Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: “My servants will eat, but you will go hungry. My servants will drink, but you will go thirsty. My servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame. 14 My servants will sing joyfully with hearts of gladness, but you will cry out from the pain deep inside, and wail from a broken heart. Isaiah 65:13-14

One of the most difficult characteristics of God man struggles to comprehend is the fact that God is holy and Lord over all creation. God sets the rules according to His desire and wisdom. While we celebrate God’s grace and mercy, we tend to play down His holiness. It doesn’t fit in a world where the personal pursuit of pleasure is the central focus of man.

This struggle comes from the misunderstanding that holiness is something we do through our effort rather than trusting God to make us holy. We are holy because God sets us apart as we lean into Him.

In these verses Isaiah contrasts those who serve or place their trust in God versus those who rebel and go their own way or pursue other gods. Just as a marriage is exclusive to one man and one woman so our relationship with Jesus has no place for any other gods. The person who wants God’s grace must also embrace the exclusivity of a life set apart for God. We make poor gods, but when we submit to Jesus He heals the broken heart in us and fills us with gladness.