is happening to the house next door) The rest of life and especially the future, seem hazy, unclear and plain bleak.

If we think about these words that describe storms we can more easily see when we go through the storms of life

We have all faced times when we felt totally ineffectual in the situation we found ourself: Where we felt that there is very little, if anything that we could do to change the situation and all our attempts seem futile.

Have you been through times where you have had difficulty predicting the next response or reaction in a situation? These can be very frustrating times -the unexpected keeps happening.  Other people respond to something you have said or done in a way that you not only did not expect but that you had not even thought as an option. We all plan our lives but sometimes we find ourselves in a situation they is totally not in our plan.

Sometimes trials and troubles just keep coming. We are hit by a new trial before we have time to mentally and emotionally come to terms with the first

Sometimes we just go through very bleak times. We are very unsure of what the future holds for us and we find it hard to see past our immediate problems.

.

These are the storms of life

But remember that the house built on the rock stood firm. Jesus says that the house built on the rock was a picture of a man who hears the words of Christ and does them.

When we go through the storms of life we more than ever, need to exercise ourselves in remembering God’s word, obeying his commands, pleading his promises and rejoicing in his goodness. The ‘rock’ is Truth. Jesus says that he is the Truth. When we build on that rock we are making God’s Truth the foundation for our lives.

What He says is true and must be believed and obeyed.

There are so many verses that will help us in the storm times. My favourite is Ps 46. 

But also remember

Luke 18:27 “The things which are impossible with man are possible with God”, when you feel ineffectual

Ps37:23 “The steps of a good man are established by the Lord”, when the unexpected happens and

Ps147:3 “He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds”, when you are hurting 

Jeremiah 29:11.  God’s promise “to give us a future and a hope” when the future seems bleak.

Strengthen your life to stand firm through the storms of life by making a list of God’s promises and commands that will encourage you through the stormy days

Elizabeth George says:-

‘God’s care is unceasing

His love is unending

His guidance is unfailing

His presence is everlasting’

We all go through different storms but we will all experience the same effects of the storms. Let’s pray for one another that we will be able to stand firm remembering and obeying God’s Word when the storm is hard upon us. And lets build our life on the rock of God's truth.

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Encouraging Thoughts - Holy Spirit #2

Considering more about the Holy Spirit.
I have been more aware this month of the Holy Spirit's comforting work. We really are very blessed to have the Holy Spirit to wipe away our tears and to do the work of turning our mourning into joy. When I think of the sad times that I have experienced (and I thank God that I have not experienced much sadness or grief in my life so far) I can not imagine how I would feel today if those times of sadness were never taken away and if sadness only accumulated. I guess that is one of the realities of hell - there will be no comfort only an accumulation of sadness grief pain misery and hatred.

The Holy Spirit is also called the 'Paraclete' This is a term that judges and lawyers would use regularly but is not a common term for the rest of us.It means para-beside, clete-called -the holy spirit is called to be beside us A Paraclete is someone who stands with you and offers your defence in a law court. When you have been arrested or accused of a crime you can call your solicitor. He then comes to your side and offers you advise and speaks for your defence. He watches out for you and makes sure you are dealt with fairly and lawfully. In doing this your solicitor is your paraclete.

The Holy Spirit is called our paraclete because he stands by us and for us. The Holy spirit presents Christ to us and he never leaves our side

• He brings to rememberance the work of Christ for us. When our hearts condemn us the Holy Spirit brings to our minds the rememberance that Christ has died for our sins and has already suffered the condemnation due to us. When Satan accuses us, the Holy Spirit claims our cause and comforts our hearts with the truth of Christ redeeming work on the cross. 
• When we are lonely the Holy spirit reminds us that Christ is our brother
• When we are anxious the Holy spirit assures us of Christ's sovereignty and that Christ does all things well.
• When we are hurting the Holy spirit reminds us that Christ is the 'great physician' 
• The Holy spirit works in our lives to strengthen us and encourage us  
• The Holy spirit teaches us to pray and purifies our prayers

The Holy Spirit leads us to the truth; He reminds us of the truth, He assures us of the truth He illuminates God's truth.  He comforts us with God's truth. 

