Every Spiritual Blessing - Isaiah 5-6 and Ephesians 1
Isaiah told God's people a parable about a vineyard in chapter 5. The vineyard represented Israel, and the Beloved, who planted the vineyard, was God. Notice all of the details he gave about how careful God was to give the vineyard everything it needed to produce much good fruit. However, when the time for harvest came, there were no good grapes, only wild grapes. God was expecting good fruit because He had done everything that was needed to produce a bountiful crop of grapes. The problem was that the people did not take advantage of the spiritual blessings God had given them. They went after false gods, and they went their own way. In chapter 6 we are told the story of how God called Isaiah to be a prophet to the people. They did not even listen to him, except for a small remnant. When God had to destroy His people, they had no excuse. They had been given every opportunity to do His will and to prosper. That is why their sin was so serious, and that is why God's punishment was so severe.
Ephesians 1 tells us that God has given believers every spiritual blessing. Therefore, we have no excuse for not doing God's will either. Paul tells us how God, the Father, planned out redemption, God, the Son, carried out the plan of salvation through the Cross and the Resurrection, and God, the Holy Spirit, seals us and empowers us to do His will. It is a perfect plan, and we have God's power to carry it out. This should cause all of us to praise Him and to be so thankful for His provision that we trust Him each day, and we take advantage of those spiritual blessings He has set aside for us. We can do that through our constant abiding in Him and walking in the Spirit each day. Let's not make excuses. Let's do God's will for our lives using the resources He has provided.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 7-8 and Ephesians 2.
Ephesians 1 tells us that God has given believers every spiritual blessing. Therefore, we have no excuse for not doing God's will either. Paul tells us how God, the Father, planned out redemption, God, the Son, carried out the plan of salvation through the Cross and the Resurrection, and God, the Holy Spirit, seals us and empowers us to do His will. It is a perfect plan, and we have God's power to carry it out. This should cause all of us to praise Him and to be so thankful for His provision that we trust Him each day, and we take advantage of those spiritual blessings He has set aside for us. We can do that through our constant abiding in Him and walking in the Spirit each day. Let's not make excuses. Let's do God's will for our lives using the resources He has provided.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 7-8 and Ephesians 2.