Top of the Mountain

 The best view is from the top...

Isaiah 56

Thus saith the Lord, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.

Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.

Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying, The Lord hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.

For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;

Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.

Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;

Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.

The Lord God, which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.

All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest.

His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.

Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. 

Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.

 

I read this passage as though I was reading a love letter from the Lord.

This spoke to my heart because I have a Christian believing family who cut themselves off from me; this has been going on for most of my life.

I stress Christian believing because a true Shepherd (a doer) would not be void of understanding, nor spiteful enough to purposely set out to hurt others.

Through this passage, God showed me that true children of God would never cut themselves off from anyone – only the self-serving beasts would – as the conclusion of this passage points out...

Over the years I have met many who have struggled with family abandonment issues because of their faith. I have coached many on how to deal with the pain of separation; it's a pain that is continual, but at the same time, there is complete joy and peace. 

I showed them that we are all fallen; but it is those beasts who were hateful enough to abandon them-that have chosen to remain in their fallen state (like a beast - unable to understand where - or that they need correcting). They are full of self-love; not the love of God.

These beasts are like the Pharisees; they are bent on titles, position and power, not following Christ.

I encouraged them to shift their focus off of themselves (the hurt they are enduring), and to transfer it to those who abandoned them; they are far from the Lord's salvation and in need of restoration. I encouraged them to pray patiently for their loved ones until they are redeemed.

Jesus himself knew the pain of separation when we was on the cross;  Matthew 27:46 says, “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

As we endure the hardship of being cut-off (persecuted) from friends or family; know today that that it is because we are sharing in Christ’s sufferings  - and one day, we will share in His Glory! We actually ought to be grateful for their persecution - they are the reason why we end up on this (holy) mountain!

Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. 2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

If this speaks to your heart, know that you belong to the Lord. Jesus wants you to know that you are His and not dry, cast-away and abandoned; He doesn't even want you to entertain those false thoughts. Understand that You are on His Holy Mountain – and we know that those up on the mountain-top enjoys the best views that no one else sees.

God Bless,

Maria