Christ calls the Holy Spirit the Spirit of Truth.

If we take time to think of our daily life we will realise how often the Holy Spirit works in our hearts

When we are united to Christ then:-

Every prayer is an evidence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts

Every remembrance of God's word is evidence of the Holy Spirit in our heart

Every time we speak the truth of God is evidence of the Holy Spirit in our heart

Every time we are given more understanding of God's word whether through the preaching of the word or the reading of the word or meditation on the word, is evidence of the Holy Spirit  in our heart   

Every time we obey the word of God is evidence of the Holy Spirit in our heart

Every time we claim the work of Christ and acknowledge His forgiveness is evidence of the Holy Spirit in our heart

When the Bible uses the word 'comforter' it is more aligned to the old English word comforter - meaning com-with and forte-strength. Hence the Holy spirit is the one who stands with us and for us "with strength"

The Holy Spirit's work in our life is with strength. The Holy Spirit is God and can do nothing else but present perfect truth 

Oh How blessed we are to have the Spirit of God working in our hearts to strengthen us in God's truth. A Spirit who is always with us. A Spirit who is Holy and stands beside us and for us with strength.

When the Holy Spirit works in our lives we will 'grow' the 'fruits or the Spirit' These are Love, Joy, Peace, Long-suffering, Kindness, Goodness, Faith. But if you are like me you may find it difficult to see these fruits growing in your own life. 

But it is never difficult to see the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives when we consider how often the Holy Spirit presents and promotes God's Truth 

He is the Spirit of Truth and He is our God

Encouraging Thoughts about the Holy Spirit

Recently I have been listening to sermons and reading a book about the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God - one person of the Trinity. The Trinity is such a difficult concept for us to understand that sometimes we can be tempted to simplify things by not giving attention to one of the persons of the trinity. For me, understanding the work of the Holy Spirit was most difficult and so was the area I tended to 'not think about'. So here are a few encouraging thoughts about the Holy Spirit.

In The Gospel of John, the Holy Spirit is often called "the Comforter"
(Joh 14:16)  And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, so that He may be with you forever,

(Joh 14:26)  But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you.
(Joh 15:26)  And when the Comforter has come, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He shall testify of Me.
(Joh 16:7)  But I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you. But if I depart, I will send Him to you.

Generally we understand 'comfort'.

• We know what it is to comfort a crying baby. We see a mother tightly holding her baby and rocking him and softly singing to him. She is enveloping him in her love and assuring him of her presence, her support, her care and her love.
• We know what it is to comfort a hurt child. The mother binds up the wound or gives the medicine and then gives a big cuddle and peacefully and gently reminds the child that the pain will soon be gone and then encourages the child to think on happier days and to have a laugh about something
• We all know what it is to comfort someone when they have suffered a loss. It is always so hard to know what to say at a funeral. It takes a lot of thought and care. I have at times heard someone offer a word of comfort to a grieving friend and been amazed that they knew just the right words to say; those words that showed compassion as well as hope and also expressed a joy and delight in the one who had died. These are words of comfort that settle the grieving heart and focus the grieving heart on joy in the midst of sorrow - that help to wipe away the tears.
• We know what it is to have our own 'comfort zone'. Anything outside of our comfort zone makes us feel 'uncomfortable'. This 'uncomfortableness' could be stress, anxiety, uncertainty, or maybe just rebellion. But when we are outside of our comfort zone we have an overwhelming desire to be back in our comfort zone and to again experience the familiar and the certain - to have that sense of peace and relaxation

The Holy Spirit is our Comforter - God the Father and God the Son send the Holy Spirit to us and one aspect of His work is to comfort us:-

