The Simple Life

The elder and honored man is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail; for those who guide this people have been leading them astray, and those who are guided by them are swallowed up. Therefore, the Lord does not rejoice over their young men, and has no compassion on their fatherless and widows; for everyone is godless and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still. For wickedness burns like a fire; it consumes briers and thorns; it kindles the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke. Isaiah  9:15-18  (ESV) Self-absorbed people usually do not know they are self-absorbed because it is normal for the culture to be self-absorbed. However, a self-absorbed culture fosters a lifestyle that encourages self-centeredness. Self-absorbed cultures help people in need when it benefits them (which helps alleviates guilt), they ignore people in need if it costs them, and t...

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV) Prophets told it the way it was. They were known for telling the truth and accurately discussing the future. We tend to see the prophets as "prophetic," meaning they tell us what to expect. This passage perfectly illustrates the prophetic message and validates Isaiah as a legitimate prophet. However, many prophets exposed the people's sin in a way that warned them of impending doom. Speaking to people who live in sin about the destructiveness coming their way is not necessarily prophetic; it is obvious...

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here I am! Send me." And he said, "Go, and say to this people: 'Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.' Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed." Isaiah 6:8-10 (ESV)   Being used by God does not mean man understands us. Often, God's ways are not man's, and those who express His desires and plans are not desired or welcomed. Prophets spoke of things as they were, not as they were portrayed. When one speaks of things as they are, those who disagree are often "offended." When God asks for volunteers, it is wise to step up to the challenge, for if you do, you will see mighty and marvelous works that will both break your heart and restore your soul...

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight! Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink, who acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent of his right! Isaiah  5:21-23  (ESV) When we are wise in our own eyes, we lack perspective because we ignore how God, without perspective, views our situation. Being wise in our own eyes is something we do to replace God. We want to live in a way that justifies everything we do, just because we do it, and it makes sense to us. The trouble with this thinking is that it is wrong. Prideful, arrogant, and belligerent behavior stems from those who rule their private kingdoms. There is only one King of the universe, and I am not Him. If I were truly wise, I would want to be wise in His eyes, not in mine, and I would continually check what I believe against what He has declared true. https://www.podbean.com/relate365

For you have rejected your people, the house of Jacob, because they are full of things from the east and of fortune-tellers like the Philistines, and they strike hands with the children of foreigners. Their land is filled with silver and gold, and there is no end to their treasures; their land is filled with horses, and there is no end to their chariots. Their land is filled with idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their own fingers have made. Isaiah 2:6-8 (ESV) Compromise is the door to disaster when you compromise with truth. Those who are Godless live Godless lives, and those who are Godly should have little in common with them. I have been married for many years, and my lifestyle has little in common with a man my age who has never been married. At my age, I do not act like a teenager, I am not concerned with my credit score, and I prefer older pickup trucks to newer ones. We must live within the identity God gives us in Christ and reject the idea of gathering ...

How the faithful city has become a whore, she who was full of justice! Righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers. Your silver has become dross, your best wine mixed with water. Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves. Everyone loves a bribe and runs after gifts. They do not bring justice to the fatherless, and the widow's cause does not come to them. Isaiah  1:21-23  (ESV) It's easy for something that was once important to become worthless. Intimacy is meant to be experienced within strict guidelines, and when the guidelines are blurred, erased, or discarded, what was once beautiful becomes wrong, even evil. Money can be used for good, or it can be the weight around our necks that drowns us. We were made to live peculiarly, and when we avoid the particulars, we invite disaster to be our constant companion. Sort of right is not right. Kind of good is not good. Almost listening is not listening. Those who need to justify their lifestyle must not know that one day,...