Isaiah 1:10-18    Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah!  “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the LORD; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.  “When you come to appear before me, who has required of you this trampling of my courts?  Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations— I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.  Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them.  When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood.  Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil,  learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.  “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

A strange danger lies along the paths of Christians, the temptation to start going through the motions. It seems incredible that we would become desensitized to the sacred, but that’s what happened to the people of Israel. Isaiah accused them of going through certain rituals without mindfulness of their meaning or holiness.

We, too, can become so familiar with the “typical” things we do as Christians (like carrying a Bible, going to church regularly, or saying grace at meals) that their significance and meaning fades in our hearts. How easy to sing a song or share in a prayer while our minds wander!

To change all this, we need to cultivate a sense of God’s presence and remember the personal nature of our relationship with Him. We need to worship Him with our study of the Scriptures. During the coming year, make time every day to go to God’s Word, allowing it to fill your heart and mind with His truth. (Jeremiah)

Fill Thou my life, O Lord my God, in every part with praise, that my whole being may proclaim Thy being and Thy ways.

 

Luke 15:8-10     Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!” Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. ()

In Luke 15, Jesus told three stories with the same point, showing how happy God and all of heaven are when the lost are found. Jesus told the story of the lost sheep (Luke 15:4-7), the lost coin (Luke 15:8-10), and the lost son (Luke 15:11-32).

In the story of the lost coin, Jesus spoke of a woman who lost one of ten silver coins. One commentator connected this with a custom of those days, suggesting this coin was held with others on a silver chain worn round the head as a mark of a married woman. It was a precious ornament to the woman and made the loss even worse.

The coin was lost, but it still belonged to the woman and she looked for what was rightfully hers. In this sense, those who are lost to God belong to Him whether they know it or not.

In her search, the woman first brought light; then she swept and cleaned the house, all the time searching for the coin carefully and with deliberate intent. She kept looking until she found the coin.

Under God’s blessing, this is how the church, led by the Holy Spirit, will search for lost souls. First, they will put forth the light of God’s word, then sweep and clean their own place, then search carefully for the lost.

When the coin was finally found, the woman was naturally happy and told her neighbors, rejoice with me. In the same way, God is happy when sinners repent, in contrast to the religious leaders who complained when the tax collectors and sinners drew near to Jesus to hear Him (Luke 15:1-3).

We don’t often think of God as rejoicing, but this passage tells us that He does, and in what gives Him joy. Other passages repeat this idea: As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you (Isaiah 62:5). The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17).

According to William Barclay, many of the religious people of Jesus’ day believed differently and even had a saying: “There will be joy in heaven over one sinner who is obliterated before God.” Christians today must be careful that they do not give the same impression, especially in their often-appropriate zeal to speak out against culturally popular sins. God and all of heaven are happy when the lost are found – so also should we be happy! (Guzik)

 

Ruth 2:14  And at mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain. And she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over.

Ruth 2:18   And she took it up and went into the city. Her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She also brought out and gave her what food she had left over after being satisfied.

Psalms 23:5    You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Luke 14:12-14     He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

 

These passages offers a deeply personal reflection on the spiritual fulfillment and satisfaction that believers experience when they partake of the “bread” given by Jesus. Drawing a parallel to Ruth in the Old Testament, who was satisfied with the meal provided by Boaz, think about how Jesus, as our gracious host, ensures that none of His guests leave His table empty.

Christ as the Satisfying Host

When Jesus invites us to His table, He provides not only for our physical needs but also for our deepest spiritual longings. Our minds are nourished by the truths He reveals, and our hearts find contentment in His incomparable love. The hope He gives is unwavering, as He becomes our ultimate treasure in heaven and the fulfillment of all our desires.

Abundance Beyond Measure

The reflection emphasizes that our conscience finds peace in Christ, our judgment is convinced of the certainty of His teachings, our memory is filled with His deeds, and our imagination is enlivened by the promise of what He will yet accomplish. Just as Ruth was “sufficed, and left,” so too do we discover that after deeply drinking from Christ’s abundance, there remains far more than we could ever absorb.

Infinite Merit and Love

The author acknowledges the immeasurable depth of Christ’s merit, which is more than sufficient to remove every stain of sin. Even after our hunger is satisfied at the feast of divine love, an overwhelming surplus of spiritual nourishment remains. This inexhaustible abundance is a testament to the infinite generosity and grace found in Christ.

Unexplored Riches in God’s Word

There are truths and blessings in Scripture and fellowship with Christ that we have yet to experience. Like the disciples to whom Jesus said, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now,” believers recognize that there are heights of communion and places of nearness to Christ still to be attained. Every spiritual banquet leaves behind “baskets of fragments”—unexplored treasures awaiting us.