• To envelope us in God's love. Isn't it a wonderful experience to have that fullness of joy that comes when the Holy Spirits shouts into your heart "God loves you- God has taken away your sins - You are a child of God"
• To assure us of God's presence, care, support and love. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would give us the words to speak when we were facing difficult times. He also reminds us of God's word when we are facing inward 'difficult times'. Assuring us of God's love and care and presence.
• To heal our hurts and sadness and to remind us of God's blessings. The Holy Spirit seems extremely quick in this work. No matter what hurts you experience, if you start to number the blessings you have received from God, they seem to tumble into your mind quicker than you can write them down. The Holy Spirit loves to remind us of the blessings that God has given us.
• To settle our grieving heart and to wipe away our tears. We have been assured by Jesus that when we get to heaven He will wipe away all our tears and we will never sorrow again. But while we are still on this earth we will suffer sorrows and tears but have the assurance that the Holy Spirit will "turn our mourning into dancing".
• To give us peace. So often we can experience peace, contentment, 'familiarity' in the middle of some quite distressing circumstance. Isn't it a joy to our hearts when we see a christian brother going through a 'trial' with a calm, peaceful, contented attitude when we know it is not their 'natural inclination'

These are only a few of the ways in which we experience the comfort of the Holy Spirit. There are probably hundreds of other expressions of the Holy Spirit's comfort

But sadly, we often don't acknowledge these works as the work of the Holy Spirit. Often we consider it our 'right' to be 'comforted' and to be 'comfortable'  in this life. Often we race around seeking comfort in anything else but the Holy Spirit (we even have the term 'comfort foods')

Oh How I pray that I may be able to recognise the Holy Spirit's work of comfort in my life this week and to praise God for his wonderful provision of His Holy Spirit

For Further Consideration

When you have your quiet times with God this week add a special note to consider how the Holy Spirit has comforted you throughout the day and thank and praise Him for this work. 

Try keeping a list of God's blessings and see how quickly you fill the page.. or make a note of every time you laugh this week.

Imagine what our life would be like without the Holy Spirit's comfort.

Consider also, how our society  (in general) is extremely thankless to the Holy Spirit and yet He continues to apply comfort in a measure to all men. Thank the Holy Spirit for the comfort he gives to our family members, friends or work colleagues who do not thank Him. 

From where do you seek comfort first? Is it food? chocolate? friends? music? shopping? movies?

How can you change your responses so that you seek comfort from the Holy Spirit? 

PS
For all my friends who are now thinking "Heather you have totally missed the real meaning of the work of the Holy Spirit" stay calm. Feel free to email me or to comment but be assured that there is more to come - in time

This encouraging thought was first written over 5years ago. It is called "ENCOURAGING THOUGHTS - GIFTS 1

January is a birthday month in our family. So during December and January we have lots of celebrations. This caused me to think about “gifts” and especially the ‘gifts’ that our heavenly Father gives us. James 1:17 tells us that every good gift comes from God.

Luke 11:11-13 tells us that God is our Father who delights to give us, his children, gifts.

I remembered the story about a lady who received, on her birthday, from one of her children, a packet of bread flour. It was a very nice present. But she was a little surprised, because she didn’t have a bread maker. She wondered how she was going to use the present to it’s best value without disappointing the child. Of course, a few minutes later she opened a present from her husband and underneath the wrapping was a bread maker. The packet of flour became a very cherished and delightful present then and they made bread that same day.

I also remember hearing of a young boy who received a school uniform and items for the start of his school year as part of his birthday present. He was not impressed. He didn’t want to go to school and so as part of his rebellion against going to school he was determined to be dissatisfied and not enjoy his present. Eventually, he realised that he had to go to school. And then the present became very important and appreciated. (Life at school as a social outcast was a far worse scenario)

God gives us many gifts. Everyday is a gift from God. Every acquaintance, every circumstance, every joy and delight, every relationship, every experience, everything is from God.

Sometimes, when we receive a gift from God, we act like the people in these two examples.

Often we can’t see the point of the ‘gift’ that God has given us. To put it in the same picture as Christ uses in Luke:- The ‘fish’ looks more like a stone. We think it has little or no relevance for us and doesn’t really meet our need. But God knows what He is doing with our life. He gives us what is necessary for us. Sometimes we see the point of, and can use the gift,’ years after getting it. Have you ever gone through a particular circumstance and then some years later had the opportunity to help another person through the same circumstance. Your ‘gift’ came to good use. You started to see that the stone was really a fish after all.

Sometimes we won’t see the point until we get to heaven. God’s judgements are unsearchable and His ways passed finding out! (Romans 11:33). But even if we can’t see the point, they are still gifts from a loving God. They are still ‘fish’.

