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Isaiah 1:1-2:22; II Corinthians 10:1-18; Psalm 52:1-9; Proverbs 22:26-27
“To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? says the Lord. I am sick and tired of your burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beast and I delight not in the blood of bullocks or of lambs or of he goats. Bring no more vain oblations: incense is an abomination unto me, the new moons, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.” (Isaiah 1:11-15)
This is the Lord speaking through the prophet Isaiah to Judah’s Jerusalem, God’s chosen people. The problem is they have religion or a form of godliness but are not sincere in their hearts. They are playing church, going through the motions but their heart is not in it. The Lord tells His people they are under a curse. “I will not hear your prayers.” (V.15)
“Except the Lord had left a remnant we should have been like Sodom and Gomorrah.”(V.9) God is so precious, listen to what He says, “Come now, and let us reason together, though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool.”(V.18) God is teaching us the real purpose of life. Our focus must be on Him. He created us for one reason and that is to bring glory to Him. In everything we do, whether it is a financial sacrifice or a meeting on the Sabbath, all must be done to bring glory and honor to God.
The Lord told Israel, “I will not hear your prayers.” The reason we find ourselves under a curse and not prospering is because we have been living for ourselves and doing our own thing. There is iniquity in our heart. Iniquity is not the act of sin physically but the thought in our heart. Even though we have not manifested it in the natural it is in our heart. That’s why we can go to church and put on a show and act on the outside but really our heart is corrupt.
God is reaching out to His people saying, “Even now some things are not right in your lives. If you will come to Me and reason with Me, I will wash you and forgive you.” So today let’s take a real honest look into our lives. Let’s never act like we are something we are not. God can handle any sin in our life as long as we are honest and ask Him to forgive and help us overcome it. The key to life is to ask yourself if you are really living for God and fulfilling His will and plan for your life. The key is “not my will but Yours be done.” God, I now give You permission by my free will to change my life, I am totally dependent upon Your grace and mercy for change.
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, I ask You to speak to my heart and search me to see if there is anything in me You are not pleased with. I ask You Lord to speak to me concerning Your will and purpose for my life. I commit my life to You and trust You to use me to bring great glory and honor to You. To You the only true and great God I give all glory, honor, and praise, now and forever more. I pray in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.
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