The prophet Isaiah when he came before the throne of God despaired
because as he said:
Woe is
me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a
people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts.
But God gave him clean lips, taking away his iniquity and
forgiving his sins. And while Isaiah’s prophecies begin with judgment on the
nations, more than any other prophet he is the prophet of the Messiah- the one
whose words ring with the clearest understanding of the suffering servant. Here
is the promise of God that reaches even down to this time of having unclean
lips and being in the midst of a people who have unclean lips:
He was
despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and
like one from whom men hide their face he was despised and we did not esteem
him.
Surely
our griefs he himself bore and our sorrows he carried; for we ourselves
esteemed him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. But he was pierced through
for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for
our wellbeing fell on him. And by his scourging we are healed. All we like
sheep have gone astray; each of us have turned to his own way; but the Lord
caused the iniquities of us all to fall on him. (Isaiah 53:3-6)
This was part of the scripture text that the Court official
to the Queen of Ethiopian was reading when Philip, one of the first deacons of
the Church, joined the eunuch as he traveled home from Jerusalem. With this he
led the man to Christ. “He preached Jesus to him.”
In the midst of a people of unclean lips, Philip preached
Jesus to the Court official. He preached Jesus the God-man who was despised and
suffered for the sins of the people.
Jesus was humiliated and he was “led as a sheep to slaughter.” And a Court official came to know him—to be
redeemed by him.
We are in the midst of a people of unclean lips. They are at
the moment unwilling to let go of their sin and give their lives to Christ. But
we are united to the Lord of life; we are, perhaps, set to walk a lonely path
such as his. To be despised, to face humiliation. Yet, this may open God’s door
for those who will be given new life and transformation.
This is often God’s pattern, to change his people who feel
the sting of their own sin, and through them in their union with Christ, with
proclamation of the good news of redemption, to change the wandering sinner.
Or do
you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not
be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor
effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor
revilers nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you;
but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor. 6:9-11)
7 comments:
Thank you. I have seen so much hate from Christian mouths because of yesterday. I am dismayed. God calls us to love our neighbor and to pray for their sin struggles while letting His light shine through us. The world will not listen if we approach them with hate, nor will God's Word filter through us.
Thank you for pointing us to Scripture, Viola--The Plumbline for measuring all of life
Accountant's Wife: )
I don't think I noticed your blog before, maybe I just forgot-but I am enjoying reading your papers. And you are certainly right that the world will not listen if we speak with hate.
Marie, right now and always it is the only place to turn-Yes, the Plumbline.
Accountantswife, Mrs Larson referred to many, including many in her own church, who are ordained, loved of God, and in service to him as the Gay and Lesbian people He created them to be, as having "unclean lips" and "unwilling to give their lives to Christ".
she is referring to some of the best Christians I know, many of whom lead the church. That does not even address the many heterosexuals in the Church who love God, and have devoted their lives to his service, and celebrate this ruling.
they, we, I, are not "unwilling to give their (our) lives to Christ". to imply otherwise if the height of cruelty, and oh yes, Hate.
You may not be able to detect the Hatred in Mrs. Larsons post. Like the worst hatred, it is perhaps unintentional, and not even seen by the person being hatful.
But I promise you, hers was a hateful post, and will be, appropriately seen as such. I forgive her for it. but the sting and pain of her words, wont soon be forgotten.
Gene
Gene the unclean lips belong to everyone, including myself. But there is a remedy- the cross of Christ.
Here is some scripture for all of us including you Gene:
"If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins he is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:8-9)
Because I am going to be without a computer for several days I am closing this thread.
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