Day 53
Isaiah 54-66
The common theme seems to me, how God is asking us to come to Him, or come back to Him. It reminds me of a song with these beautiful lyrics:
Come just as you are
Come just as you are
Hear the spirit call
Come just as you are
Come and see
Come receive
Come and live forever
Life everlasting
Strength for today
Taste the living water
And never thirst again
Come just has you are
Don't you hear the spirit call
Come just has you are
Come and see
Christ my king
Come and live forever more
I've done that once in my life, asked the Lord into my life so that I would have life everlasting.
But in so many other ways, I still hear that beckoning, Him asking me to, "Come just as you are..."
I think that's one of the most profound things that my son with autism has in common with God. That unconditional love that says, "Come, just as you are," I don't care if you are perfect, I don't care if you are black, yellow, red, or white. Rich or poor. Beautiful or ugly.
I don't have to pretend to be anything or anyone I'm not with God, nor do I have to with my son who has autism.
In Isaiah 54 I see that a lot, where for whatever reason, for whatever sin, God asks us to simply come to him....
Come, just as you are ---
"Do not be afraid, you will not suffer shame."
"Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated."
"...my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed."
Come, just as you are ---
Isaiah 54:17
"...no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me," declares the Lord.
Come, just as you are ---
Isaiah 55
"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! "Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live."
So many times I've come to God in this "Life with Autism" and asked so many questions. So many "Why's?" and I suppose that Isaiah 55:8 is the answer I'm just going to have to accept until that life everlasting opportunity to have a good sit down with God!
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
Isaiah 61 is a beautiful picture of what God promises to those who simply come to him...
He binds up the brokenhearted.
Proclaims freedom for the captives.
Releases prisoners from darkness.
Comforts all who mourn.
Provides for those who grieve.
Bestows a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
Gladness instead of mourning,
Praise for despair.
Rebuilds ruins.
Restores places long devastated.
Give a double portion instead of shame.
Inheritance for disgrace.
Have any of you ever needed comfort for any of those things?
I sure have.
That's why I love this days reading. Because when you come to Him with any of those things, Isaiah 58:11 says that "The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."
He asks you to simply come just as you are....
Thank you Lord.
Click here to listen to "Come Just As You Are" song.
