Tuesday, October 27, 2026

Opening Scripture

Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings. But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand, since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you – when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me, since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD. Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm. Proverbs 1:23-33

Opening Prayer

Gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for rest and the promise of a new day. I praise You for Your loving kindness, Your thoughtful provision, and Your comforting presence. Help my hope and security be in You today, not in what I do, or what I have, or what others think. May Your Spirit guide me in the way I should go. Help me to appreciate Your blessings and see You at work around me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

Isaiah 55:6-7

Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

Reflection  

Today’s passage again describes the invitation God makes to those who wish to partake of “the feast in the kingdom of God.” Regardless of earthly status, wealth, power, or fame, each person must choose to seek the LORD, forsake their wicked ways and unrighteous thoughts, turn to the LORD, and receive His mercy.

There is a certain urgency to God’s offer of salvation in these verses. “While he may be found” and “while he is near” imply a window of opportunity and a limit on the invitation’s availability. Time is of the essence! Those who imagine that Almighty God will wait on them to decide about trusting Him with their life whenever it is convenient, may be sorely disappointed.

God offers abundant mercy and full pardon to those who humbly and gratefully receive it, but Almighty God will not be held hostage or kept waiting while a person casually considers his options. None of us is promised tomorrow. God is “near” when a person recognizes his sin and need for salvation. That is the work of the Holy Spirit, who convicts the world of guilt regarding sin and righteousness and judgment. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 6:2, “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”

The prophet’s message to the Babylonian captives (and us) is that, forgiveness, restoration, and blessing are available now to those who abandon their wicked ways and unrighteous thoughts, and seek the LORD, calling on Him for mercy and pardon.

In Isaiah 55:3, the LORD says, “I will make an everlasting covenant with you.” This is the fulfillment of everything that God promised to King David. David’s “dynasty” would culminate with the coming of the Messiah – the Suffering Servant – as the King of kings and Lord of lords. This final covenant between God and His people will perfectly complete all that He has promised.

Flourishing Habit

Flourishing Christians

Today’s Opening Scripture offers a stern warning from Proverbs about the foolishness of rejecting godly Wisdom. It can also serve as a stern warning about the foolishness of rejecting God’s gracious offer of salvation.

After the Babylonian exiles returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt the wall, there was a three-hour prayer meeting where the people “stood in their places and confessed their sins and the wickedness of their fathers.” They read from the Book of the Law and heard a powerful sermon that summarized the Israelites’ chronic rebellion.

“They were disobedient and rebelled against you; they turned their backs on your law. They killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you; they committed awful blasphemies. So you delivered them into the hands of their enemies, who oppressed them. But when they were oppressed they cried out to you. From heaven you heard them, and in your great compassion you gave them deliverers, who rescued them from the hand of their enemies.

“But as soon as they were at rest, they again did what was evil in your sight. Then you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies so that they ruled over them. And when they cried out to you again, you heard from heaven, and in your compassion you delivered them time after time.

“You warned them in order to turn them back to your law, but they became arrogant and disobeyed your commands. They sinned against your ordinances, of which you said, ‘The person who obeys them will live by them.’ Stubbornly they turned their backs on you, became stiff-necked and refused to listen. For many years you were patient with them. By your Spirit you warned them through your prophets. Yet they paid no attention, so you gave them into the hands of the neighboring peoples. But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God” (Nehemiah 9:26-31).

We must be attentive to God and His Word, so we do not commit that same sin. We must listen to the Spirit’s prompting and submit to the Spirit’s leading each day in order to live out our mission as God’s New Covenant people.

In yesterday’s reading, Isaiah 55:4 says, “See, I have made him a witness to the peoples.” That was true of King David and his descendant, Jesus the Messiah. It is also true of you and me. Our “ministry of reconciliation” is for the sake of those who will become part of God’s “faithful remnant,” encouraged by our life and testimony.

This week’s collective prayer: Father, teach me to be sensitive to your Holy Spirit at work in me. Amen.

Remember: Nothing changes until something changes!