Readings for today: Isaiah 60:1-62:5, Philippians 1:27-2:18, Psalms 72, Proverbs 24:11-12
Now more than ever, our world needs Jesus. In the midst of the death, violence, suffering, corruption, greed, avarice, poverty, and pain; our world needs the people of God to shine like light in the darkness. Bringing hope to the hopeless. Help to the helpless. Comfort to the afflicted. Deliverance for the captives. Good news to the anxious and afraid. If we want to know why the world is continuing to descend into chaos, we need to look in the mirror. God has no plan B. His plan from the beginning of time has been to use His people - those called by His name and bearing His image - to fill the earth with His glory.
“The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married.” (Isaiah 62:2-4)
This is God’s vision for the world. And the vehicle He chooses to accomplish His vision is His church. His people. His family. Those He adopts as His sons and daughters. The Bible declares that all those who believe in Jesus Christ are given the right to be called children of God. With that right comes the responsibility to live as God’s children. To let our manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ…(Phil. 1:27) As we stand firm in one spirit. As we strive side by side for the faith of the gospel. As we seek the same mind that is ours in Christ Jesus. As we walk humbly together before the world, seeking to serve rather than be served. As we work out our salvation with fear and trembling. God promises that we will “be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,” (Phil. 2:15) He promises to use us to accomplish His redemptive and salvific purposes in this world.
Such has always been the call for the people of God. Consider the words of the ancient prophet Isaiah…
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” (Isaiah 60:1-3)
“Violence shall no more be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended. Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I might be glorified.” (Isaiah 60:18-21)
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord 's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.” (Isaiah 61:1-4)
Living as God’s children requires intentionality. It requires a radical reorientation of all that we love. It requires us to put God first. To worship Him alone. To earnestly seek His face. To order our life and our priorities in such a way that we make His glory our goal. It requires us to live as He lived. To love as He loved. To serve as He served. It requires us to come before Him daily in prayer. Daily in confession of sin. Daily in reading His Word. Daily in worshipping Him from our hearts. It requires us to engage with His people. Worshipping alongside the other members of our spiritual family. Tearing down the dividing walls of hostility that so often divide us. It requires the regular practice of forgiveness and grace. Mercy and compassion. Courage and boldness to proclaim the truth in love. It isn’t easy but it is what God requires of us.
So how are you doing? How are you really doing? When you look at your life, what do you see? When you look at your schedule, where is your time with God? When you look at your resources, how much of it goes to the work of the Kingdom? When you consider your priorities, where is God on your list? When you look at the world around you, what needs are you specifically equipped by God to meet? Stop waiting. Stop complaining. Stop blaming. Get to work as God’s chosen people, bringing life and light and hope and joy in the name of Jesus!
Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 62:6-65:25, Philippians 2:19-3:3, Psalms 73, Proverbs 24:13-14