Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:7–9, NIV 1984).
My Musings – “He will have mercy. He will freely pardon.” Clearly, “[His] thoughts are not [our] thoughts, neither are [His] ways [our] ways.” Our thoughts? Revenge. Our ways? Get even. His ways and thoughts are clearly higher, because He is “the Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.” (Exodus 34:6–7, NIV 1984). Because of His character, because of the cross. And that’s just not us. “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.” (Romans 5:7, NIV 1984). Very rarely and might possibly. That’s us.
My Advice – God does not save us to continue in our wicked ways and evil thoughts. Through the help of the Holy Spirit, He urges us to aspire to His ways and thoughts. Let’s take it higher.