October 3, 2006 - Isaiah 17-19 and Ephesians 5:17-33
Isaiah 17-19 reminds us that God's judgment against people and against countries has a purpose. As we read about God's punishments for Israel, Syria, Ethiopia, and Egypt, we see that God's purpose was to draw them to Himself. In each of these cases the Bible tells us that there will come a time that these countries will turn to God. Isaiah 17:7-8 tells us that the people of Israel and Syria will come to respect God and not their idols. Isaiah 18:7 shows us that the people of Ethiopia will bring a present to God at Mount Zion. Then, in Isaiah 19:20 we are told that there will come a day when Egypt will cry out to the True God. Perhaps, this will come at the end of time on earth, in the 1,000 year reign of Christ, but it will come as a result of God's punishment that drew the people to see that He is God. Can you see that God's punishment in your life is designed to do the same thing? He wants to bless you, if you will repent and cry out to Him.
In Ephesians 5 we see an example of living in God's wisdom. What happens when a person or persons are filled with the Spirit? (v.18) It changes their attitude, how they talk, and how they act. This applies to marriage. God's design for marriage is to have the closest human relationship. It should be a picture of our relationship with Jesus. The husband is to love the wife as Jesus loves us, and the wife is to submit to the husband as we do to Jesus. Then, there can be an intimate love relationship that is constantly growing. Is that what your marriage is like? Is that what your relationship with Christ is like? If not, you are not living in God's wisdom. You are living in the fullness of the Spirit. I urge you to submit to God's way and ask the Spirit to fill you and to lead you all the time.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 20-22 and Ephesians 6.
In Ephesians 5 we see an example of living in God's wisdom. What happens when a person or persons are filled with the Spirit? (v.18) It changes their attitude, how they talk, and how they act. This applies to marriage. God's design for marriage is to have the closest human relationship. It should be a picture of our relationship with Jesus. The husband is to love the wife as Jesus loves us, and the wife is to submit to the husband as we do to Jesus. Then, there can be an intimate love relationship that is constantly growing. Is that what your marriage is like? Is that what your relationship with Christ is like? If not, you are not living in God's wisdom. You are living in the fullness of the Spirit. I urge you to submit to God's way and ask the Spirit to fill you and to lead you all the time.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 20-22 and Ephesians 6.