Invasive Species

 

 

Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word:

 

Isa 17:9 In that day his strong cities will be as a forsaken bough And an uppermost branch, Which they left because of the children of Israel; And there will be desolation. 10 Because you have forgotten the God of your salvation, And have not been mindful of the Rock of your stronghold, Therefore you will plant pleasant plants And set out foreign seedlings; 11 In the day you will make your plant to grow, And in the morning you will make your seed to flourish; But the harvest will be a heap of ruins In the day of grief and desperate sorrow.

 

Isaiah now paints a picture of God’s judgment against His people. As the Israelites chased out the Canaanites, now the Israelites would be chased out by the Assyrians. Why does He bring such desolation against these people? Because they have forgotten the God of their salvation. They were no longer mindful of God as their Rock!

 

I like the use of the word “mindful” here. I like it because it is a reminder what our minds need to be full of. We need minds, “full”  of God….not the world!

 

Let’s get our minds off the “pleasant plants” (the temptations of the world) you know that fruit that looked so good to Eve! And let’s not introduce “foreign seedlings) doctrines and ideas that are in conflict with the will of God!

 

These doctrines and lifestyles that are opposed to God, may look good and feel good in the beginning, but in the end, “the harvest will be a heap of ruins In the day of grief and desperate sorrow.”

 

These “pleasant plants,” and “foreign seedlings” are like an invasive species that is inundating the church today. They are given place by itchy ears of the people who’s minds have become empty of God.

 

Resist this temptation beloved! Rather let us “set our minds on things above! and not the things on the earth,” (Col 3:2)  

 

And instead of letting our minds drift away from God, let us Ro 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.