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Day 346 (Isaiah 66:1-24) Thus says the LORD: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house you will build Me? Where is the place of My rest? For My hand made all those things and all those things exist,” says the LORD. “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word. He who kills a bull is as if he slays a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, as if he breaks a dog’s neck; he who offers a grain offering, as if he offers swine’s blood; he who burns incense, as if he blesses an idol. Just as they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations, so will I choose their delusions, and bring their fears on them; because, when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, they did not hear; but they did evil before My eyes and chose that in which I do not delight.” Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble at His word: “Your brethren who hated you, who cast you out for My name’s sake, said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified, that we may see your joy.’ But they will be ashamed. The sound of noise from the city! A voice from the temple! The voice of the LORD, who fully repays His enemies! Before she was in labor, she gave birth; before her pain came, she delivered a male child. Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Will the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or will a nation be born at once? As soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her children. Will I bring it to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?” says the LORD. “Will I who cause delivery shut up the womb?” says your God. “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad in her, all you who love her; rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her; that you may feed and be satisfied with the consolation of her bosom, that you may drink deeply and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.” For thus says the LORD: “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream. Then you will feed; on her sides, you will be carried and be dandled on her knees. As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; and you will be comforted in Jerusalem. When you see this, your heart will rejoice, and your bones will flourish like grass; the LORD’s hand will be known to His servants, and His indignation to His enemies. For behold, the LORD will come with fire and with His chariots, like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by His sword the LORD will judge all flesh, and the slain of the LORD will be many. Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves, to go to the gardens after an idol in the midst, eating swine’s flesh and the abomination and the mouse, will be consumed together,” says the LORD. “For I know their works and their thoughts. I will gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see My glory. I will set a sign among them; and those among them who escape I will send to the nations: to Tarshish and Pul and Lud, who draw the bow, and Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands afar off who have not heard My fame nor seen My glory. They will declare My glory among the Gentiles. Then they will bring all your brethren for an offering to the LORD out of all nations, on horses and in chariots and in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” says the LORD, “as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD. I will also take some of them for priests and Levites,” says the LORD. “For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make will remain before Me,” says the LORD, “So will your descendants and your name remain. It will come to pass that from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh will come to worship before Me,” says the LORD. “They will go forth and look upon the corpses of the men who have transgressed against Me. For their worm does not die, and their fire is not quenched. They will be an abhorrence to all flesh.” Who can stand before God and not tremble? Who can hear His voice and not stand in awe of Him? As little children you run and hide and pretend, He will not find you. Yet, He sees you. He knows your thoughts and your actions. He knows who honors Him and who rejects Him. He will judge you according to the thoughts and intents of your hearts. Your actions will bring shame because you do not honor Him. He will cast you from His presence into the fire that never dies. Do you call yourself a Christian? Do you give Him glory and praise? Do you worship Him with a full heart? Or do you give lip service and go about your day, rejoicing because you spent an hour in His house so you can do what you want for the rest of the day? God sees your heart. He knows who honors Him. You cannot hide from Him. When you give God all your time, when you worship Him with your actions, when you spend time in His presence in prayer and Bible study, when you seek Him and His will for your life, then you will know God’s grace and mercy on your life. You will know and be known by Him. He will not reject you but will call you, His child. Israel is God’s chosen people. Isaiah’s prophecy showed God would bring judgment on them because they did not honor Him. Only those who obeyed Him would not be cast from His presence. Don’t find yourself on the receiving end of God’s wrath. Turn to Him with your whole heart, commit yourself to Him, and watch Him bless you. Then you will rejoice in your salvation. Let’s pray: Father, You know the thoughts and intents of my heart. Let me know Your love as I give You my life and worship You as my Savior and my God. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 24 June 2023 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay