![]() Genesis 3:1-6 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Note that in this case, man’s thoughts were evil, as God told Isaiah: The first sin is the result man’s thoughts rather than God’s thoughts. The story of the Bible illustrates the point God is making through Isaiah in Isaiah 55:8. Note: The Holy Spirit gives us Scripture and all Scripture is inspired of God (2 Timothy 3:16).Ģ) Biblical examples of man’s thoughts and ways verses God’s thoughts and ways. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. Paul explains this when he explains the work of the Holy Spirit in revelation.ġ Corinthians 2:10-11 …these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.Ĭ. This relates to the sin problem recorded in the beginning of the Bible. The point: In general, there is a conflict between the thinking and actions of humankind and that of God. Isaiah tells us that our mind and God’s mind are as different and as far apart as heaven and earth. The tendency is to follow our thoughts and ways rather than God’s. Until we seek to know the thoughts and ways of God rather than our own, we will not obey God. There were many times in Israel’s history when they would cry, “Lord, Lord,” but they would not feel compelled to obey God. Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Perhaps of the essence of this message is found in the words of Jesus to the Jews 700 years later: Unless we relate the thoughts and ways of God in verse 8 with the thoughts and ways of men in verse 7, we will miss the sense of the passage and what God wants us to hear. Why does verse 8 talk about the thoughts and ways of God? Because verse 7 talks about the thoughts and ways of evil men. Evil thoughts and ways stand in contrast to God’s thoughts and ways. The goal should be to resist the tendency of humankind to sin because of his thinking.ī. The point: “Your thoughts” include the thoughts of all of us-men including women. Whether we speak of mankind or humankind we are talking about both men and women. Note the KJV translation of the last part of verse 2: “…and called their name Adam, in the day they were created.” The Hebrew word for mankind here is adam And could also be translated Adam, the name for the first man. And he named them “Mankind” when they were created. 2 He created them male and female and blessed them. Genesis 5:1-2 When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God. Notice the way the updated NIV translates Genesis 5: ![]() In the Bible, a masculine noun can be gender inclusive. When I speak of man’s thoughts and ways, I do not intend to leave out the women. So, there is a tendency for man’s thoughts to be different from God’s thoughts on a matter. In general, God is saying the thinking of humankind is different from God’s thinking. When God talks about “your thoughts” he is talking in general terms. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.ġ) The meaning of man’s thoughts verses God’s thoughts. 8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. 7 Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Isaiah 55:6‑9 Seek the Lord while he may be found call on him while he is near. It was good for the Jews in the time of Jesus. This message is for the nation of Israel. Today, we are going to hear a message that God gave to Isaiah about 700 years before Jesus was born. The point is, man’s thoughts are not God’s thoughts, and unless we listen to God, we cannot be saved. ![]() Instead, we are just going in the direction we want to go. ![]() ![]() Sometimes we think we are going the right direction in our lives. Today’s lesson will focus on what we need to look out for if we want to have a right relationship with God. When it comes to matters of eternity there are only two destinations and one way to God. We often hear about the many roads to heaven and that one way is just as good as another.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |