Daily Bread 2-1-17
Isaiah 63:1-3
1 Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.
2 Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treated the wine fat?
3 I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.
ref. - Lam 1:15 - The Lord hath trodden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me: he hath called an assembly against me to crush my young men: the Lord hath trodden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, as in a winepress.
Mal 4:3 - And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.
What a mighty God we serve! He is to be feared among all the saints! He can see the false intentions of the heart through all false worship and praise, adorning of suits and dresses, he can see it all. And if he crushed Judah and took the power from his own people for disobedience, how great of a fall when we are found in offense to him. We have a choice to follow Christ and his teachings, or to follow the ways of the world. There will be no two masters. We have one master and he has the power to take everything in our souls and crush it into pieces if he desires. Thank god that we have Jesus Christ to stand before him and beg for his patience with us! The Jews didn't have that, or at least they would not acknowledge it, and all was taken from them. They were set to rule over many countries and possess many lands and they are reduced to a small strip of land where they are surrounded by their enemies. And this is God's people. He is not going to let them perish, but he is not making it easy for them. How much easier would it be for us, when we are reduced to almost nothing to turn and repent, asking Christ to forgive us and lead us into the path that we must go? You see, there is no amount of clothing or praising or acting that we can do that will convince God that we are pleasing to him. We will only be deceiving ourselves and those around us. We must not only say we are his, we must be his. We are so many but there are few that are even attempting to do what God has called them to do. This was the downfall of God's chosen people, and if we continue to offend, it will be the end of us too. Take this not as a warning, but as a promise. All the fluffy promises of false doctrine balled up and served on a silver plate will not help us, he can see right through it. What it is going to take is true devotion, from a contrite spirit and a humble heart. He will clear a path for us and take those who try to destroy us out of our way, but we must be doing our part as well. Not just being a hearer, but a doer of the word. He is giving us a chance, let's take it!!! Have a great day!!!