What an amazing prospect! Someone who doesn’t know our Heavenly Father, perhaps even believing in another ‘god’ – comes to me in an attitude of surrendered openness – at the same time both responding and seeking.
Responding - to what they’ve seen in my life – “we see that God is with you”.
Seeking – they want to know my God; for they now see that He is the only God.
Here’s the question I asked myself in response to this passage. “How might someone notice that God is with me?”
In the context of this chapter of Isaiah, directed towards God’s people, we find that the answer lies not in what I can do for Him, but rather it’s found in how I respond to Him.
Israel has been unfaithful to God – idols, alliances with the nations, rebelliousness and unrighteous behavior. God has brought calamity upon them to draw them to repentance – so that He may restore them to Himself. In the response of turning back to Him and trusting the One who loves them, they will see the awesome power of the Lord, the only God, at work in redeeming His beloved.
As I trust Him and live closely with Him, no matter what the circumstances may be at any given moment, the outcome will clearly be on view to others. There will be the fruit of the Spirit sprouting in my life – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control. “Ah”, they will respond, “we see God is with you – He is the only God.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You that You are always with me. I want others to see that. I want to produce good fruit as I respond to Your love for me. May others see You at work in me so that they may declare that You alone are God and come to acknowledge You as their Lord and God. Through Jesus Christ, Amen.
"They will bow before you and plead with you, saying, ‘Surely God is with you, and there is no other; there is no other god.’"
Isaiah 45:14b, NIV
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Paul Watson was for 15 years an Anglican Minister in Sydney, Australia before joining Ellel Ministries full time in 2004. Together with his wife Diane he was involved in establishing the first Australian Ellel Ministries centre “Gilbulla” near Sydney. Currently they are leading the work in Western Australia, based at ‘Springhill’ near Perth. Paul, a member of the Ellel Ministries International Executive, serves as Regional Director for Australia & the Pacific as well as Regional Director for the Indian sub-continent. Paul & Diane have 4 adult children and 4 grandchildren.