By Pastor William Y. K. Brown Ph.D
(Resident Pastor)
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Osu-Bethel.
Tel: 0244165628/0243310773.
wykbrown@gmail.com
MONDAY
THEME:” GOD COMFORTS THE SINNER”
SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 12:1
“And in that day you will say: “O Lord, I will praise You; Though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me.”
REFLECTIONS
Sin separates. Sin disconnects human beings from our relationship with God, our loving Father. Ever since the inception of sin, God has had to bear the burden of taking the initiative and calling back His rebellious children. From Adam till today, our gross unfaithfulness and disloyalty have caused Him much pain, disappointment, dishonor, and even ridicule by the enemy. However, though sin has caused an unprecedented mess and disrupted God’s good intentions for humanity, His attribute of love has been felt, experienced, tested, and magnified. We can attest to one fact: God is love! The experience of His love is what elicits unending praise from believers.
When God watches the atrocities that take place, the perpetuation of lawlessness, and how disobedience has estranged humans from the privilege of life, His heart aches. The situation gets more terrible when believers who have tasted His love become lawless and disobedient. Read Isaiah Chapter 1 to understand how God feels when He laments over Israel. Isaiah 1:2-4 reads, “[2]Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the Lord has spoken: “I have nourished and brought up children, And they have rebelled against Me; [3]The ox knows its owner And the donkey its master’s crib; But Israel does not know, My people do not consider.” [4]. . . A people laden with iniquity. . . They have forsaken the Lord . . . provoked to anger The Holy One of Israel, They have turned away backward.”
During such moments when we have blatantly erred, the Fatherly love of God is equally glaringly displayed. For the Israelites, after presenting to them their wrongs, He pleads, Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.” Can you imagine God giving the invitation to return? See how God now comforts the sinner. This attribute of God’s love and comfort has saved the human race and kept us alive today. To comfort us, God empathizes, stands by us, and gives us help.
Isaiah 12:1-2 acknowledges – “[1]And in that day you will say: “O Lord, I will praise You; Though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me. [2]Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’” Think about God and how He turns around to comfort sinners like us. As long as we have the privilege of God’s comfort even when we have fallen, we should get up and dedicate our lives fully and wholeheartedly to Him. God has marvelous intentions for us and for you in particular. He desires you to return to Him for blessings. The abundant grace of Christ that purifies and sanctifies the sinner and presents them faultless before the throne of God awaits your response today! God will show you a sign for good, help, and comfort (Psalm 86:17).
MY SONG OF COMMITMENT
SDAH 482 – “Father, Lead Me Day by Day” – from Songs of Everlasting Joy
LET US PRAY
– Praise and thank God for being your comforter; thank God for comforting you when you have been remorseful; pray to have God’s comfort lead you to His throne of mercy daily;
– Pray for sinners who have repented but still feel guilty; pray for the compassionate love of God to comfort sinners and draw them from their wretchedness;
– Intercede for people who are in pain, displaced from their homes, lost properties due to war and insurgence, women in labor, and families running away from disaster;
– Pray for the peace of the nation; pray for the sick to be well, backslidden believers to return to Jesus, and comfort to grieving families; pray for the hope of Christ’s return to be sooner.
