But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word. Isaiah 66:2b
In an era of ever-increasing contentiousness and divisiveness—even among Christians—this amazing verse from the book of Isaiah is clear, straight-forward, and true. Feelings and attitudes of self- righteousness abound in our day, and it’s clear to me that Satan is doing his very best to distract and divide the church in as many ways as possible in hopes of preventing it from accomplishing the Lord’s purposes. Of course, he will fail. Nothing, no scheme of man or of the devil will prevent the Lord from accomplishing His glorious purposes. We are assured by His Word that the gates of hell will not prevail against His church.
It is a challenge sometimes to live out the verse from Isaiah chapter 66. Pride is always just around the corner in our hearts. It lurks there tempting us to make much of ourselves rather than making much of God. One of the key defenses against this inherent, lurking pride is to put ourselves time and time again at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ. By this act, we will be reminded of our total and complete dependence upon the grace and mercy and atoning blood of our Lord and Savior. If we keep that ever before us, pride may still be lurking inside us, but it will not be able to flourish or overcome us.
I love the picture in Isaiah 66:2b of the one to whom the Lord will look. I desperately want these traits for myself, and I deeply desire them to be in all of our students as well.
May the Lord grant that all of us at Bethlehem College & Seminary would be marked by humble and contrite spirits and may we tremble at the word of the Lord.
For the glory of God,
Tim Tomlinson
President
Prayer Requests:
- Please be in prayer for all of our new students this fall. Many of them have moved here from long distances and are going through some big adjustments—new city, new roommates, new school, new professors, rigorous courses and programs. It can be challenging during these first few weeks of the semester. Pray for God’s grace to abound in their lives and for their joy in the Lord to be full.
- Also, please keep our Self-Study writing project in your prayers as well. These next few weeks are critical for us to complete the writing of this important document which we pray will extend our accreditation for another 10 years—if the Lord wills!
- And, as always, continue to pray for our finances. The Lord has been merciful and gracious to us this past year. Now pray that He will be even more gracious and merciful to us this year!