Post by LDM on Nov 1, 2009 7:31:16 GMT -5
"Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.
And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. " Isaiah 1:13-17
When I read these verses, I think immediately of my childhood. If there is anything that bears resemblance to this it is the catholic church. Oblations, incense, holy days, appointed feasts, solemn meetings... The RCC is the picture of pious religious service.
But that church is not alone. There is much done in the world that is presented as a reflection of God, which He has nothing to do with. I remember once at work, I was looking at a Buddhist parade going down the street. There were vibrant cloths of many colors being waved and from my position 30 floors up, it looked like a moving rainbow of color.
I said to myself, I know they don't worship the Lord, but that sure is a beautiful looking procession. I didn't expect a response, but God interjected into my thoughts and said, "They might as well be having an orgy down there as far as I am concerned."
I literally cringed from the graphic nature of the comment. Boy God, I thought, why do you have to put it like that?! Yet, that is how He sees it. Our righteousness before Him is as filthy rags. God doesn't see as we see.
"But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." I Samuel 16:7
It is interesting to consider God's language in Isaiah. He couldn't be any more direct about how He feels about these things.
"Vain...abomination...away with...iniquity...hateth...trouble unto me...weary...will hide mine eyes....will not hear..."
God is not talking about stealing, killing, lieing, fornication...He is talking about things that people do as sacrifices unto Him. You would think He might accept those sacrifices just because they are given for Him. But He doesn't. Those things are not acceptable because the people's hearts are defiled.
There are so many ways that we try to "please" God. But what He wants is simple; He wants us to be clean.
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you." John 15:1-3
The only way we can be "clean" is by submitting to the Word of God, Jesus Christ.
Don't try to do anything for God. If we try to run around doing works for God - no matter how grandiose, pretty, solemn - He will reject those offerings if our hands are dirty. Make your priority His priority.
We must cease from evil and learn to do well. Our focus should be not on what we can do for God, but what He is doing to and through us.
"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." Ephesians 5:25-27
Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.
And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. " Isaiah 1:13-17
When I read these verses, I think immediately of my childhood. If there is anything that bears resemblance to this it is the catholic church. Oblations, incense, holy days, appointed feasts, solemn meetings... The RCC is the picture of pious religious service.
But that church is not alone. There is much done in the world that is presented as a reflection of God, which He has nothing to do with. I remember once at work, I was looking at a Buddhist parade going down the street. There were vibrant cloths of many colors being waved and from my position 30 floors up, it looked like a moving rainbow of color.
I said to myself, I know they don't worship the Lord, but that sure is a beautiful looking procession. I didn't expect a response, but God interjected into my thoughts and said, "They might as well be having an orgy down there as far as I am concerned."
I literally cringed from the graphic nature of the comment. Boy God, I thought, why do you have to put it like that?! Yet, that is how He sees it. Our righteousness before Him is as filthy rags. God doesn't see as we see.
"But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." I Samuel 16:7
It is interesting to consider God's language in Isaiah. He couldn't be any more direct about how He feels about these things.
"Vain...abomination...away with...iniquity...hateth...trouble unto me...weary...will hide mine eyes....will not hear..."
God is not talking about stealing, killing, lieing, fornication...He is talking about things that people do as sacrifices unto Him. You would think He might accept those sacrifices just because they are given for Him. But He doesn't. Those things are not acceptable because the people's hearts are defiled.
There are so many ways that we try to "please" God. But what He wants is simple; He wants us to be clean.
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you." John 15:1-3
The only way we can be "clean" is by submitting to the Word of God, Jesus Christ.
Don't try to do anything for God. If we try to run around doing works for God - no matter how grandiose, pretty, solemn - He will reject those offerings if our hands are dirty. Make your priority His priority.
We must cease from evil and learn to do well. Our focus should be not on what we can do for God, but what He is doing to and through us.
"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." Ephesians 5:25-27