Study of Isaiah - Sunday Mornings

I’m excited to continue our study in the book of Isaiah this week. On Sunday we will be looking at Isaiah’s calling by God. In preparation of this, I encourage everyone to read Chapter 6 of Isaiah and 2 Chronicles 26 to better understand what was going on in Judah at the time of Isaiah’s call.


Ponderings:

Make a list from Chronicles of phrases that describe King Uzziah for discussion.

What significance do you see in Isaiah’s being in the temple when he sees the vision?

Read 1 Corinthians 7:17. Have you ever pondered your life’s purpose? Is having a “calling” or “purpose” important?

Isaiah asks God, how long . . . have you ever asked God a similar question?

What does it mean to be a “fully devoted follower of Christ?”

Currently the church is urging us to be ‘fully devoted followers of Christ’ and looking on the website, the “Getting Connected” encourages this in summary as: 1) Worship; 2) Life Group; and 3) Service. In response to my question about “service” to the community, Leah asked last week if it is our duty, or isn’t it important that we should show God’s love in the community?

The New Testament is rife with passages about ‘Christian love’ and we are all familiar with 1 Corinthians 13 and words for love, like ‘agape’. What is the importance or impetus for this love? When Jesus was confronted by the religious rulers of his day (Matt 22:34-40) he summed up the law of God as: 1) Love God with your whole being; 2) Love others as you want to be loved. His emphasis was to obey God and not be disruptive to others. Don’t lie, steal, murder, commit adultery, etc. (Exodus 20:1-17). In John 13:34, Jesus commands us to love one another (Christian brothers/sisters), as He has loved us so that all men will know we are His disciples. Other N.T. writers encourage us to be kind and compassionate (James, Galatians 6, and Ephesians 4) but always with the reminder of it being in response to God’s mercy and grace in forgiving our sin through Christ.

As we have opportunity, we are to do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. God’s acts of grace and mercy in our lives demand we respond by living a life of Christian service. But, while we are to do good to all people, it starts with our fellow Christians. We will not help our unbelieving neighbor, if we ignore our own family in Christ. To live for Christ is to serve him--or as we often say, to allow Christ to be Lord of our life. Jesus "went around doing good" (Acts 10:38). He healed the disabled; included the outcasts into his circle; made time for widows and children; took the side of the poor, the underdog, against those who were powerful; fed the hungry; befriended the lonely. He went out of his way to minister to all with compassion, and he taught them about the coming kingdom of God. When we serve, we are simply following in the steps of the Master who became our righteousness and who also gave us what we never deserved. “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

Jesus always brought the gospel “good news” of God with His service. One of Jesus’ final commands to us is found in Matthew 28: 19-20: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” The impetus for our service to others is God’s desire that all men be saved and come to a knowledge of truth (1Timothy 2:1-4). "Let us not become weary in doing good," says Paul, "for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9) This harvest of doing good, is a harvest of many more receiving the love and the grace of God. What is this harvest promised, guaranteed, by the Lord? Galatians 6:8 says: …the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. When we know deep down that Christ is our only and complete righteousness, then we likewise become gracious and bear true Spiritual fruit. We tell others and show others, without growing weary, the love of God that they too may find rest and inspiration in his grace – and in the end, eternal life.

“and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:19

“Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.”- 2 Corinthians 5:11

So yes Leah, I agree we are to serve our community in love. Something wonderful happens; people are attracted to us and to our God, because of our love, because we are doing good. Because of our love for God, because of His love for us. There is a whole world out there that is desperate for this love, for the grace and for the mercy of God. When they see God’s unconditional love in the church, they respond to God’s mercy in faith. Our service should always be in response to the knowledge that we have been bought with the price of Christ's death and thusly are called to serve not self, but Christ. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Praying for a fresh vision of God’s holiness and forgiveness to kindle your steady obedience to his call.



Robert

1 Corinthians 16:14-14