Isaiah 63:1 Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson? Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength? “It is I, proclaiming victory, mighty to save.”
This week the scripture for my church’s daily devotionals is in Luke 15: The Parable of the Lost Sheep, The Parable of the Lost Coin, and The Parable of the Lost Son. All three parables echo this idea in Isaiah 63 of a God who is mighty to save and a people who rebel and grieve His Holy Spirit.
Isaiah 63:8 He said, “Surely they are my people, children who will be true to me”; and so he became their Savior.
And I have found myself of late struggling with how I deal with what I see as rebellious, grievous behavior in others. My anger at the inability of others to act with basic Christian compassion is rebellious and grievous in its own way. It’s not righteous anger from God. It’s not productive. It’s not compassionate. That makes it part of the problem.
Isaiah 63:9 In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
Lord, I feel You calling me to task with this scripture. I can’t combat attitude with attitude. It doesn’t glorify You nor does it help any of Your people. Help me to use my anger as a catalyst for digging deeper so we can get to the root of the issue. Help us all to comfort Your people in compassion and love. Help our end-goal to be to glorify You always. Draw us closer. Amen.
Isaiah 63:10 Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit….
Have a blessed day.