Your Own Enemy
Behold, all you [enemies of your own selves] who attempt to kindle your own fires [and work out your own plans of salvation], who surround and gird yourselves with momentary sparks, darts, and firebrands that you set aflame! -- walk by the light of your self-made fire and of the sparks that you have kindled [for yourself, if you will]! But this shall you have from My hand; you shall lie down in grief and in torment.
Isa. 50:11 Amplified
What struck me most about this verse was all the hard work of trying to make our own way. All it produces is sparks and darts. Without God, our efforts are weak and self destructive.
Notice the futility of our own efforts to save ourselves?
Let's just pull out some short powerful statements:
"kindle your own fires"
"work out your own plans of salvation"
"surround and gird yourselves"
"your self-made fire"
All the stuff we try to do in order to keep ourselves right before God and man, is really useless. There is no mention of God helping in this verse and the end tells us what the result will be when we rely on ourselves instead of God: grief and torment.
I spent many years trying to earn God's grace and the approval of people. It was frustrating to say the least and down right devastating because God was not involved in my plans.
I remember the moment I realized in my heart that I was not supposed to trust myself because I am untrustworthy. I had made a bunch of rules that I lived within and would not step out of that box because I knew I would mess things up. But that morning, God pointed out that I am not supposed to trust myself. I am to trust Him and Him alone.
I stopped right there in the parking lot and laughed. I was totally unaware of how I had kept God out of my plans. I had loved God for years and served Him and taught His Word but I still managed to keep my trust in my ability to follow rules and not in God. I repented right there.
It is foolish and painful to live life trusting in your own abilities. Without God involved in the plans, there will be no success. Like this verse says we will experience momentary starts and stops. Small sparks that we try to keep going will go out anyway. A self reliant life will produce nothing. It even says we are our own enemies when we rely on ourselves.
The good news is that God promises when we do what we can do and trust Him to do what we cannot do, He will always bring abundance and blessing (Jer. 17:7-8; Prov. 3:5-6).
Trust God to meet your needs and you will not only find your needs met but you will be filled with His perfect peace (Prov. 26:3-4).
Heidirn
Isa. 50:11 Amplified
What struck me most about this verse was all the hard work of trying to make our own way. All it produces is sparks and darts. Without God, our efforts are weak and self destructive.
Notice the futility of our own efforts to save ourselves?
Let's just pull out some short powerful statements:
"kindle your own fires"
"work out your own plans of salvation"
"surround and gird yourselves"
"your self-made fire"
All the stuff we try to do in order to keep ourselves right before God and man, is really useless. There is no mention of God helping in this verse and the end tells us what the result will be when we rely on ourselves instead of God: grief and torment.
I spent many years trying to earn God's grace and the approval of people. It was frustrating to say the least and down right devastating because God was not involved in my plans.
I remember the moment I realized in my heart that I was not supposed to trust myself because I am untrustworthy. I had made a bunch of rules that I lived within and would not step out of that box because I knew I would mess things up. But that morning, God pointed out that I am not supposed to trust myself. I am to trust Him and Him alone.
I stopped right there in the parking lot and laughed. I was totally unaware of how I had kept God out of my plans. I had loved God for years and served Him and taught His Word but I still managed to keep my trust in my ability to follow rules and not in God. I repented right there.
It is foolish and painful to live life trusting in your own abilities. Without God involved in the plans, there will be no success. Like this verse says we will experience momentary starts and stops. Small sparks that we try to keep going will go out anyway. A self reliant life will produce nothing. It even says we are our own enemies when we rely on ourselves.
The good news is that God promises when we do what we can do and trust Him to do what we cannot do, He will always bring abundance and blessing (Jer. 17:7-8; Prov. 3:5-6).
Trust God to meet your needs and you will not only find your needs met but you will be filled with His perfect peace (Prov. 26:3-4).
Heidirn
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