MONDAY, MARCH 9
Isaiah 41:8-10 I have called you my servant and not cast you off; fear nothing for I am with you.
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ: the life I live is not my life, but the life Christ lives within me.
Romans 8:31 If God is on our side, who can be against us?
Adopted Children
Isaiah alternates between lectures on past sins, present opportunities for repentance, and the vision of the kingdom. So what's changed? Maybe not much except that identifying real prophets is harder than ever.In early Isaiah, after a broad indictment of Israel's lack of adherence to the law (of Moses) and, more importantly, to the Lord as Israel's sole hope of salvation, the prophet describes hope of restoration after repentance. It has taken 400 years and 41 chapters to come that far.
The story does not end there. Even first century Christians wrestled with the same questions. Paul's letter to the Galatians is generally critical of their practices and the low levels of morals to which they have slipped. In Chapter 2 he talks about the living of Christ's instructions for discipleship. That is to lose oneself as a precondition of salvation. It may take a lifetime, but to what else is our calling so strong? In Galatians 3 and Romans 8:31, Paul further describes that if we are adopted children of God, there is nothing that we cannot accomplish. Why adopted sons and daughters? Because adopted children are chosen while natural children are not. Like the prophet we are called to discipleship. In Chapter 6 Isaiah gives his answer: “Here am I. Send me.” It's not an easy answer, but can we respond otherwise?
Prayer: Holy father, you love us as only a parent can. Please help us to love you as children that have chosen you like you have chosen us. Amen.
Ross Stuntz
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