(Isaiah 30:21-22) Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it. “Then you will defile your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, “Away with you”
When the people of Jerusalem left God’s path, he would correct them. He will do the same for us. But when we hear his voice of correction we must be willing to follow it.
Under Gods Command
Isaiah 30:10-11
“They say to the seers, See no more visions!” and to the prophets, “Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel”
Some people in Judah may have sought refuge in Egypt. In their desire to find security, the wanted to hear only good news. They did not welcome the truth from God’s prophets. Often the Truth makes us uncomfortable. We prefer lies and illusions when they make us feel more secure. It is much better to face reality then to live an lie. Don’t’ settle for something that makes you feel comfortable but is not true.
Under Gods Command
Isaiah 30:1- Woe to the obstinate children, declares the Lord, to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit heaping sin upon sin.
The people of Judah sought advice from everyone but God, When we are driven by fear, we tend to search everywhere for comfort, advice, and relief, hoping to find an easy way out of our troubles. Instead, we should consult God. Although he gives emergency help in a crisis, he prefers to be our Guide throughout our lives. By reading his Word and actively seeking to do his will, we can maintain our bond with him who provides stability no matter what the crisis.
Under Gods Command
Isaiah 22:4 – Therefore I said, “Turn away from me; let me weep bitterly. Do not try to console me over the destruction of my people.”
Isaiah had warned his people, but they did not repent; thus they would experience God’s judgment. Because of his care for them, Isaiah was hurt by their punishment and mourned deeply for them. Sometimes people we care for ignore our attempts to help, so they suffer the very grief we wanted to spare them. At times like that we grieve because of our concern. God expects us to be involved with others, and this may sometimes require us to suffer with them.
Under Gods Command
Isaiah 27:11 States: When its twigs are dry, they are broken off and women come and make fires with them. For this is people without understanding, so their Make has no compassion on them, and their Creator shows them no favor.
Isaiah compares the state of Israel’s spiritual life with dry twigs that are broken off and used to make fires. Tree in Scripture often represent spiritual life. The trunk is the channel of strength from God, the branches are the people who serve him. Tree branches sometimes waver and blow in the wind. Like Israel, they may dry up from internal rottenness and become useless for anything except building a fire. What kind of branch are we? If you are withering spiritually, check to see if you are firmly attached to God.
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Under Gods Command
Isaiah 23:9 – The Lord Almighty planned it, to bring low, the pride of all glory and to humble all who are renowned on the earth.
God would destroy Tyre because he hated its people’s pride. Pride separates people from God, and he will not tolerate it. We must examine our lives and remember that all true accomplishment comes from our Creator. We have no reason for pride in our selves.
Please remember that these emails are going to over 100 people. I used BCC to keep your email address private. I just want to share my own personal walk with you, and yes, please hold me accountable for my actions. I love you all and there is nothing that you can do about it.
When the people of Moab experienced God’s wrath, they sought their own idols and gods. Nothing happened, however, because there was no one there to save them.
Isaiah 17:12 – When Moab appears at her high place, she only wears herself out. When she goes to her shrine to pray, it is to no avail.
When we seek our own ways of escape in order to get through our daily troubles, the effect is the same. No pleasure, pastime, or man-made religious idea will come to save us. Our hope lies in God, the only One who can hear and help.
Sexual Temptations are difficult to withstand because they appeal to the normal and nature desires that God has given us. Marriage provides God’s way to satisfy these natural sexual desires and to strengthen the partners against temptation. Married couples have the responsibility to care for each other; therefore husbands and wives should not withhold themselves sexually from one another, but should fulfill each other’s needs and desires.
1 Corinthians 7:3-6 – The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
A preacher once said “People say that the grass is not greener on the other side, well it depends what side is being water the most”. Do not lead each other into temptation, because that is exactly what you are doing if you are denying each other of sexual attention.
Romans 2:17-24 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and brag about your relationship to God; If you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law, if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth, you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it is written. “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentles because of you.
Those of us who have grown up in Christian families are the religiously privileged of today. Paul’s condemnation applies to us if we do not live up to what we know. Paul explained to the Jews that they need to teach themselves, not others, by their law. They know the law so well that they had learned how to excuse their own actions while criticizing others. We face this today in our daily walk. We need to remember that we cannot please God without a proper relationship with him. As Jesus pointed out, even withholding what rightfully belongs to someone else is stealing, and looking on another persons with lustful, adulterous intent is adultery. Before we accused others, we must look at ourselves and see if that sin, in any form, exists within us. If we claim to be one of God’s people, our life should reflect what God is like. When you disobey God, you dishonor his name. People may even blaspheme or profane God’s name because of you. What do people think about God from watching your life.
Coming up my Mother always taught me to never let things control you, but you stay in control. Those words were some of the great things that were taught to me by her. You see, a person is a slave to whatever controls him or her. Many believe that freedom means doing anything we want. But no one is ever completely free in that sense. If we refuse to follow God, we will follow our own sinful desires and become enslaved to what our bodies want. If we submit our lives to Christ, he will free us from slavery to sin. Christ frees us to serve him, a freedom that results in our ultimate good. Thank you Mom
2 Peter 2:19 – They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.
Under Gods command 