February 14, 2025

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“Because the Lord GOD helps Me, I have not been disgraced. Therefore I have set My face like flint. I know that I will not be put to shame. The One who vindicates Me is near. Who will dare to contend with Me? Let us confront each other! Who has a case against Me? Let him approach Me! Surely the Lord GOD helps Me. Who is there to condemn Me? See, they will all wear out like a garment; the moths will devour them.” (Isaiah 50.7-9)

REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

As we read deeper into the prophecies given to Isaiah for the sake of Israel, the world and to the glory of God, the more we are led to see a presentation of unity between ourselves and Jesus. We already called to mind the words of Jesus to His disciples concerning unity and harmony. Jesus taught them that He and the Father are One. He didn’t not mean they were only One person who made their appearance in two different ways: physically (Jesus) and spiritually (God.) He did not mean that there was a “shape shifting” going on in the realm of “heaven on earth.” When Jesus declared oneness with God it was in the immutable truth of the harmony and unity of heart, mind, body and soul blended for the singular purpose of “incarnation.” We understand this reality from the Gospel of John where he remembers his encounter with Jesus of Nazareth as “the Word made flesh.” Here is the truth, mighty ones of God: there are many words but there is only One Word; there are many truths but only One Truth; there are many (and we ought to say mini-) gods but there is only One God! This is what we share in common, then, as Jesus then says to the disciples, “…just as God and I are One, so you and I are one.” We are united in nature, spirit, purpose and service. These are the elements of true worship. Isn’t this why we are called to worship so that we can see the glory of this unity? Isn’t this the meaning of true “sabbath”?

Now here is Isaiah, we are being drawn into the truth about our salvation. As God speaks to Isaiah of the “one” who is the savior, He does so in terms of unity and harmony. What seems to be disparate elements are blended together to become as “one.” We are moved to grasp the truth of the Messiah and the Messianic community. When the alignment is true, God’s presence cannot be ignored, denied nor overcome. We are shown preemptively, how the Messiah will be presented before the world so that the world will know the power and nature of God. It is the power and nature we call “love.” In Greek, the interpretation of the Aramaic concept is “agapao,” or God’s love. Yet, it is not the Messiah alone who demonstrates the nature and character of this love. It is the presentation made by those who believe in the Messiah and in the Messianic community which show such love. From this Jesus speaks to His disciples a “new” command: “Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples.” (John 13.34-35) This is not to be confused with the previous command given by God to “love your neighbor.” In fact, if we look at the Ten Commandments there is no mention of the word “love.” This is because they are descriptors used to discern how God’s people understand the greatest commands of all found in the Shema: “You should love the Lord your God and then also the neighbor as yourself.” Here we hear the command to “love.” There are many “loves” but there is only One True Love.

We can most certainly say, or should, that our spouse is our “one true love.” However, it can only be true IF our love for each other is aligned with our love for God. If the “other” takes the place of God in our lives then we are idolatrous, Prophetically, we are worse than idolaters. What is worse? Adulterers! Look back to the word given to Moses concerning adultery. Jesus mentions this test case as well. Jesus said that “Moses” allowed divorce because of the hardness of the heart of a man toward a woman or vice versa. The only reason for a divorce was infidelity; that is, to be an adulterer. (Matthew 19.8) He went on to say as a means of reminder, “…but it was not always this way.” What was Jesus alluding to? Let’s go back to the Garden of Eden. Yes, let’s go back to the “scene of the crime.” There we will find the first “adulteration.” Eve gave herself to consider Satan as the “truth” and thus gave her love to another. No, she did not give her love to Satan but to herself. She loved herself more than she loved Adam and more than she loved God. The evidence of that truth was given the name “sin.” It became “Exhibit A” in the prosecution of Adam and Eve. And watch how things broke apart. When Adam was confronted, he is the head of the family, he broke rank with Eve and blamed her and God. (Genesis 3.12) Now who is on trial here? Satan must have loved that moment. Adam called God into accountability and sought to dismiss any charges against himself. He loved himself more than he loved Eve and God. This is an adulteration! What happens next demonstrates the true nature and character of God. Authentic justice, God’s will be done, is rooted in the nature, character and reality of true love. So what happened? Instead of granting a divorce and allow Adam and Eve to dwell in the “fruit” of their free will unbridled and unabated, God “covered” them. He forgave them. He gave them an accountability. He extended mercy and grace. He loved them. How did He do this? He accomplished the revelation of His love via sacrifice. He covered them with animal skins to hide their eyes from their nakedness which inspired shame. Such shame worked to separate them from God’s presence which they had enjoyed all the days of their lives to that point in time. This is where Satan rejoiced and rejoices still. Now we return to the words of Jesus to His disciples, “No greater love is there than this that one would lay down their lives for another.” Wait, is this what happened in the Garden of Eden? Was Jesus the Lamb that was slain to protect Adam and Eve from the ravages of eternal death? So, in the wilderness and in the Promised Land, when the Lamb was slain it was in remembrance of that covering protection from the ravages of sin and eternal death. In that, we remember Him. What then of our communion time in worship each Sunday? Are we not remembering, as it was brought to mind, the sacrifice of the Lamb of God who came to take away the sting of death of our sins? And it is not to continue sinning that this forgiveness was offered as if the past was wiped away! No! It is a reminder that we must abide in love and become more and more “one with it” in spirit, in truth and in our everyday lives.

And what do we hear from the word given to Isaiah today but “…see, they will all wear out like a garment where moths devour them.” That covering which is not truly of the Lamb of God will wear out and be consumed. We must be authentic in our desire to truly love and be loved. It comes by loving God first, then others and then one another. In that, we find ourselves loved by the same not in return but in gratitude and thanksgiving, in humility and in truth. It is unbeatable and undeniable.

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness which we know is folly but righteous works which declare Your glory and further witness the truth that can set all who believe free from death. So may we live by the name of Jesus our Christ. AMEN.