Isaiah 32:1-3 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹ Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule in justice.
² Each will be like a hiding place from the wind, a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry place, like the shade of a great rock in a weary land.
³ Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed, and the ears of those who hear will give attention.

These are the verses I ended with yesterday. The KJV begins verse 2 with a man and the ESV each. This is a reference to the indwelling Christ, our King, our righteousness. Wind, shelter, water, and the great rock are all indicators of our conformance, to be Christ like, being Christians.

But He is not hiding in the sense that He is afraid. He wants to be seen.

Matthew 5:14 English Standard Version (ESV) “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

Our witness to the lost does not begin with tales about the abiding presence of Christ. It is something that will occur to them once they have accepted Christ. Then their eyes will be opened. It is our commandment to made disciples and the way to discipleship is by showing His love, shining that light.

It begins with showing an interest beyond the superficial. A human perspective is easier to see if it is consistent and shown over long periods of time. Our human perspective, being in Christ, is that we were like them at one time and we understand. We have changed and not of our own accord. Our witness will be more effective if they get to know us as being real and not a hypocrite.

1 Thessalonians 1:5 English Standard Version (ESV) because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

Isaiah 43:18-19 English Standard Version (ESV) “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

Blasphemy is a New Testament word which is an insult; to be sluggish or stupid, to injure by words. As I stated yesterday, the Pharisees could not counter Jesus with doctrine because His doctrine was perfect. They insulted Jesus for proclaiming a new thing which their doctrine could neither confirm nor deny.

Imagine spending your whole life studying the scriptures and attaining to a position of reputation and authority only to be told, “Forget everything you have ever known.” They insulted our Lord because they would not let go of their position nor opinion.

Philippians 3:8 English Standard Version (ESV) Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

Paul got it. Paul gave up everything for Christ.

I ended yesterday by asking; “What blasphemies are we accused of today?”

1 John 4:16 English Standard Version (ESV) So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

God had never done this before, it is a new thing. It was inconceivable to believe that God would abide in mankind. He had never done this before. You would have to forget everything you ever knew about God in order to believe that.

Isaiah 32:1-3 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹ Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule in justice.
² Each will be like a hiding place from the wind, a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry place, like the shade of a great rock in a weary land.
³ Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed, and the ears of those who hear will give attention.