“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.’ But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for ‘the just shall live by faith.’” Galatians 3:10-11
The law curses and condemns all who rely on their own works under the law, because the law requires perfect obedience, and any violation of its parts demands death. Therefore, not a single one of us is justified in God’s eyes by keeping the law; we can only be justified through faith in Christ Jesus and His perfect obedience to the law and His atoning sacrifice for our sins.
O God, grant that I acknowledge my sin and guilt under the law and look in faith to the perfect righteousness of Christ and to His holy sacrifice for sin that I might be counted just and righteous in Your eyes through faith in Him. Amen.
“But yet a tenth will be in it, and will return and be for consuming, as a terebinth tree or as an oak, whose stump remains when it is cut down. So the holy seed shall be its stump.” Isaiah 6:13
When God carries out judgments against those who ignore His Word and reject Him, He still preserves a remnant that repents of their sinful ways and looks to Him for mercy and forgiveness for the sake of His Son and His atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world.
Grant that I hear Your Word, O God, and walk in Your ways, trusting in Your Son and His cross for pardon and forgiveness, that I not be swept away in Your judgment but be preserved unto life everlasting. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ “Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return and be healed.” Then I said, “Lord, how long?” And He answered: “Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, the houses are without a man, the land is utterly desolate, the LORD has removed men far away, and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land.” Isaiah 6:8-12
God’s judgment upon those who do not heed His Word and repent can be a hardening of the heart so that they hear but do not understand and see but do not perceive. And this hardening of the heart (or withdrawal of His enlightening Holy Spirit) continues until they are swept away in God’s judgment and suffer the temporal and eternal punishments for their sins. Those with understanding see it happening in our own nation and land.
O Lord, have mercy on us and grant that we see the error of our ways and look to You for pardon and forgiveness in the shed blood of Jesus, Your Son, and our Savior. In His name, we pray. Amen.
“‘Woe is me! For I am undone because I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips. For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.’ Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar. And he laid it upon my mouth and said, ‘Behold, this has touched your lips, and your iniquity is taken away and your sin purged.’” Isaiah 6:5-7
These words of the Prophet Isaiah are a reminder to us that all of us are unclean and cannot stand in the presence of the Almighty God. Even our best worship and praise come from unclean lips and from a people of unclean lips. Only when our sin is purged and taken away by partaking in faith of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the holy Son of God in human flesh, can we come into God’s presence and offer up worship and praise acceptable in His sight.
“Woe is me,” O LORD, for I am sinful and unclean, unworthy to stand in Your presence. Wash away my sins in the blood of Jesus, shed for me on the cross, that I might be acceptable in Your sight and stand in Your presence. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the Revised Common Version of the Bible.]
“And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘In you all nations shall be blessed.’ So then those who are of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.” Galatians 3:8-9
Both Jews and Gentiles are justified and counted righteous by faith in God’s promise to pardon sin and grant an eternal inheritance in His kingdom for the sake of Christ Jesus and the atonement He made when He was sacrificed for all on the cross.
Grant that I trust alone in You and Your sacrifice for me upon the cross, O Christ, that I might be pardoned and, with believing Abraham, receive an inheritance in Your eternal kingdom. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the Revised Common Version of the Bible.]
