April 27

"What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it?" Isaiah 5:4.

With the deepest sorrow possible, God finally had to let Israel have its way. He finally lets us have our own way, too. Surely He weeps as He admits there is nothing more He can do for us, for He has tried everything to soften our hearts. Our stubborn will circumscribes His perfect will for us.

As God deplores the state of our vineyard, how many times have we earthly parents lamented the vineyards of our children? What more could we have done to save them from themselves? We plant, nurture, admonish, hope, and dream, but still they do not meet our expectations. When our child is lost physically or spiritually, we grieve and weep, as does our Lord. But we can do no more for those who wish to go their own way, just as God must let us go our way, for He has given us free will.

God graced Israel with every blessing necessary for full fruition. What strikes us is the lack of gratitude. God's tender tendencies seem lost on His chosen. He didn't plant this vinyard for personal gain. It was to be His and their garden of delights. His deep feelings for His people are expressed all through the Old Testament, as well as the New Testament, especially in Isaiah, Jeremiah and Hosea. And yet the vineyardours, toogrows weeds of disgrace!

"How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees on it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land." Numbers 13:20. How do we bring back the fruit of God's precious land? What is it? "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and selfcontrol." Galatians 5:22,23. Today, let us enrich the soil of our hearts and minds with gratitude for God's daily blessings. We forget them in our worldly pursuits.

Pat Nordman ©

Today's Bible Question ?

What famous rabbi was Paul's teacher?

Previous question and Answer: "Zoan" was used in the book of Isaiah as a synonym for what nation? Egypt Isa. 19:11-13, 30:2-4

 

 

Today's  Devotion

 

 

 

But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.    Job 16:5 (NIV)

 

Concerning the Times by Cathy Vinson   "one so close to me" Matthew 27:19

Near, but not near enough. Influential, but not influential enough. Such was the demise of Pilate's wife. She saw with crystal clarity that something unspeakable and unbearable was poised to happen. The crossroads of history were descending upon her husband's jurisdiction and upon him. Would he be a pawn to it? Could she disway the enveloping pull of this dark hour of history drawing her husband...and herself? "that righteous man." Oh, those clarities that flogged her sensibilities those hours: visions of righteousness and innocent blood! Beholding and more beholding. "Could one so close to me damage, destroy such righteousness? May it never be!! Why must this be so clear to me if I cannot change it? Will such unlivable awareness have to be lived out by me, knowing this destruction is at the hands of one so close to me?!" "Have nothing to do with that righteous man," literally "nothing to you and that just man." Husband, nothing, no connection! Don't do it! Get it off you! You don't want it. Make no connection between you and him. Don't let history year after year continually drip this mark upon the day of your charge. Nothing, absolutely nothing, between you and he!" "Will you listen to the cunning crowd's threat, or will you listen to me, your wife...!" Oh, the agonizing tension in the soul of this wife. Near to authority, but not near enough. Influential, but not influential enough---------. © Send a note to Cathy Vinson , the writer of this devotion.

Near, but not near enough. Influential, but not influential enough.

More Whispers from the Wilderness

Today's Religion News
From Goshen Web News Service

 

Religion News Feature Story News Summary World News Baptist Press Country Profiles News Links News Archives

ReligionToday ™ Listen to Today's Feature Story Listen to Today's News Summary RealAudio format

 

All the Rest April 27

Today in History April 27