May 27, 2025

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“This is what the LORD says: ‘As the new wine is found in a cluster of grapes, and men say, ‘Do not destroy it, for it contains a blessing,’ so I will act on behalf of My servants; I will not destroy them all. And I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and heirs from Judah; My elect will possess My mountains, and My servants will dwell there. Sharon will become a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a resting place for herds, for My people who seek Me.’” (Isaiah 65.8-10)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD TO US:

Without question, the most vital piece of information in this text for today comes at the end of verse 10, “…for My people who seek Me.” We are connected back to Isaiah 55.6 “Seek the Lord while He may be found.” That seeking was not some kind of scavenger hunt. Rather it is revealed most clearly for us, which Isaiah did not have the advantage of at the time, in Jesus’ parables about things that were lost (a sheep, a coin, a son who was lost but the very one who was seeking, a treasure buried in the field and a pearl of great price.) In those parables we hear the imperative of “seeking.” It is an active and not passive venture. As it relates to our spiritual lives, we know the elements which constitute such “seeking of God” include remorse, repentance and reclaiming. That reclaiming means to claim God as the sole/soul source of our being without which we can do nothing to realize our salvation. Jesus offers Himself to and through the disciples who remained in the Upper Room on the night of the Seder Feast declaring “I AM: the way, the truth and the life.” (John 14.6) The world offers many ways to live, many purposes and pursuits for one’s life, many “truths” and many lives/identities by which one may know themselves and present themselves to others. But not all of them will lead one to remorse, repentance and reclaiming. In truth, there is but one way which leads to authentic living and that comes in Jesus the Christ who reveals in tangible evidence the person and will of God. He came to claim us to be the children of the Most High God. His ministry was one of reconciliation. Reconciliation happens when the authentic “good” in us is made known and the directions for manifesting “that goodness” are given. Jesus, even against the most adverse of opponents, sought to highlight to “good” in whomever He met. He came “…to seek and save that which is lost.” (Luke 19.10)

Here we are presented with the mutuality of “seeking.” It may have been best revealed in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. As the younger son was “seeking himself” and became lost, or disoriented, the father never surrendered his watch over his son. Yes, the father was seeking this son “while he could be found.” Found, in this instance, refers to “remaining in the state of redeemability.” His son was not too far gone. Would the father have allowed his “seeking son” to go too far? I would say “no.” He would have given one last appeal before that moment happened. That was the nature and character of the father, as it was and is of God. Some have said “give them enough rope to hang himself.” This father would have said “give him enough rope to save himself.” The son finally found himself in the midst of uncleanness- a pig sty where the food being fed to them looked good enough to eat though it was slop. The father found him on the road believing he “could be found.” This is the ministry of Jesus who was on the road believing in those who “could be found.” In the prophetic work of Isaiah God Himself is revealed as one who seeks good grapes even in the midst of a disastrous vineyard. I recall one of the closing scenes in the movie “A Walk in the Clouds” where following a disastrous fire which burned through the entire vineyard, the original root was uncovered and found “redeemable.” There was still hope.

Mighty ones of God, there is still hope to find God while He may be found. He has not sounded the final call…yet. It is coming and the great threshing of wheat and chaff, the separating of sheep from goats, the calling out of truth-tellers and liars, the recognition of the righteous and the unrighteous will be revealed. Who will be on “the Lord’s side”? It will be the ones who are truly seeking God. He will recognize them. He will save them from the fiery furnace. He will draw them in and make them new. He will call them His own people. Let us strive to be one of them and engage the ministry of “seeking the Lord while He may be found.”

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. Hear our prayer, O Lord, and be gracious to us in the name of Jesus. AMEN.