Sometimes we act in rebellion and don’t want the gift God gives us. Most complaining comes from this attitude. We actually think that the gift God has given us is going to do us harm. God is giving us a fish but we are acting as if it is a scorpion. 

Have you ever thought “I just can’t cope with this.. family/this job/these children/this circumstance/this health problem … it is just too much for me”? What you are really saying is “I don’t want to deal/rebuke/forbear with sins or situations that are effecting my life at the moment”. You are treating the gift as the enemy when it is really your attitude or perception that is wrong. You are treating your ‘fish’ as if it is a ‘scorpion’

When I was a child I would laugh and shake my head when I read this verse. Even a young child knows the difference between bread and a stone or between a fish and a scorpion but as I think about my responses to God’s gifts I realise that my perception is not always so clear. (Or maybe I should say “My blindness is greater than I like to admit”)

Young Kayla, has been present at lots of our celebrations. She is quite delightful because she gets so excited with anticipation as she, or someone else unwraps a gift. We laugh at her and get as much enjoyment out of her delight in the surprise as we get from the surprise itself. Oh how we should be as little children in this. If only we could face every day excited with the anticipation of receiving new gifts from God’s hand. If only we could see each day as a gift from our Heavenly Father who delights to give us good gifts -Then we would face each circumstance, each experience, each relationship, each acquaintance with much joy and delight. Our praise and thankfulness to God would increase and our complaining and grumbling would decrease.

As well as glorifying God  we would also bring more joy to those around us.

Luke 11:13 concludes “How much more will your Heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him”. Lets daily ask the Father to give us a special portion of the Holy Spirit so that we can clearly see His gifts for what they are and to delight in them as a little child.

“Let not your heart be troubled”

What things trouble you?

How do you respond to a troubled heart? Some people can’t sleep or can’t eat or eat too much. Some people pace the house or get over-diligent with their work and others  just sit in misery. No matter what our response, we can all identify with the feeling of a ‘troubled heart’.

Jesus also suffered a troubled heart.

John12:27 Joh 12:27-28  And My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour? But for this cause I came to this hour.  (28)  Father, glorify Your name! Then there came a voice from the heaven saying, I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.

Jesus said these words during the week before he was arrested, tortured and crucified at Golgotha.

Jesus’ heart was troubled as he faced the agonies that he would suffer in the garden of Gethsemane through to his death at Golgotha. Jesus knew what was going to happen – “for this cause I came to this hour”. Everything that had happened in his earthly life was preparation towards this point. This was the main reason for him taking on human form and coming to the earth.

As the time drew near he was troubled in his soul.

What was Jesus facing that would trouble His heart?:-

• He would suffer intense hatred and cruelty from his fellow-man. –The crowds cried out “crucify him, crucify him”
• He would be humiliated and mocked and taunted. – He was mocked by the soldiers and then He hung naked on the cross.
• He would be betrayed by a friend (Judas)
• He would be wrongfully accused and suffer injustice
• He would be misunderstood and his friends would desert him.
• He would be rejected and hated by those for whom he was claiming salvation. Many of those who cried “crucify him” were later amongst the 3000 converted at Pentecost.
• He would suffer pain – ‘The Creator of the World’, ‘The Holy One’, ‘The Word of God’ was tortured and persecuted  and left to die upon a cross – beaten and torn and naked before the eyes of all- a public spectacle.
• And more horrible than all of these – His Father would turn His face from Him and pour out His anger on him.  As Jesus took upon himself the sins of all his people, his Holy Father could not look upon him “God’s ‘eyes’ are too pure to behold iniquity”. The full cup of God’s anger of our sins was poured out on Jesus. He stood in our place and suffered the punishment for our sins

As I contemplate the things that could have been troubling Jesus’ soul in that week before His death, I am overwhelmed with the number and variety of troubles that I can think of. And I am sure that I can only understand and sympathize with  a fraction of what Jesus went through.

Jesus did not sin in having a troubled heart – he was not complaining or doubting. He was expressing natural human heart feelings. 

