Return to Paradise

-


Scripture: Isaiah 35:1-4 (NLT)

1 Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days.

The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses.

2 Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers

and singing and joy!

The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon,

as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon.

There the Lord will display his glory,

the splendor of our God.

3 With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands,

and encourage those who have weak knees.

4 Say to those with fearful hearts,

“Be strong, and do not fear,

for your God is coming to destroy your enemies.

He is coming to save you.”

 

Devotion:

           

            Isaiah here speaks hope to oppressed people. Israel was in captivity in Babylon. The prophet has in the chapters before this predicted all the hardships and suffering Israel would suffer at the hands of their captors. He now begins to let the people know that they would not suffer forever because their God was coming to lead them out of captivity and into a glorious future. As much as the prophet brings hope to God’s people who originally heard these words, so the prophet speaks to us in our time.

           

            During this season of advent, we have many problems in our world. Even as we live in relative peace and freedom there is still much that is not right with our world. Each of us could name a dozen things that worry us about the world in which we live. We each wait for God to come to us and save us from our problems.

           

            These words from the prophet ought to comfort us and give us hope as we wait for the return of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. We have every right to claim the words of the 35th chapter of Isaiah for ourselves. A promise that will surely be fulfilled with the return of Jesus in all his glory. Then no enemy of ours that will trouble us when at last our wait for Christ’s return is over.

 

            Even in this advent season we should be encouraged by these words. God has not abandoned us. As the Christ child arrives this year we should rejoice in his coming even as we hope for his return at the end of the age. Jesus comes from heaven to inhabit earth once again. First, in our hearts, then in physical  reality. Let us praise his name.

 

Prayer:

 

            Lord let us wait for you with expectant hearts. Jesus teach us to be patient as we wait for you. O God, put into our minds the knowledge of your plan of salvation. Heavenly Father, help us see in these words from your prophet a great promise for our future. Just as you rescued your people Israel from captivity all those millennia ago, even so will you rescue us today. Amen.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Welcoming the Unwelcome

-
  Scripture: Luke 7:36-38 (NIV) 36  When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37  A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38  As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured perfume on them. Devotion:             First of all, some warnings to my readers. This post will exceed the 500 words I try to limit my posts. Second, this post will contain content people may find offensive or otherwise unfit for print. Please understand that my purpose is neither to offend nor upset but to provoke thought and, hopefully, respectful dialog.             We will use Luke chapter seven as an aid to interpreting the events that occurred last Thursday at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. On that da
Read more

Father Forgive Them

-
  Scripture: Luke 23:33-34 (ESV) 33  And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34  And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Devotion:             The situation Jesus finds himself in here in today’s scripture is difficult for us to even imagine. A sham trial, no credible accusations of any kind, let alone any deserving of death, and yet here he is. A brilliant Rabbi, a teacher of the people who never led even one person astray from God’s will. This Holy One of God soon to be food for vultures.             This man who had done nothing wrong had no one in all the crowds who would speak up in his defense lest they be next to face the cross. An innocent man hung between two scoundrels. No voice from heaven declaring that this was the man that they were killing was actually the true Son of God. (See Matthew 3:17, Matthew 17:5, John 12:28) No the heaven
Read more

Transgenderism letter

-
  This is a copy of my letter to my senators, representative, and President Biden. January 15, 2024 Dear President Biden, Senators T. Duckworth, R. Durbin, and Representative D. LaHood             I am writing to you because I am concerned about the situation affecting our children and grandchildren, namely transitioning them from one gender to another. This nation must adjust course concerning these “interventions” because they are dangerous, irreversible, and life-changing. Our country should not be permitting these procedures on minor children under any circumstances. We must also make sure that adults who seek this care are given informed consent as to the risks versus benefits of sex reassignment treatments.             There are many drawbacks to gender-affirming care for minors. Besides the loss of any ability to give or receive sexual pleasure and sterility these treatments cause, there are social and psychological effects that we have no way of identifying because these
Read more