Verse of the Day 7/9

 

Isaiah 55:6-7"Seek the Lord while he may be found;
    call upon him while he is near;

7 let the wicked forsake his way,
    and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
    and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

Yesterday I mentioned that the verse came from Psalm 84 which is one of my favorite Old Testament  passages and that I had read it in my devotions.  My Old Testament reading plan also brought me to Isaiah 55 which is also one of my favorite chapters, I was doubly blessed.

 

In the Amplified Bible (below) the chapter starts with a call for us to "wait and listen".  That is not something that is common in today's fast paced, rush-rush, instant gratification society.  If we are honest with ourselves we will find that the best things are worth waiting for.  In the Christian life this waiting is not passive it is active, it is seeking while waiting for a response or an opportunity.  If we take the time to seek Him, to "wait" on Him today's verses tell us that we are to do so "while He may be found". or as the Amplified says "while He is near".  God is always there but He is nearest when we are seeking Him.

 

If we've been away from Him, caught up in the rat race, (a race by the way that no one wins), we need to get off of that course, exit that race and return to the Lord.  The verses tell us that He will have love, pity, and mercy for (Amp. v.7) those that seek, inquire for, and require the Lord.

 

Requiring the Lord means that we need Him, realizing that we can't make it, we can't live life on our own.

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Isaiah 55:1-7Amplified Bible (AMP)

55 Wait and listen, everyone who is thirsty! Come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Yes, come, buy [priceless, spiritual] wine and milk without money and without price [simply for the self-surrender that accepts the blessing].

² Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your earnings for what does not satisfy? Hearken diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness [the profuseness of spiritual joy].

³ Incline your ear [submit and consent to the divine will] and come to Me; hear, and your soul will revive; and I will make an everlasting covenant or league with you, even the sure mercy (kindness, goodwill, and compassion) promised to David.

⁴ Behold, I have appointed him (Him) [David, as a representative of the Messiah, or the Messiah Himself] to be a witness [one (One) who shall testify of salvation] to the nations, a prince (Prince) and commander (Commander) to the peoples.

⁵ Behold, you ^[a][Israel] shall call nations that you know not, and nations that do not know you shall run to you because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified you.

⁶ Seek, inquire for, and require the Lord while He may be found [claiming Him by necessity and by right]; call upon Him while He is near.

⁷ Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have love, pity, and mercy for him, and to our God, for He will multiply to him His abundant pardon.