A few days later Jesus commands the disciples to “Let not your heart be troubled: You believe in God , believe also in me” John14:1 and again later in the chapter “Peace I leave with you… Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid”

 Jesus had again been explaining to the disciples that he was going to die and that he would then go away from them (He would go to Heaven). The disciples response to this was to be troubled in their hearts. They were insecure about the future. Jesus was not doing what they wanted and expected him to do. They were now questioning what they had believed about Jesus. There hearts were troubled.

For Jesus to tell them to not let their hearts be troubled when he so recently had experienced a troubled heart himself could seem almost ‘heartless’. 

But when Jesus told them to not let their heart be troubled he gave them his reason for saying this.

He said  “you believe in God, believe also in me”

How can this calm a troubled heart? What are we to believe about Jesus that would calm a trouble heart?

Firstly we know that Jesus understands what we are going through because He suffered similar things. But Jesus is also saying that we should remember what He has promised and also what he has done.

·         If you are troubled by cruelty, hatred humiliation mocking vileness from your fellowman remember that “Jesus is love”. “Greater love has no man than this –that a man lay down his life for his friends” John 15:13

·         If you are troubled by physical pain and suffering remember that Jesus is “The Great Physician”

·         If you are troubled by betrayal, rejection, desertion or misunderstanding from your friends remember that Jesus is the friend that sticks closer than a brother and the one who  promised to never leave us or forsake us (Proverbs 18:24)

·         If you are troubled by injustices remember that vengeance belongs to the Lord (Hebrews 10:30)

·         If you are troubled by separation from the ones you love remember that the Lord will never leave you (Duet 31:6)

·         If you are troubled by the anger of a much loved parent remember that nothing can separate you from the love of your heavenly Father (. Rom 8:39  nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

·         If you are troubled by the guilt of sin remember that Jesus came to save sinners1Ti 1:15  Faithful is the Word and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

Jesus is saying “Remember that my heart was troubled” He understands what we feel because he felt it.

But He is also saying “You don’t have to have a troubled heart because I have already been there for you”

He will be your “ALL in ALL” and satisfy and calm a troubled heart. We are commanded to believe him.

Love in Christ

Heather

 Further thought or discussion

1. Meditate on Jesus’ agony in the garden of Gethsemane through to His death on the cross. Can you add to the list of troubles?
2. What things have ‘troubled your heart’ recently? What do you need to believe about Christ to help you through this trouble? You may want to discuss this with another Christian friend – sometimes two heads are better than one when searching for Bible verses or Christian principles.
3. Can you remember a time when you have been deeply troubled and God has brought a verse to your mind or a friend has given you a verse from the Bible that has calmed and settled you? Praise and thank God for these times.

Encouraging Thoughts- Christ's sheep

Hi Everyone,

I was recently reading again the ‘Good Shepherd’ discourse in John 10. This passage is a favourite for many Christians because of the comfort and strength it gives to Christians in their daily life. It is a very personable passage.

Knowing that God guides us, cares for us, walks with us, as individuals, each day of our lives is comforting and amazing. We truly have a lot for which to praise God. The same God who holds each star in place, the same God who turns the hearts of Kings, calls me by name and guides me through each step of my day.

The picture in John 10 is about a sheepfold. Sheep were farmed differently in the Middle East in the first century than they are in Australia today. Many shepherds in a town would look after their own sheep during the day and lead the sheep to the green pastures and still waters around the countryside etc. During the night they would all bring their sheep to a sheepfold and sometimes hire a ‘hireling’ to look after the sheep. The sheepfold would be like a pen or a barn (depending on the weather) and all the town’s sheep would mingle together in the pen while the hireling (or a shepherd) watched them. In the morning the shepherds would return and call their sheep. The sheep would hear the voice of their shepherd and go out of the sheepfold with him. The shepherd knew all his sheep and he would call them by name. It is a beautiful picture.

 Joh 10:3-4  The doorkeeper opens to him, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  (4)  And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

Jesus says that He is the Good Shepherd and his people are his sheep. The picture is about Jesus’ relationship to his people.

But when I read this passage I always have a problem.

The disciples who walked on the earth with Jesus heard his voice every day. They knew the sound of his voice and could respond to it just as we respond to the voice of our friends. But we live 2 thousand years after Jesus – We don’t know the tones of His voice. So how do we hear his voice?