Conclusion: Magnifying Christ’s Generosity

Ultimately, the passage calls us to magnify the liberality of our glorious Jesus Christ. His provision is never meager; instead, it is marked by boundless generosity, overflowing grace, and endless opportunity for deeper communion. Let us rejoice in the fullness we have received, and look forward with anticipation to the greater things He has yet to reveal to us. (Surgeon)

 

 

Mark 6:5  And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.

Jeremiah 2:11     Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.

John 9:30    The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes.

Isaiah 59:1-2   Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

God’s Proclamation and Invitation

The passage highlights the many ways in which God reaches out to humanity, inviting us to experience salvation and reconciliation with Him. Through proclamation, invitation, entreaty, command, oath, the giving of His Son, and the testimony of believers, God makes His intentions clear: He desires that we should come to Him, believe in His Son, and be saved.

The Accepted Time and Day of Salvation

The proclamation, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation,” emphasizes the urgency and availability of God’s grace. It reminds us that the opportunity for salvation is not distant or uncertain, but present and immediate. God’s invitation, “Look unto me, and be ye saved,” is extended to all, regardless of background or circumstance, urging us to respond without delay.

God’s Entreaty and Command

God’s entreaty, “As though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God,” demonstrates His earnest desire for our reconciliation. This is not a passive offer; it is an active pleading through His messengers. The command, “This is His commandment, that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ,” makes faith not merely optional, but essential. Belief in Jesus is the foundation upon which our relationship with God is built.

Assurance Through Oath and Pledge

To further assure us, God has sworn an oath, guaranteeing the reliability of His promises: “That by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation.” In giving His Son as a pledge—”whosoever believeth on Him shall never perish, but have eternal life”—God demonstrates the depth of His commitment and love. This pledge stands as the ultimate assurance that His offer of salvation is trustworthy.

The Testimony of the Saints

The testimony of all God’s saints serves to reinforce these promises. Throughout history, countless individuals have experienced the transformative power of faith in Christ, bearing witness to the reality of God’s salvation and faithfulness.

The Marvel of Unbelief

Given the abundance of evidence and assurance, it is no wonder that God marvels at human unbelief. The passage urges us not to excuse our doubts, but rather to confront them directly—pleading and praying against unbelief until it is conquered. Faith is not merely a passive acceptance, but an active struggle against doubt, sustained by God’s promises and the support of fellow believers.

Conclusion: Responding in Faith

In light of God’s proclamation, invitation, entreaty, command, oath, pledge, and the testimony of the saints, the call to faith is clear and compelling. Let us not delay or make excuses for unbelief, but earnestly seek to overcome it through belief, prayer, confession of sin, repentance, reliance and trust in God’s Word. Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation. Let us respond with faith, embracing the assurance and hope that God so generously offers. (Smith)

 

 

Philippians 3:13-15    Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.

 

The Apostle Paul did not think that he had arrived, and neither should we. We are all in need of change. Liu Shao-chi said, “Men should regard themselves as being in need of and capable of being changed. They should not look upon themselves as something unchanging, perfect, holy, and beyond reform… Otherwise men cannot make progress.”

The trouble is that most of us resist change in ourselves. We are desperately anxious to see others change. Their personality quirks annoy us and we wish they would reform. But we are either oblivious to our own idiosyncrasies or satisfied to perpetuate them. We want to remove the splinter from someone else’s eye but rather admire the pole in our own. Their faults and failures are hideous whereas ours are darling.

The problem lies in our own will. We can change if we really want to. If we face up to the fact that we have some sins and undesirable traits in our character, we have made a start toward becoming better persons.

But how can we know what changes are needed? One way is for us to let the Word of God act as a mirror. As we read and study it, we see what we should be, and how far we fall short of the standard. When the Bible condemns something of which we are guilty, we should face the fact bravely and determine to do something about it.

Another way to learn ways in which we are unChristlike is to listen carefully. The Holy Spirit will speak to our heart and soul through God’s Word, relatives, or friends. Sometimes these revelations about us come in the touch of a soft velvet glove; sometimes they come like a blow from a sledgehammer. Whether these revelations about ourselves are soft or hard, we should seek to understand and get the message and accept it gratefully.

In fact, it is a very good practice to cultivate a heart that seeks and desires to have God expose what is not pleasing in us so that we can confess it and repent (turn away) from it.

It is sad to think of people who go through life, never asking God to refine them. But are satisfied with a very shallow existence and witness for Jesus Christ. They are blind to the issues they cause in the church, in the home, and in society, just because they saw no need for further growth and awareness of their own sinfulness or they were not willing to change.

