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Scripture for the day: Isaiah 9:18-20 For wickedness burns like a fire; tt consumes briars and thorns; it also sets the thickets of the forest aflame and they roll upward in a column of smoke. By the wrath of the Lord of armies the land is burned, and the people are like fuel for the fire; no one spares his brother. They devour what is on the right hand but are still hungry, and they eat what is on the left hand, but they are not satisfied; each of them eats the flesh of his own arm.
Thought for the day: Now, how’s that for an uplifting bit of scripture? Oh, how I’d like to type nothing but soothing, peaceful, everything-will-be-well notes designed to encourage those who have a tendency to see the glass as half empty. We do ourselves and others a disservice when we focus on one aspect of the Word at the expense of all others.
So far, we’ve celebrated the signing of the Declaration of Independence some 245 times, under all sorts of circumstances that brought both division and unity. I wonder how many more celebrations we will have? When I read this warning from the prophet Isaiah and realize how much like the children of Israel we have become, I shudder to think of our future. I hate feeling that way. Isaiah did as well, I’m sure. And Jeremiah wept over his commission. Elijah was nearly suicidal because of the pressures of the message God had given him and Moses made excuses as to why he didn’t think he could fulfill God’s call on his life. I don’t blame them. but let’s take a look at the warnings God is providing for us; it’s important.
The children of Israel were a people filled with pride. They had come to ignore God and rely upon their own strength to move forward. They suffered calamity and took no warning from it. The walls surrounding the city were destroyed and they said, “We shall rebuild them.” They had lost their resources and their only response was, “We shall replenish them.” Their pride prevented them from the proper response; humility before their God. essentially, they made two mistakes. First, they ignored the cause of the calamities; their rejection of the God who had brought them out of bondage. Second, they arrogantly boasted that they would rebuild; no help from God was needed or wanted. They seem to have forgotten that the Bible promises “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). In addition, “A man’s pride shall bring him low” (Proverbs 29:23).
I heard the story of a frog who wanted to go south for the winter. It was too far to hop and he certainly lacked the wings necessary to fly. Two birds felt sorry for the little frog and together they came up with a plan. The birds would hold each end of a stick in their beaks, the frog would clamp down on the stick with his mouth and the birds would carry him to his destination. The sky was clear and everything seemed hopeful for the frog and his two new friends.
Two farmers, standing in their field, happened to look up and saw the two birds carrying the frog. One said to the other, “That was a brilliant idea; I wonder who came up with the plan.” The frog, in his pride, shouted, “I did!” Well, you can guess what happened to the poor frog next. His pride got the best of him and led to his destruction.
For all America has accomplished over the past 200+ years, we have reason to be pleased. However, we have no reason to forget the One who has established this country and provides the blessings we enjoy.
Abraham Lincoln once said, “We’ve grown in numbers and wealth and power as no other nation has grown … We’ve vainly imagined in the deceitfulness of our won hearts that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient …, too proud to pray to the God that made us.” Is there any reason to believe we’ve made any progress in this area during the past 150+ years? I fear we’ve become an arrogant people who thinks we’ve outgrown the need for God and this arrogance is as prevalent within the walls of the church as without.
More on this tomorrow (I promise we will be encouraged when all is said and done.).
Now go take on your world. - Bill