ESOCS Devotional 14 January 2023
TEXT: ISAIAH 64:5-12
MEMORY VERSE: “Do not be angry beyond measure, O Lord; do not remember our sins forever. Oh look upon us, we pray, for we are all your people.” Isaiah 64:9 NIV
In Habakkuk 1:13, we see that God’s eyes are so pure that He cannot stand the sight of evil or sinful acts. It follows therefore that every human sin results in the inescapable judgment of God (Isaiah 65:6). In our text, the children of Israel appeared to have continued for too long in their rebellion against God. They had become so morally debased that their social standards had become very filthy before God. Thus, they found it difficult to return to the will of God (Hosea 13:2). Moreover, when immoral and unjust practices become the tradition of a people, it is extremely difficult to change them.
Consequently, the people of Israel could not be saved from destruction since they would not turn from their crooked ways. They had fallen so far away from God that they no longer had the confidence to cry out to Him for help. However, Isaiah volunteered to mediate on behalf of the people. He sought God’s forgiveness on their behalf.
This scripture tends to point to our present-day debased and extra-immoral society. In today’s world, even those who profess Christianity have become so morally filthy that God’s presence appears to have become so distant from us. The heathen and unbelievers are gradually taking over all that belongs to us. Even our so-called freedom of worship is now overly threatened.
It is therefore time for us to assume the role of mediators, as Isaiah did for ancient Israel. The Church of Jesus Christ is experiencing intense persecution in our time. Worse still, there appears to be no help in sight because Church leaders and followers have now entered into unholy relationships with the world. In James 4:4, we are warned that “friendship with the world is enmity against God.” It then means that those who love the activities and possessions of this world do not love God enough (Matthew 6:24; John 15:19). We are therefore duty-bound to plead to God for mercy and pardon. Here lies our consolation, as stated by the Master in Matthew 11:28, thus: “Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Children of God, it’s time to go the way of Prophets Isaiah and Daniel (Isaiah 64:9; Daniel 9:3-19). These men of God interceded for the children of Israel in their times of distress, and the Lord did not disappoint them. We can do even better for our generation. Let’s rise up to the challenge now.
- Have mercy upon us O Lord, and plead our course with them that trouble us.
- Lord God of mercy, please pardon our iniquity, for it is great.
FURTHER READING: Isaiah 45: 1-13; Luke 6: 12-26; 1 Corinthians 6: 1-11
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
Thank you for reading the ESOCS Devotional today. Please share and follow us on all our platforms to contribute to the spread of the Gospel.
ESOCS Devotional 14 January 2023
