Wednesday, April 13, 2011

WISDOM FROM THE PROPHET ISAIAH

Isaiah 26:7-8 "The path of the righteous is level; O upright One, you make the way of the righteous smooth.  Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts."

I have no righteousness in myself - but I am counted righteous because Jesus' righteousness was imputed to me when He took my sin upon Himself (He truly IS the "Upright One").  SO, if the path of the righteous is LEVEL - then from God's perspective, it would seem that whether my path is an uphill climb, or a downward spiral - (unless it's incline or decline is caused by sin) it is LEVEL - going up and down just exactly as He has planned it for me.  

When I submit to His will for me, will the pathway not be smooth (if not necessarily easy)? 

For the second part of that verse:  Can we be walking and waiting at the same time?  I think the answer is YES.   That's what faithfulness and faith is all about - continuing to follow Jesus and do what is right before Him while we wait for Him to act. 

The third part of that verse is REALLY convicting to me, especially in light of some struggles I've had this past week.  

Is GOD'S NAME and GOD'S renown REALLY the desire of MY heart - or is my own name and renown?  When I'm insisting on walking in MY ways and waiting for the Lord to accomplish MY will, then who's renown do I really care about? 

And the other question I ask myself is this: Why DO I do what I do?  Is it so that others will think well of me?  Or is it so that others will think well of Jesus?   

26:12 answers the question:  "Lord, you establish peace for us; ALL that we have accomplished, you have done for us."

No comments:

Post a Comment