“But now, listen to me, Jacob my servant, Israel my chosen one. The Lord who made you and helps you says: Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant, O dear Israel, my chosen one. For I will pour out water to quench your thirst and to irrigate your parched fields. And I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your children. They will thrive like watered grass, like willows on a riverbank. Some will proudly claim, ‘I belong to the Lord.’ Others will say, ‘I am a descendant of Jacob.’ Some will write the Lord’s name on their hands and will take the name of Israel as their own.”
Seven years ago my bride and I were
blessed to purchase the first brand new car we’d had in 30 years. I’d forgotten what that new car smell was like! Our daughter gave us a
set of white
fuzzy dice as a funny reminder of the 1950’s fashion
statement. Back then, anybody who was cool had fuzzy dice hanging from the
rearview mirror. Back then, we watched
Andy, Barney, Aunt Bea, and Opie on TV; today, we hang our facemasks on the car
mirror
The words of Father God through
the prophet Isaiah are like soothing balm on sunburn-scorched skin. It proves one thing, even God’s people are in
need of reassurance. It’s not that we have
lost faith today (as opposed to yesterday’s strong connection), but, rather,
today the circumstances have changed, and an assault on our faith questions
that connection. It’s normal to run to
your parent in times of crisis, or when you’ve been in a struggle. We see that over and over in the Psalms, David
wants to reach out and feel the embrace of his Heavenly Father. Job, a man of intense faith and Godliness,
constantly asks for clarification on the why of
his troubles. Jonah, the “disobedient
prophet” tries to hide from his detestable calling from God of bringing the message
of blessing to the despised Ninevites.
When we look around,
perhaps especially today, and see anger, protests, division, and hatred, it is
more than mildly discomforting; it’s scary!
And we need God’s comforting voice telling us He is with us, and it will
be alright.
As a pastor, just one of many thousands
of pastors, I am always concerned about how the church is doing, and if we’re
doing enough to pass along the faith to the next generation, who will take the
reins and help steer the wagon for the generation that comes after theirs. I don’t think you can be a pastor without that
concern.
I first felt that concern as young
man, seeing firsthand the results of the God is Dead movement, where the prevailing thought was that God, if ever such a being
really existed, must now be dead, and we are on our own in this universe. Among ministers and the faithful was a deep concern
that the church could not survive such an onslaught of unbelief. The wave of people leaving the church, particularly young people, the so-called future of
the church, was astounding. However,
throughout the last half-century, the church has not only endured, it has
matured, and changed, and adapted, and ministered, and grown. In short, the church is still the church, God’s
church, His witness, His special creation, and loved family.
Let’s
Pray Together:
Father, we’re no different than Israel in Isaiah’s day. We need Your comfort and blessing. Abba, in Your mercy…
For You Today
The
church, throughout the centuries has seen culture change, rearrange, come unglued,
reassembled, knocked to its knees, and get up again. The church has been there every step of the
way because God said so.
You
chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road today.
Have a blessed day!
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