Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
September 23, 2022
Read: Isaiah 66:10-13
10 Celebrate with Jerusalem; be happy with her, all you who love her! Rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her, 11 so that you may nurse and be satisfied from her comforting breasts, that you may drink and be refreshed from her full breasts. 12 The LORD says: Look, I’m extending prosperity to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like an overflowing stream. You will nurse and be carried on the hip and bounced upon the knee. 13 As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you; in Jerusalem you will be comforted.
Good morning! I’ve got peace like a river in my soul!
Today’s passage comes from the last chapter of Isaiah. The temple of Jerusalem has been rebuilt and God is blessing the Israelites who have returned from exile. He is offering peace to the renewal of their relationship.
God is seeking a relationship with each of us. We are bound together by the blood of Christ and God will not sever these bonds. A relationship, however, requires interaction. To claim Christ, to be a Christian requires action. We are called to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We are also called to serve God’s children joyfully so that all may find their way to glory.
Even coming to church requires action on the part of all who are present. To sit on a pew and zone out and plan your week’s activities and to-do list does not represent active participation. It doesn’t matter if you can sing or put words together to pray, but we are called to join together and allow ourselves to be filled by the spirit of the Lord.
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye, all ye lands.
Serve the LORD, the LORD with gladness: come before His presence with singing.
Know ye that the LORD He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we, not we ourselves; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his courts with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless, and bless His name. Psalm 100 NIV
These words do not suggest a quiet, sleepy gathering. Why do we come to worship? Are we checking off a box on our to-do list? There can be many answers to this question, but I pray that all of our answers are centered around the call to join together as a body of believers so that we can be refueled and renourished as we provide love and support for one another as we celebrate our God.
Through our active relationship with God, we find the peace for which we desperately long.
Gracious God, Thank You for loving us. May we start and end each day with you? Thank you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: What burdens can I give to the Lord today?
Be present! Find peace! Pastor Liz