Primarily – we hear his voice through reading the Bible. John tells us that the Bible is the “Word”. Hence we know God through reading and ‘listening’ to what He has said. What He has said is written in the Bible. It is not exactly like listening to his voice – to us. We are used to telephones  and mobiles and skype. We don’t often have to go without hearing the voice of a friend but before phones and computers etc people did “listen” to letters and cherished the written word because it was the expressed thoughts of their friend.

So how can we hear Jesus’ voice? By reading the Bible and ‘listening’ to what is written in the Bible. That is – obeying his commands, noting and watching out for his warnings, believing his wisdom and his explanations, acting on the knowledge we receive.

The aim of our listening to Jesus is so that we will ‘know’ our ‘Good Shepherd’. He knows us and ‘his sheep’ know him. As we listen to someone we know and understand them better and better. Jesus already knows us perfectly. We have a responsibility to know the shepherd who cares for us, guides us, protects us and walks with us.

Recently I was at the shopping centre and watched some children at the indoor playground in the middle of the shopping centre. These playgrounds are very similar to sheepfolds. All the kids play together in the playground and all the mums sit chatting together on the lounges strategically placed around the door of the pen while they keep watch over the kids. At intervals a mum would stand up and gather her belongings and call a few kids to come with her. As you would expect there were differing responses from the kids.

Some kids ignored the parent and just kept playing – even after multiple calls, some kids immediately started crying and complaining, getting louder and louder with arguments, some kids started on their journey towards the parent only to be distracted by a new toy, and yet a few kids came happily to their mothers side on the first call.

Most kids were not really very sheep-like. I guess that we are not by nature very sheep-like either- especially when it comes to obeying God’s call.

Thoughts to Consider

1. How often do you actively and attentively listen to God?

When you read your Bible do you take note of the

· Commands in the passage

· Warnings in the passage

· Believe the wisdom and knowledge expressed in the passage

Do you draw near in praise and adoration to your Good Shepherd for His protection and guidance and care for you that is shown in the passage and consider how much more you know Him?

           

2. What is your usual response to reading God’s Word? Can you think of times when you have ignored God’s Word? Or have complained and argued with God’s Word? Or have got distracted when obeying His Word?

3. How heartily do you obey God’s word with zeal and delight and rejoicing?

4. Consider the characters of the Bible and identify examples of God’s people responding to God’s word in these different ways (Jonah, Solomon, Lot, David, Daniel may be a good place to start). How did God shepherd these ‘sheep’?

Isaiah's Hot Coals

Isaiah was a prophet who lived in Jerusalem, nearly 700 years before Jesus. He prophesied during the reigns of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah of Judah. In the year that King Uzziah died, Isaiah was in the Temple and saw a vision of God. The account of his experience with God is recorded in the book of Isaiah chapter 6. This vision gives us a magnificent picture of God’s greatness and holiness.

Isaiah’s response at seeing this vision of the holiness of God was to cry out

“Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts.”

Isaiah was particularly aware of his sins of speech – unkind words, untrue words, angry retorts, selfish demands, broken vows, complaints and murmurings.

The Israelites did not use the name of God at all in their speech so Isaiah would not have heard the blasphemy that we can hear in everyday conversation on the TV or at the supermarket or the office, and yet, a vision of the holiness of God drives him to confess the sinfulness of his speech and of the speech of those around him.

In answer to Isaiah’s confession, a seraph angel takes a pair of tongs and lifts a burning coal from the altar and touches Isaiah’s mouth with it. God then says to Isaiah “Behold this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away and your sin is purged”.

God then goes on to ask “Whom shall I send and who will go for Us?” and Isaiah answers “Here am I! Send me”. And then God sends Isaiah on a particular ministry.

When I read this passage I get to the point where the angel puts the hot coals on Isaiah’s lips and I stop and marvel

Isaiah is silent – absolutely silent.

Would that be your reaction?

I can imagine myself – at best- hopping around the temple doing a cross between the chicken dance and an indian rain dance crying OooOoo-AhhAhh. Demanding that it was too painful, that I couldn’t bear any more, crying out for God to take it away from me, complaining that God had forgotten how to care for me and love me,- that it just wasn’t fair. I can imagine being totally self absorbed in my own selfpity. But I can’t imagine that I would do nothing!!

