Dear Friends,
Today is Ash Wednesday. I'm sending out the e-news a day early this week in order remind everyone that today is the first day of Lent. If you are planning to fast in some way, start today.
If you are following the reading plan, you will have read Isaiah chapter 2 yesterday. Here are some reflections on chapter 2.
A theme in these first chapters is the uselessness of human wisdom and the wisdom of the gods humans invent. When Jesus returns, all things will be made clear, and people will be embarrassed by what they thought was wisdom and the foolish things they hoped would help them. This is described in vs. 17-20 (NIV).
The arrogance of man will be brought low
and human pride humbled;
the Lord alone will be exalted in that day,
and the idols will totally disappear.
People will flee to caves in the rocks
and to holes in the ground
from the fearful presence of the Lord
and the splendor of his majesty,
when he rises to shake the earth.
In that day people will throw away
to the moles and bats
their idols of silver and idols of gold,
which they made to worship.
This sudden realization of human foolishness and who God really is will not take everyone by surprise. Isaiah also says in vs. 3 (NIV) that in the last days,
Many people will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths.”
This part is not only about when Jesus returns but has already begun to happen. And the invitation in verse 5 (NIV),
Come, descendants of Jacob,
let us walk in the light of the Lord,
is an invitation not only to Isaiah's original hearers, but to us. Let us not be among those who wait until the very end to relinquish our idols and our unfounded pride. Let us instead be right now those who come simply and humbly in search of God, longing to know him and to live according to his wise and good instruction.
Come Coast Vineyard, let us walk together in the light of the Lord.
A prayer for today:
Lord God, I am small and foolish, and you are great and good and wise. Forgive me for the moments I think I know best. Forgive me for the times I have put my trust in other people and other things. Teach me your ways and accept my life as an offering. Amen.
Love in Christ,
Michelle
