Come now, let us reason together
Isaiah 1:18-19 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:”
Come, let us reason together. Even when I hear this….there is such a tenderness in it….God would reason with His creatures…with me….how it expresses His great love and mercy!
The term “reason” here means to convince.
In other words, God will listen as we try and convince Him we are right…..but then, as we listen… He will convince us, He is right.
(As He always is. It is as we understand His Words…and we bow in submission….that He can go to work in and for us.)
And why does He use the term reason?
Isaiah 1:5 “….the whole head is sick (anxious), and the whole heart faint (troubled).”
And so the Lord says…
“Come now”….not later…but now.
“..though our sins be as scarlet….they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
If we are willing and obedient, we shall eat the good of the land.
Notice, willing is first. Obedience is a act of the will.
(My husband used to preach this so often, that one man got tired of hearing it.
Later, when circumstances changed for him, and his spiritual life was suffering under the pressure of these worries…..he realized that to will after God, even when we do not “feel” good….or happy; is a sign of God’s work within. That spirituality, is not knowing things…..but following Christ…willing with Him, no matter what.)
If we are willing and obedient, we shall eat the good of the land.
The sweetest fruits are those budded and ripened within us, by the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23)
Peter and John had been imprisoned for preaching Christ Jesus. Yet the angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and told them to go and preach in the temple…”all the words of this life.” (I love this phrase, for what a life Christ gives us!)
When the counsel, who had them arrested, brings them before them….they say, “Did not we command you that ye should not teach in this name?”
What enmity is shown the name of Jesus!…then, and now.
Yet…
Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
Peter declares to them, that we ought to obey God rather than men.
And then again he preaches to these men….
Acts 5:30-31 “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”
Here is the gospel message….again being given to these men. Repentance and forgiveness of sins, through Christ Jesus.
They had but to “be willing and obedient”.
And then Peter says….to encourage them to reach out in faith and believe….
Acts 5:32 “And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him.”
To those who fast and tarry for Him?
To those who pray through to Him?
No, but to those that obey Him.
(I believe in all of these things….but simple obedience, after hearing and knowing God’s Will….is what God wants. For that is what honors Him.
Simple obedience gives God the honor, and praise. And that is what God wants)
And were these men willing and obedient, who had heard the gospel message again?
For the Word says, “…they were cut to the heart,…”
The Word was understood….and it tore open their heart to God’s call to them….
…but,….”and they took counsel to slay them.”
God intervened to save Peter and John….though they were beaten.
But listen to what “willing and obedient” did in the hearts and minds of these disciples…
“And they departed….rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His Name.
And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” (Acts 5:41-42)
Hallelujah! What a Savior…what a life He gives!
In these days, there is one mark of one that is Spirit-filled, and that is obedience.
We must, if we are to be what we ought in these end days….be in full subjection to God’s principle of obedience.
When we are born again, it is not the passing of the years that matures a Christian….but the willing obedience of our hearts and minds to His Word and Way.
So the Lord calls this day as well….”Come, now, and let us reason together.”
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 