Day 1963 of the 7 day Bible verse challenge.

Isaiah 30:10 NIV

Reading through Isaiah last night and this little beauty hit me. Think it goes along seriously well with our discussion of worldly popularity and how it just doesn't work with our faith. The world enjoys living in lies. It finds comfort in being told that it's okay to do anything and everything you want to do. No need for responsibility. No need for morals. Don't have to listen to that pesky conscience.

I don't think I'll ever stop being amazed at how God speaks to us through His word when we're simply willing to pay attention and listen. We've talked for a couple of days about how this world we're passing through isn't going to be very high on our faith. After all, our faith is built on things like love, truth, kindness, decency, self-control, humility, and all kinds of other things that aren't really priorities in this place.

As I've talked about several times in the past, people only want to listen to folks who tell them what they want to hear. Nobody has time for the truth because the truth might make them feel bad. And who wants to feel guilty for making mistakes when there are other people ready to tell them that what they're doing is just fine? The truth often hurts, and lies are just more comfortable. Easy to see why one side tends to win!

So seeing as how we Christians are sharing a message of truth and the consequences of sin, yeah, they're not gonna like that. Now if we were to encourage bad behavior and remain lost in filth ourselves, then we'd fit right in. But since Jesus asks us to do better than that, then I guess we'll just have to get used to being outcasts. I'm cool with that. Has a nice ring to it!

Making someone comfortable in their sin only keeps them from growing. It prevents them from changing. And if done long enough, it will keep them from an eternity in Heaven. Not really worth it. May be more comfortable and come with a lot less friction, but we just can't risk leaving anyone untold about the dangers of sin. We can't risk not telling someone and maybe helping God save them from the horrible end that awaits those who embrace darkness.

You know, actually the more I've thought about it the past couple of days, the more I realized something. If we're being widely accepted by the masses, then we might be doing something wrong. Jesus isn't. Faith isn't. Truth never will be. So we probably shouldn't either. We need to stop focusing on doing what it takes to gain a massive following and worry more about doing what it takes to follow Christ's example.

I just really love this verse because it shows just how little the world has changed over thousands of years. They didn't want to hear the truth back then, and they don't now. People didn't want to be told they we're messing up, they just wanted to be left without that heavy burden of shame and guilt. A whole lot of that going on today too!

My point is keep on telling the truth. Keep sharing Christ. Keep doing what you know is right because that's what matters. That's what will make a difference. Going with the flow and aiming for the expectations of this messed up place won't mean anything. But keeping it real and holding tight to Jesus no matter who does or does not like it is what we're here to do! So that needs to be our focus.