Category: Speaking to the Soul

Isaiah characterizes two contrasting attitudes toward God. The faithful attitude, like that of the suffering servant, respects God “and obeys the voice of his servant.” Even though the faithful disciple “walks in darkness and has no light” the servant “trusts in the name of the Lord and relies upon his God.”

Listen to this characterization of the rebellious ones. “But all of you are kindlers of fire, lighters of firebrands. Walk in the flame of your fire…

“We know that a person isn’t made righteous by the works of the law but rather through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 2:16, CEB)

In every generation God’s people live with some form of conflict. Usually it is a theological conflict between those who sense a call to a new interpretation and those who seek to defend a traditional interpretation. Sometimes it is a call from comfort to discomfort. Change is always difficult, especially for the religious. Our religious trust is grounded in ancient things that have the quality of being unchanging in an unsteady world. But over and over the ancient revelation has shown itself to be alive and resilient, able to be open to new interpretation.

The work of God always brings new life.

For Paul, the life of sin is precisely the life-project of trying to make yourself worthy. It only brings anxiety and judgment.