If only we would seek God with a heart that wants to continually grow and mature in ways that Honor and Glorify Jesus Christ through our thoughts, words, and actions.

 

John 3:16-19    “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

A.W. Tozer

CHRIST CAME TO SAVE

Millions who have rejected the Christian gospel have generally been too busy and too involved to ask themselves a simple question: “What really is God’s intention toward me”” They could have found the plain and simple answer given by the Apostle John: “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world: but that the world through him might be saved.” This is a gravely significant message from the heart of God Himself! Yet, even in the full light it provides, people are indifferent. Upon our eyes there seems to have fallen a strange dimness; within our ears, a strange dullness. It is a wonder, and a terrible responsibility, that we should have this message in our possession and be so little stirred about it! I confess that it is very hard for me to accept the fact that it is now very rare for anyone to come into the house of God, silently confessing: “Dear Lord, I am ready and willing to hear what you will speak to me today!”

Tozer highlights a reality that many of us have personally experienced or observed in others—a spiritual dullness and lack of perception. Before the Holy Spirit enabled us to recognize the depth of our own sin and the absolute holiness of God, we were spiritually blind and deaf, unable to truly comprehend God’s Word. Although we might have read the Scriptures or listened to the message of Jesus Christ, real understanding remained out of reach until the Holy Spirit opened our hearts and minds. God’s Word reveals His character—His holiness, love, grace, mercy, power, and omnipresence. He knows every thought and intention within us. The Holy Spirit persistently seeks entry into every heart, but each person must make the choice to respond. The offer to accept Jesus Christ and receive salvation is always available, but it’s up to the individual to open the door. Ignoring or refusing this invitation is a deliberate act. Sometimes, the Holy Spirit’s prompting may be unmistakably strong, but over time, one can become so practiced in ignoring it that it seems to disappear altogether. The gravest danger lies in denying the consequences of rejecting salvation—Hell and Torment, eternal separation from God. Today, the opportunity for salvation remains; do not disregard this call to eternal life.

 

 

“If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally.” – James 1:5

Reflection by George Bowen

Wisdom is often the last thing for which people recognize their deep need. While many pursue worldly wisdom, striving for more influence, greater success, or sharper intellect, it is uncommon to find someone truly aware of their need for the wisdom that only God gives in answer to prayer. This paradox highlights the extent of human folly: the absence of divine wisdom makes us unaware of our deficiency. If we truly understood its value, we would realize that this wisdom holds the key to everything we anxiously seek in the world.

We yearn for strength to rise above life’s hardships, to triumph over our adversaries, and to possess all that we believe will bring us happiness. Yet, the world is structured in such a way that no amount of striving or pleasure can fully satisfy these desires. Authority cannot shield us from all animosity, and possessions cannot guarantee happiness. But when God breathes upon the soul, everything changes.

The Cause of Human Misery

Much of human misery stems from our response to repugnant circumstances. We struggle against them, believing that victory over these conditions will bring relief and happiness. Sometimes, we fail and the torment continues; other times, we succeed, only to find a new challenge arising in its place. This cycle reveals the futility of battling solely with external conditions.

If humanity would stop fighting against the outer circumstances and instead seek the wisdom that comes from God, the burdens of life would be remarkably lightened. True wisdom enables us to weigh all things—offers, illusions, honors, comforts, discomforts, losses, trials—in the balances of heaven. It grants us perspective beyond our fleeting troubles and reveals the eternal significance of daily life.

Prayer for Wisdom

Lord, help us to recognize our need for Your wisdom. Let us not be deceived by the promises of worldly knowledge or achievement. Teach us to seek Your guidance in every decision, to trust in Your provision, and to approach each day with the understanding that true wisdom comes from You alone. May Your Spirit breathe upon our souls, granting us peace and strength to rise above life’s trials.

Thought for the Day

Instead of battling endlessly with our circumstances, let us ask God for wisdom. In doing so, we discover the freedom, strength, and joy that truly satisfy—far beyond what the world can offer.

 

Php 1:9-11  And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,  so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,   filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

We are all at our best when we’re in the company of other Christians. But it’s who we are at home that defines the person we truly are. The question is, are you and I sincere?

Our English word “sincere” is a translation of the Greek word eilikrinēs, which means pure, unsullied, without wax, and able to bear full examination in the sun. That type of examination was essential because it wasn’t uncommon for first-century craftsmen to use wax as putty to hide cracks in their slightly damaged pottery.

Say you were a worshipper of the goddess Diana, and you purchased an idol to take to her temple. But as you held the statue in the warm sun, her arm fell off. What happened? When the heat was turned up, your idol was revealed for what it was—with wax and insincere.

