Isaiah 1:21 How the faithful city has become a whore! She that was full of justice, righteousness lodged in her—but now murderers!
We don’t like having our dirty soul-laundry aired out. Usually, we set fire to the pile and walk right out of the house as we scream at the one who has laid bare our hidden sin.
We punish prophets for exposing the reality of our own personal and corporate sins, and we wonder why God is unhappy with us. We ignore reasonable warnings and heartrending pleas. We withhold compassion and mercy and wonder why we are so unhappy and why the world is in such a mess.
Our faithless behavior punishes those we ought to be lifting up, and it stunts the growth of our own hearts. Bringing ourselves around to right relationship is hard work, filled with hard words and painful consequences. But hope and redemption are also words spoken by the prophets, and we can experience these treasures when we are willing to listen and love with open hands, willing ears, and soft hearts.
MOVING FORWARD: How can you soften your heart to better understand the prophets in your own life?
SSDec13.jpg