Of course, all of my responses would have been committing the sins that Isaiah had just confessed!! Sins of speech. God had said that the hot coal was a sign to Isaiah that his sins had been purged. Isaiah’s silence was a testimony to the truth of God’s word.  But I think it is more than a conviction of sin that keeps Isaiah silent.

Isaiah was in the presence of the Lord – He was surrounded by the holiness of God “the train of the Lord’s robe filled the temple” The holiness of God was ‘all-captivating’ so that it was as if Isaiah was so focused and ‘consumed’ by the holiness of God that the pain in his lips was a minor discomfort – not worth mentioning.

Amazing isn’t it!!!

Oh that I could be so captivated by the presence of God, to silence the complaining, anxious, cranky, selfish retorts that sometimes spew out from my lips when comparatively little things upset my day.

The angels give us a bit of a clue on how we can ‘live in the presence of God with a vision of His glory always before our eyes’. There song is “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory” The angels praise God continually because they see that the glory of God does fill the earth. We live on this earth and yet, through sinful eyes, find it difficult to see God’s glory at all.

How can we train our eyes to see God’s glory? God has given us many encouragements in the Bible to help us see His glory in this earth around us. Here are just a few.

• Jesus said “I am the bread of life”.  When you eat your bread for lunch, think about how Jesus has given spiritual life to His people so that their souls are full and satisfied. Remember that God has promised to fill all your needs – and He does!!

• When we look towards the mountains, we could remember that David said “Your (God’s) righteousness is like the great mountains” Christ’s righteousness is imputed to us and that righteousness is like a great mountain – it can not be moved. Christ’s righteousness; that righteousness that covers us, is not just a sprinkling of dust, it is a great mountain. Let’s praise God for His righteousness when we see the mountains?    

• When Christ ascended into heaven the angel said to the disciples “ Men of Galilee … Jesus who was taken up into heaven will so come in like manner as you saw him go into heaven” When we see the clouds in the sky we should think of the glorified Christ who will come in the clouds to judge the earth and praise God for His judgements.

• When we see the rain we should remember the ‘Showers of Blessings’ that God rains upon us everyday. Try counting raindrops and then try counting God’s blessings.

I think there are literally hundreds of these pictures in the Bible; These pictures relate to everyday things – bread, mountains, clouds and rain. But there are also Bible pictures that relate to everyday occurrences and even unusual circumstances.

As we teach our minds to remember these pictures we will, like the seraphim, see the glory of God filling the whole earth and our hearts and lips will sing praises to our Lord.

-And more and more the troubles of life will be seen as minor discomforts for the purging of our sins. – Not at all to be compared to the Glory of the Lord that is before our eyes.

Our God is a very loving, gracious God. I have often seen loved Christian brethren going through severe trials and troubles with hardly a complaint and with lots of praise to God. I marvel at this and thank God for giving them such a view of His Holiness and Glory.

I take much hope that God will give me comfort and peace and keep my spirit settled and give me a view of His holiness through any trials that God may put in my path.

There are lots and lots of lessons and thoughts in this passage from Isaiah.

If you would like to study more I would recommend RC Sproul’s  lectures on Isaiah.

His website is www.ligonier.org There are lots of good downloads on this site and it is updated daily

With Christian love

Heather

For Further Thought or Discussion

1. Sinful Speech

• What are the sins of speech that you struggle with most?

• Have you asked God to purge you from these sins?

• What are the sins of speech that are most common to our society?

• Have you prayed about these sins to God? Listen out for them in the supermarket or the work place. Train your ear to discern good from evil. Do not get ‘comfortable’ with sinful speech so that you don’t hear it any more.

2. Remembering God’s pictures

• As you read God’s Word this week ask God to reveal His pictures to you and make a note of them. Try offering a song of praise to God every time you are reminded of a picture.

•  Share your pictures and experiences – We will encourage each other as we share with one another. You will encourage your families to praise God as you remind them of God’s pictures

•  Do you find your troubles seem smaller?

• Are you more willing to serve God?