“Surely you did not hear, Surely you did not know; Surely from long ago your ear was not opened” (Isaiah 48:8)

It’s painful to realize, to a certain extent, this accusation can honestly be made against believers, who too often, do little or nothing with the grace God’s given to them. We don’t hear the voice of God as we should, because we're too busy to listen.

We didn’t hear. There are whisperings of the Holy Spirit in the soul of which we are unaware; there are divine indications of heavenly love which are unnoticed in the normal cares and duties of life. Alas! We’ve been too busy gaining the world.

We didn’t know. There are corruptions which have grown unnoticed; sweet affections which have wilted like flowers in the frost, unintended by us; glimpses of the divine face which might be perceived if we didn’t close the windows of our soul. But we didn’t know. As we realize our error, we bow our heads in shame.

He loves us still. Knowing all this, we marvel at God’s grace, for despite our foolish ignorance, we know this was foreknown by God, and, even with that foreknowledge, He’s been merciful, leading us to repentance.

It all comes back to His sacrifice. The only reason we live is He loved us enough to die in our place and the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

He chose us knowing we would be foolish. How marvelous is sovereign grace which chose us knowing how we would be! Christ foresaw us as unbelieving, backsliding, cold of heart, indifferent, careless, lazy in prayer, and yet He said, “I am the LORD your God … Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you; I will give men for you, And people for your life” (Isaiah 43:3-4).

Oh, redemption, how glorious, when we consider how corrupt we are! Oh, Holy Spirit, give us, we pray, a hearing ear, and an understanding heart!