Day 152

Isaiah 20:1-23:18, 2 Corinthians 11:1-15, Proverbs 22:7-16

I have followed the Lord down many paths, even down one that led to Claire and I giving up one life in Nottingham in favour of ordained ministry and an itinerant lifestyle that may have us wandering here there and everywhere. Going naked for the Lord though is another matter, and for three years! I’m pretty confident that God will not ask, but I’m still just not quite sure I could do it like Isaiah did.

It does pose a much more serious question though, what other stuff would we not do for God? There are probably little things, a lot less significant than baring all, but things that we probably try and shirk out of. Quite a challenge, that we need to put our own self interest and modesty on one side and bare all for the Lord (metaphorically not literally!)

I was also struck by ch22 v11 and the bit about God calling the people to weep and they just carried on partying. It made me wander about the state of the world and how some people respond. There is a bucket load of starvation, a fair bit of misery and a lot of killing in the world and we are called to live lives of justice and mercy, and yet half of the world is partying like there is no tomorrow! There seems something wrong when there is such imbalance in the world and although Isaiah was talking about the relationship with God and possible exile, justice and mercy are a key part of our relationship with God and can’t be ignored.

Is God calling you to do something that you are trying to get out of or is he simply calling you to a life that reflects his mercy and compassion? What has your response been so far?