Listen to Me, you idiot

idiot |ˈidēət| 
noun informal
   a stupid person.
    Yes, we are all idiots. We are daft, ignorant and quite self-centered and not much knowledge comes out of self-centeredness. The word idiot comes from the Old French via Latin idiota 'ignorant person'. We are particularly idiotic when we refuse to listen to sound advice from others. There are two types of idiots in Isaiah 51, those who realize they are idiots (Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, You who seek the LORD 1) and those who refuse to recognize their idioticiness (Listen to Me, My people and give ear to Me, O My nation 4). The word idiot is not a pleasant label and definitely negative, but that's what I feel at times about myself, and at times about people when it comes to knowing Jesus/God. Yet, Jesus doesn't call us idiots, instead He calls us a much nicer word - children, and treats us thus - quietly, tenderly, lovingly, and sometimes sternly. 
    But I will admit I am an idiot at times, because it wakes me up to dysfunctional self and makes me realize I need a saviour. 
    

Taking comfort for granted

I think my biggest challenge is taking comfort for granted. I become complacent in my comfort, and I wonder if that is the same as the comfort Jesus promises in Isaiah 51:12, I, even I, am He who comforts you. But I understand there are times I am definitely not comfortable, and this particular verse is definitely for those days because it continues with

Who are you that you should be afraid of a man who will die and of the son of man who will be made like grass? (13) And you forget the LORD your Maker, Who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth; You have feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, when he has prepared to destroy. And where is the fury of the oppressor? 

What we choose to believe will be what holds us captive. If I daily reflect on my woeful state, my "oppressors", yes, of course, the awesome all consuming powerfulness of Jesus begins to dim, diminish and fade away. The key is positive reflection aka known as praise. So, today I praise Him who divided the sea whose waves roared - the LORD of hosts is His name. He has put His words in my mouth; He has covered me with the Shadow of His hand, that He may plant the heavens, lay the foundations of the earth and say to me, You are my person (15-16). Amen