September 28, 2006 - Isaiah 5-6 and Ephesians 1
There are some great truths in our reading today about our responsibility before God as believers. I hope we will all allow God to speak to us, because this is so important.
Isaiah 5 begins with the parable of God's vineyard. The vineyard of the Lord is Israel. (v.7) He did everything perfectly well to plant them well, and He expected them to bear fruit, but they did not do so. (v.2) Why did they rebel and forsake His law? (v.4) It was not because God had not chosen them and given them every advantage. It was because they still had a free will to follow Him or not, and they chose to disobey. We can't blame our failures on God. He has done more than enough for us to succeed in doing His will. The lack of fruit comes from our sin. We must realize that it is our responsibility to follow His laws and walk with Him. No one can do that for us.
Then, in Ephesians 1:3 Paul tells us that God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing. Isn't that the same as Isaiah 5 and the vineyard? God has given us everything we need to live the Christian life. However, sometimes we don't receive it, because we fail to pray and to obey the Lord. It all has to do with our responsibility before God. He saved us by grace when we freely trusted Christ. He has given us the Spirit as our Guide and Earnest of our inheritance, but we still have to exercise our will to love Him and obey Him.
Go back to Isaiah 6. Isn't that what Isaiah's testimony shows us? He was righteous in a wicked generation. He was able to see God on the throne, because of His relationship. However, he still had to confess his sin, and he had to choose to obey the call of God. God did not force him to obey. He chose to follow the Lord, as we must choose to follow Him today.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 7-8 and Ephesians 2.
Isaiah 5 begins with the parable of God's vineyard. The vineyard of the Lord is Israel. (v.7) He did everything perfectly well to plant them well, and He expected them to bear fruit, but they did not do so. (v.2) Why did they rebel and forsake His law? (v.4) It was not because God had not chosen them and given them every advantage. It was because they still had a free will to follow Him or not, and they chose to disobey. We can't blame our failures on God. He has done more than enough for us to succeed in doing His will. The lack of fruit comes from our sin. We must realize that it is our responsibility to follow His laws and walk with Him. No one can do that for us.
Then, in Ephesians 1:3 Paul tells us that God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing. Isn't that the same as Isaiah 5 and the vineyard? God has given us everything we need to live the Christian life. However, sometimes we don't receive it, because we fail to pray and to obey the Lord. It all has to do with our responsibility before God. He saved us by grace when we freely trusted Christ. He has given us the Spirit as our Guide and Earnest of our inheritance, but we still have to exercise our will to love Him and obey Him.
Go back to Isaiah 6. Isn't that what Isaiah's testimony shows us? He was righteous in a wicked generation. He was able to see God on the throne, because of His relationship. However, he still had to confess his sin, and he had to choose to obey the call of God. God did not force him to obey. He chose to follow the Lord, as we must choose to follow Him today.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 7-8 and Ephesians 2.