O Lord, I am astonished at the difference
….between my receivings and my deservings,
….between the state I am now in and my past gracelessness,
….between the heaven I am bound for and the hell I merit.
Who made me to differ, but thee?
….for I was no more ready to receive Christ than were others;
I could not have begun to love thee hadst thou not first loved me,
….or been willing unless thou hadst first made me so.
O that such a crown should fit the head of such a sinner!
….such high advancement be for an unfruitful person!
….such joys for so vile a rebel! – from “The Mover”, in The Valley of Vision

Acts 28:11-31 (<<click here to read the passage)

It’s interesting that the passage of Scripture that Paul quotes at the end of the book of Acts, is the same passage quoted by Jesus in all four Gospels (Matthew 13:14-15; Mark 4:11-12; Luke 8:10; John 12:40). Obviously, it’s very important, because that doesn’t happen very often. There are less than a dozen events that are recorded in every Gospel.

Here it is as Paul quoted it.

‘Go and say to this people:
When you hear what I say,
….you will not understand.
When you see what I do,
….you will not comprehend.
For the hearts of these people are hardened,
….and their ears cannot hear,
….and they have closed their eyes—
so their eyes cannot see,
….and their ears cannot hear,
….and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
….and let me heal them.’

Every reference to Isaiah 6:9-10 is preceded by people refusing to listen to the truth that their ears had heard. Initially, God sent Isaiah to proclaim it to the ancient nation of Israel. Jesus shared many things in parables, and many could not understand the truth in His messages – they didn’t want truth, just things that would benefit them. And then Paul used it after he attempted to bring understanding to the Jewish leadership in Rome about the Messiah’s arrival in the person of Jesus. Only a portion of them had allowed their eyes to be opened.

Each one of us had the opportunity to believe that Jesus is who He is. (Believing otherwise, changes nothing.) No one makes us, but the Lord is always calling out to us. Regardless, of where we are in our lives, we are loved. We are never too far away from God. We are never too far gone. He is just a prayer away.

Lord Jesus, help us to understand and comprehend. Soften our hearts and open our eyes and unstop our ears. Heal us we pray. Amen.

Aug 25th, 2022, Thurs, 7:27 pm