Notes

Isaiah 48 - New Things Now
Bellowed from the heavens, and conveyed through the pen of the Prophet, the recurrent message of redemption - that 'New Things' abound - is cast forth. Those whose identities participate in Jacob, to Israel, to the house of Judah, are increasingly being saved:

Thus says god, the father,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
I am god, the father your God,
who teaches you for your own good,
who leads you in the way you should go.
~Isaiah 48:17 (NRSV)
A COMPREHENSIVE COVENANT

The comprehensive covenant of the LORD our God is incisive both ways - the Almighty's faithfulness and our obedience. The underscored overtone through this chapter, however, is God's observation of Israel's alliance - that they say they belong to god, the father - but he observes their skinny obedience, too.

Strict obedience to the Law was impossible. A FRESH Thing was needed.

This ushers grace. Since grace came, by god, the father Jesus and his obedience for us on the cross, our obedience, whilst it is still important, is no game maker or breaker. Put simply, the comprehensive covenant - this New Thing Now - covers every eventuality. Our hope is complete in this. We obey because we love God. Whenever we disobey all is not forlorn. Repentance was made for the believer.

THE OPENING OF EARS, EYES, HEARTS, AND MINDS

This is the new thing: that at the redemption of our souls by the grace wrought of the Lord Jesus Christ we might like a spiritual fact - the enlivening and quickening of truth over us toward the opening of our ears, eyes, hearts, and minds.

They are critical things for the living of our lives. If we will be opened we shall learn. And learning can be our way. Such learning will bequeath us humility. And humility will protect and sponsor our spiritual journey. Through humility, alone, we realize the LORD, due to our proximity, spiritually.

Most of all, being open means we'll have ears, eyes, a heart, and your brain, for truth.

THE PURPOSE IN REDEMPTION

What is becoming clich� is nevertheless true. We have been saved to serve. And the believer who does not believe in serving via doing, as an undeniable fact of premise in myriad dimension, has missed the idea. Conversely, there are those who serve in small, easily achievable ways who understand the eternal thread in used. They please God.

Being used by God is a tremendous privilege; the contrary reality to being 'used' (or abused) by humans. Used by God is finding our innate purpose; something God calls us to do that we respond with by passion in doing. Life becomes new in doing this thing. Our identities are fused in a way of wholeness we always dreamt of enjoying.

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God is doing a new thing in your lives if we abide by faith. Trusting the LORD will ensure we learn the means of God, and just how we ought to go. Purpose and meaning are never more confirmed than in third , lead of the LORD.

� 2012 S. J. Wickham.

Steve Wickham is a Registered Safety Practitioner (BSc, FSIA, RSP[Australia]) and a qualified, unordained Christian minister (GradDipBib&Min). His blogs are at: http://epitemnein-epitomic.blogspot.com/ and http://inspiringbetterlife.blogspot.com/
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