conviction

morning's light, originally uploaded by philbenner.

this morning i find myself in the book of Isaiah in the Old Testament of the Bible. in chapter 65 words ring in my ears... God speaking says "I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said 'here am I, here am I.'" to think that the GOD of the universe... that god that with a breathe makes stars... that GOD has revealed himself to us, men and women sitting on a little speck of dust somewhere in the vast darkness of this universe. He created us and what's more HE wants a relationship with us... but we, in all our "wisdom", have turned our backs. maybe the greatest effect of our broken relationship is that we've become so diluted to think that we know better than GOD... oh the masterful work of our own pride.

as if that conviction weren't enough i hear a ring of truth for the church as well, a few verses later god again speaking says, i've revealed myself to "a people... who say, 'Keep away; don't come near me, for I am too sacred for you!'" have we become too sacred for GOD? how about our churches... are they too sacred for us to associate with "unbelievers" or worse yet "sinners" (insert GASP here). in our pride have we forgotten the good news of Jesus Christ in pursuit of the church?

oh God, wreck our hearts for the broken, for the hurting and the lost. we know the king of the UNIVERSE... and He knows you (HE made you). God help me get my perspective right... that YOU are GOD and I am not...