Focus

Prepare yourself to discern what is and what is not of God today. Still yourself so you can hear how God is calling you.

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Read

Isaiah 2:1-5 (NRSV)

The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In days to come
the mountain of the LORD’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be raised above the hills;
all the nations shall stream to it.
Many peoples shall come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.
O house of Jacob,
come, let us walk
in the light of the LORD!

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Reflect

If you really want to enjoy reading the Book of Isaiah, skip chapter one, which perfectly demonstrates God’s frustration with the wickedness of Israel. “Ah, sinful nation… why do you continue to rebel?” To put it in modern lingo, God is done. “When you make many prayers to me, I will not listen.” Israel had failed to follow God one too many times, and God was done.

So it is surprising to turn the page and read chapter two: “In days to come, the Lord’s house will be established as the highest mountain.” After a chapter of terrible doom and gloom, God has a message of hope for the people. “Come,” God cries, “let us walk in the light of the Lord!”

Though written for another people in another time, Isaiah’s message is alive and meaningful for us. It’s not difficult to look around our world and see great sin and sadness. It’s not hard to imagine that God is also done with us. And yet…and yet God continues to hold out hope for us in the midst of despair. God continues to call us to a new tomorrow, even when today seems especially dark.

In other words, God is not at done with us, and God never will be.

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Pray

God, we give you praise for unfailing love and ceaseless grace. Thank you for meeting us in the darkness of our lives. Amen.

Go with God.