Dave is the Rector of the joint benefice of St Nicholas, Stevenage and St Mary, Graveley. He began his ministry in Stevenage in 2011.
Over chapters 4 to 6, Paul challenges his readers to ‘live a life worthy of the calling they have received.’ That begins with a call to maintain, with great humility, the unity God has wrought by the work of the Spirit and to all play our part in the building up of God’s people. The aim is spiritual maturity and godliness of character.
Did God choose us because we were good or nice or had done something worthy or his love? NO! Outside of Jesus we dead, sinful, wayward and wicked BUT in Christ we are made alive and forgiven and adopted. It’s an astonishing salvation!
Isaiah ends this section of his book with a look to the end of God’s great story. And he sees a glorious vision of a perfect king (Jesus) whose perfect rule brings about a perfect kingdom of people from every background and nation who together sing a song of his grace and victory. Will we join the chorus and sing?
How does history unfold? Is it through human decision and freewill or the sovereignty of God? Here we see it is both – and that the sovereignty of God is a beautiful and precious thing!
The people and their king chose Assyria over the Lord – and felt his disciplining presence instead of his blessing. But how should the faithful remnant behave? How should they live? They were to Fear the Lord more than people or events; and they were to Trust the Lord, more than themselves or any deceiving spirit. And so must we.