DAY 7: A right way up world

Reading: Isaiah 55:6-11
‘“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.’ v8

 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.

 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As the rain and the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

 So we finish the week having reflected on the greatness, the generosity
and the goodness of God. The One who provides for us, who calls us
to trust him and be content in all we do. At this point as we reflect
both on the past few days and prepare for those to come, let us ask
the Holy Spirit to search our lives, to reveal all that is not of God and to
call us back to His ways.
Like yesterday’s reading, today’s passage starts by calling us to seek
God. Not a search for that which is lost, but a diligence in seeking
out God and His will for us. As we do so we will forsake all that
would hinder us in our growth as disciples. As penitent sinners who
experience grace in the pardon from God, we can rejoice that, as in all
things, God acts differently to the way of the world. We also know that
when dealing with money, God’s economics are not those of the world.
It is our trust in Him that means that money can expand or contract
and yet still be sufficient for our needs.
As Christians, our approach to life, including money and possessions,
will run counter to the prevailing culture of the day. It is sometimes
asked, ‘If people didn’t know you were a Christian, would they see
enough evidence through your actions and lifestyle to be convinced?’

 For Further Reading: Psalm 112 - God's delight in those who behave well (with money v5 & 9).
To Ponder: Have there been occasions when you have seen the truth of verses 8 and 9 in your life?
To Pray: Lord God, I know in part that your ways are different from mine, may I come to know and experience this truth more in my life. Amen.

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