February 19, 2019

​    Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon (Isa. 55:7).
 
    Isaiah is the gospel prophet, and here he preaches the gospel with power.  What a mighty appeal is this to sinners: "Let the wicked forsake his way."  It is something they can do, or God would not command them to do it.  The Lord does not demand something that sinners cannot do.  Let them forsake their way; but they cannot unless their thoughts are changed.  So the sentence continues with "and the unrighteous man his thoughts."  "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he" (Prov. 23:7).
 
    One reason for much backsliding is that sinners try to reform their ways without a change of heart or mind.  The heart must be converted, changed, or turned around before the ways can be God's ways.  But they must not only turn away from their way and thoughts; they must return unto the Lord.  It is not in human beings to direct their own ways (Jer. 10:23).  If they do not come to the Lord when they turn from sin, their last state will be worse than their first (Matt. 12:45).  Do not hold back because you are afraid that God will not accept you.  There is no doubt about it--"He will have mercy" upon you is the promise of our text.
 
                                There is welcome for the sinner,
                                        And more graces for the good;
                                There is mercy with the Savior;
                                        There is healing in His blood.
                                                                    __Fredrick W. Faber
 
    God will pardon--and not only pardon, but "abundantly pardon."  So come to the Lord, and come today!
 
 
MEDITATION PRAYER:  "Turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God" (Jer. 31:18).