Likewise, when God turns up the heat in our lives through fiery trials, His purpose is to expose falsehood within us. We may deceive others, and even ourselves, but we cannot hide the truth from God. Our relationship with Him must be sincere. We cannot “putty” ourselves up and put on a show of Christianity. We must, as Paul prayed, “approve the things that are excellent.”

It’s time to get real—time to allow the full splendor of the light of God’s Word to examine us. That we might have a single eye to the very best things with a pure and sincere heart until the day of Christ.  (Hibbs)

 

1Corinthians 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Col 1:29  For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

Co 15:10  But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

Insights from A.W. Tozer on the Nature of Christian Service

Introduction

The subject of Christian service often leads to reflection on the nature of our labor for God. A.W. Tozer, a respected theologian and writer, sheds light on a vital distinction: the difference between laboring in the Lord and going on alone. This essay explores Tozer’s insights and relevant scriptural passages to clarify how true Christian work is accomplished—not as an independent venture, but as a partnership with God’s empowering presence.

Misconceptions About Christian Labor

Certain passages in Scripture, if read superficially, may suggest that God delegates His work to Christian leaders in a manner similar to a business subletting parts of a contract. For instance, First Corinthians 15:58 encourages believers to “stand firm” and “give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,” which could be misread as if God entrusts tasks to us to complete on His behalf, separated from His involvement.

Similarly, in First Corinthians 16:10, Paul refers to Timothy as “carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am.” Without careful consideration, one might assume that Paul and Timothy are independently laboring for God, as if the divine work is theirs to execute alone.

The Biblical Perspective: Instruments, Not Independents

Tozer warns against this misunderstanding. He insists that Paul, Timothy, and other Christian leaders were not performing God’s work apart from Him. Rather, they were “the obedient instruments in whom and through whom God wrought His own work.” This means that their labor was not a solitary effort, but a manifestation of God’s activity through willing vessels.

Scriptural Clarification: The Power Behind Our Labor

Paul himself clarifies this in Colossians 1:29: “To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.” Here, Paul acknowledges that his efforts are not fueled by his own strength, but by divine Holy Spirit working within him.

Additionally, in First Corinthians 15:10, Paul writes, “I worked harder than all of them–yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” This profound statement reveals that even the most diligent labor is ultimately the result of God’s grace, not human achievement alone.

Laboring in the Lord Versus Going On Alone

The difference, then, is clear: laboring in the Lord means allowing God to work through us, relying on His strength, wisdom, and grace. Going on alone, by contrast, is attempting to serve God in our own power, detached from His enabling presence. The former brings fruitfulness and purpose, while the latter leads to exhaustion and spiritual barrenness.

Tozer’s insights urge believers to recognize that our calling is not to perform for God, but to surrender ourselves as channels for His work. True Christian service is always a partnership—a dynamic interplay between our obedience and God’s power at work in us.

Conclusion

In summary, the labor God calls us to is never meant to be undertaken alone. Scripture and the wisdom of A.W. Tozer remind us that we are instruments through which God accomplishes His purposes. Our effectiveness in ministry depends not on our independent striving, but on our willingness to let “His Holy Spirit, which so powerfully works in [us],” be the source of our strength and success. May we always seek to labor in the Lord, and never go on alone.

 

The Individual’s Role in Spiritual Awakening

2Chronicles 7:14  if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Isaiah 57:15  For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

Psa 51:1   Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

 

Understanding the Nature of Revival

A.W. Tozer emphasizes that a common misunderstanding about revival is waiting passively for a dramatic, collective, or supernatural event, while neglecting the essential role of the individual. He argues that spiritual awakening is not something that simply descends on a group as a whole, but must begin within each person’s heart.

The Individual Experience

Tozer draws a parallel between spiritual revival and both birth and death: while these events may happen to many people at the same time, each person experiences them uniquely and alone. Likewise, even if a large group is touched by a spiritual movement, revival is always a personal, solitary encounter between an individual and God.

Personal Responsibility in Revival

The text stresses that nothing external can prevent a person from experiencing spiritual renewal if they truly desire it. Whether surrounded by spiritually apathetic individuals or in a vibrant faith community, revival is accessible to anyone who earnestly seeks it. The transformation is a direct matter between God and the individual soul.

Key Takeaways

• Revival must begin in the heart of each individual believer.
• Group revival is only possible when the individuals within the group are personally revived.
• Personal spiritual awakening is not hindered by external circumstances; it depends on one’s willingness and openness to God.
• Each person’s relationship with God is unique and cannot be substituted or experienced by proxy.

Conclusion

Tozer’s message is clear: do not wait for collective movements or outward signs. Instead, focus on your own spiritual condition and pursue personal revival. In doing so, you contribute to the broader renewal of the community, but the journey always starts with you.