Isaiah 38:15a English Standard Version (ESV) What shall I say? For he has spoken to me, and he himself has done it. 

Returning to Isaiah once again this prophetic word delivered to us so long ago is spoken to us as a thing already done. In Isaiah’s life it had not been performed but in Isaiah’s vision it was seen as we see it from a moment of a thing accomplished.

Is it amazing that Isaiah could see it that way or is it amazing that it was God who did it? So much of what we view about this Christian life we view in terms of our own performance. We see ourselves in terms of obedience to commandments. We judge ourselves in those terms of faithfulness. We judge others by those same standards. We haven’t done enough. We need to find more and more opportunity to do the work of obedience of faith.

Viewing ourselves as being the actors in the role of being Christ to others makes us the star and is a form of idol worship. We become self-important. “Look at me and what I have done. Be like me.” I spite of every warning Christ said to us about being the least, serving everyone, and thinking of others more highly than ourselves we continue to have performance anxiety. “Am I good enough? Did I do right? Do I do enough?” Those are all worldly standards imposed by man and not God.

Listen to Isaiah again. “He spoke to me and He did it.” Relationship then action. God does in us and thru us because we are walking by faith with God. It is that simple and that difficult. Difficult because the world has filled our minds with doubt and insecurities. Those who do it to us want to control and use us to their own gain. That is not how God works.