“We never move beyond our need for his mercy.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – March 29, 2025
The nation of Israel is the vineyard of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. The people of Judah are his pleasant garden. He expected a crop of justice, but instead he found oppression. He expected to find righteousness, but instead he heard cries of violence. Isaiah 5:7, NLT
Time and time again, Scripture reminds us of the goodness of God’s creation, upheld and sustained by his goodness, mercy, and love. By design, it is meant to be a just and flourishing world, living in harmony with him. Yet also, by design, it is a world in which his creatures are free, for we are made to love him, and for love to be genuine and true, freedom is a foundational prerequisite. And so, just as we are free to love him, we are free to also reject his love and say “yes” to our distorted desires and misplaced passions. It is for this reason that a chasm often exists between what the Lord “expects to find” upon the earth, and what is actually found.
In Isaiah 5, we encounter this great chasm. The Lord “expected a crop of justice, but instead he found oppression. He expected to find righteousness, but instead he heard cries of violence.” The Lord “expected” to find justice and righteousness because he had revealed the way of wisdom to his people, giving them the tools needed to create a just and merciful society. Like a loving father, he guided his children in the way that they should walk. For Israel, it wasn’t a lack of knowledge but a lack of obedience. The same is often true for you and me.
When the Lord looks at your life, what does he expect to find? And more importantly, will he find it? Of course, if we are honest, the answer is “no, he won’t find it.” This is the consistent witness of Scripture and the history of those who call upon the name of the Lord. Will he find aspects of genuine faith and moments of humble dependence? Yes Lord, may it be so. Yet no matter who he looks upon, from the greatest saint to the lowest sinner, there is always a gap between where he longs for us to be and where we find ourselves. There is always room to grow, for we never move beyond our need for his mercy.
And so, let us cry out for mercy today, embracing a posture of repentance and humility, believing that he is able to bring new life and future hope, no matter how far we have strayed or how wide the gap may be.
Prayer
Father, when you look upon our lives, may you find steadfast trust and dependence upon your mercy and grace; we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Application
Reflect today upon what the Lord expects of your life and what he finds when he looks upon you.
Related Reading
Psalm 33:5; Micah 6:8; Amos 5:24
Worship Resource
CityAlight: Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me
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