Isaiah had an encounter with God and was surrounded by heavenly beings...As Isaiah realized he was in the presence of God, he became instantly aware of his own sinfulness (he didn't even need the 7 deadly sins online test). One of the heavenly beings came to him with a burning coal from the alter before God and cleansed Isaiah of his guilt and sins were forgiven (read Isaiah 6).
Please note that while Isaiah recognized his sinful state it was not he who put the coal to his mouth...it was a God thing!
How often do we try to cleanse ourselves....if we would only read the Bible more, if we would only pray more...give more...work harder.
It's easier than that and it can never be by our efforts, value, worth or doing....it's God's doing.....it's a God thing!
So, we admit we are sinners, acknowledge were we end and God begins and allow God to touch our lips with coal.
Yes, reading the Bible is important, along with prayer, service, ministry, etc...but THAT doesn't get us into Heaven.
It's a God Thing.
3 comments:
Yes, I agree. It is by grace that we are saved. Not by our works, what we do or do not do.
I believe that it is one's conviction thru the Holy Spirit that urges us to read more, and have devotional (intimate) time with God. It should not be an attempt to "cleanse myself", but rather because I love God, and I know He love me, I will seek Him in His Word, and allow Him to guide and direct me.
I agree completely. The spiritual disciplines are great for learning how to subdue the body in order to grow in the spiritual (and spiritual power), but salvation and forgiveness are all God. A total gift from Him to us, no cleanliness required. :-)
THe gift of God shows us evidence with lives Changed and it bears much fruit, does it not? As such we accept by grace, but from that point on we are bearing fruit, or else are we unfruitful, and therefore no longer under Grace? if we bear nothing, but just sit around soaking, are we truly saved? or is it that we are only fooling ourselves, thinking that we can opay lipservice to Christ, and get fire insurance. Yes, i agree with grace, but if we are doing nothing, we are not bearing fruit, and the question of salvation is iffy. not going into loss of salvation, if that is an issue, but more thinking about if we don't change, did we even meet Christ in the first place? but yes, all God, and GOd plants good trees of abundant fruit!
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