March 3, 2006 - Jim Shields, Sanctuary (Concord)

March 3, 2006

Isaiah 55:6-11
Jim Shields, Sanctuary (Concord)

Read the passage and respond to these questions:

1. What actions you are urged to take in Isaiah’s prophecy? List them.
2. What actions and attributes of God mentioned here give you confidence to do the things you identified in question 1?
I was approached the other day by a man named Eric. He was obviously homeless. He was a nice enough fellow. He seemed to be fairly intelligent, although a bit dirty and not far from his last alcoholic indulgence. Do you ever wonder how a homeless person ends up without a home? I wonder if homelessness was their plan. Probably not. But if it not, what happened? As we begin this season, let us look to the Prophet Isaiah and search for some answers for Eric.
Eric started his journey with a plan. I don’t know who the advisor was for his plan, maybe an intellectually inspiring teacher or a somewhat distant dad. I don’t know, Eric probably doesn’t even remember. But I am certain he didn’t “seek the Lord” or “call upon Him” as Isaiah suggests.
As time went on, Eric’s plan began to mutate into something he hadn’t originally decided upon. Like all of us, he made mistakes; he sinned. That isn’t the tragedy. The real turn for Eric came when he began to rationalize his mistakes and his sin—most likely pride. Most of us are tripped up by that. The Prophet leads us to the Lord’s mercy, hands us our pardon and everything it takes to forsake our ways and our thoughts. But Eric continues to have a “death grip” on his own ways. His plan has been reduced to answering the need of the moment, but refuses to say to the Lord, “My plan isn’t going to work.”
Isaiah opens the door to the thoughts and ways of God. It requires but a small step. Anyone can take it. Eric, mine or yours. Whose plan are you following? You may live in a house, but maybe your life isn’t really leading you home.

prayer

Listen to Isaiah and follow his profound priorities today: Seek the Lord today, call on Him. Say out loud, “Jesus I want you in my life today!” Turn to Him. Really, I suggest you stand up and physically turn. And, as you turn, say to Him, “I turn to you. I turn away from my ways. I need your mercy, your pardon, your grace.”And finally, ask Him to give you His thoughts for this season. Let Him know that you don’t want to live in a house without moving toward home. And while you’re at it, say a prayer for Eric.