LifeLink Devotions

Friday, September 22, 2023

One day years ago I had a ministry appointment out in the country. On the way I would pass the farm of an elderly gentleman that I had not yet met, but who might be willing to let me bow hunt for deer on his property – at least that’s what another new acquaintance of mine told me. So, I stopped in to his house. He wasn’t home. On my way home from my appointment, I dropped by again, and he still wasn’t home. I was disappointed. In one month, the season opens, and it sure would be nice to have some land to hunt that was closer to my home. I regretted not having a business card in my pocket so I could leave a note for him in the door.

In the fiftieth chapter of Isaiah, God is having the same kind of a day with the nation of Israel.

Isaiah 50:2  “When I came, why was there no one? When I called, why was there no one to answer? Was my arm too short to ransom you? Do I lack the strength to rescue you?”

He came to visit them, and they weren’t home. He called them and there was no answer. Then the Lord gives them the reason for His visit – He was there to rescue them from the trouble they were in. Unfortunately, they weren’t available.

As God gives the people the reasons for His visit, He also reveals the reason for the trouble they were in – they didn’t think God really cared or that God could really do anything about it. God says, “do you really think I don’t care or that I lack the ability and resources to help you?

I wonder how many times I have missed a visit from God in my life because I was off trying to fix things in my own wisdom and strength. As I reflect on my natural tendencies, I jump rather quickly into fix-it mode. Then, when my strength and resources are exhausted, I turn to God for help. How sad!

How great is the denial in which we live when we think that what we are doing is just our natural tendency, almost as if we are trying to justify our behavior. We need to fall on our knees before the Father and admit that we just don’t trust Him or think He really cares. We prefer our own control rather than surrender to His control. As a result, we wander off to do things our way, and we miss His visit.

But God is so gracious. He reaches into His bottomless pocket and pulls out His business card and a pen. Then, with ink that strangely resembles blood He writes these words – “Sorry I missed you” – and places it in the door of our heart where we are sure to see it whenever we choose to open it again.

Quick. Go check the door. Maybe God’s been at your place recently. He’s still available.

Pastor John