Focus

Relax and listen. Consciously prepare to hear God’s Word. Clear your mind of the worries and tasks that lie before you. Open your heart and allow it to refresh.

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Read

Isaiah 42:1-9 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Servant, a Light to the Nations
Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
He will not cry or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street;
a bruised reed he will not break,
and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
He will not grow faint or be crushed
until he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his teaching.

Thus says God, the Lord,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people upon it
and spirit to those who walk in it:
I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness,
I have taken you by the hand and kept you;
I have given you as a covenant to the people,
a light to the nations,
to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those who sit in darkness.

I am the Lord, that is my name;
my glory I give to no other,
nor my praise to idols.
See, the former things have come to pass,
and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth,
I tell you of them.

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Reflect

This passage is the Old Testament reading for Baptism of Christ Sunday, which is this coming Sunday. This passage speaks about the character and quality of God’s chosen servant. Christ is God’s chosen Servant, but in baptism, we are chosen as God’s Children and God’s servant. God places the Holy Spirit upon us. We are born into the Kingdom of God, and we then reflect, or rather, illuminate the light of Christ by living our baptismal identity as children of God. One of the characteristics that are highlighted in the Isaiah passage is our conduct in establishing justice and righteousness. Isaiah says,

“He will not cry or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street;
a bruised reed he will not break,
and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.

Take a brief look at the news and on facebook, and you can see that many Christians have taken up the methods of worldly power and influence to establish righteousness. I sometimes see people on facebook speak to one another as if they were enemies. As Christians, we seek to establish justice, but we do so with humility and a reliance on the power of God to bring forth “new things.” Our words should always be words of grace. Our actions should be those that build up and encourage righteousness.

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Pray

God, in baptism, you have claimed us as your children. We pray that you will form us into the type of children that seek justice, but that we do so in with love and grace. Amen

Go with God!