Today’s scripture: Isaiah 56:1-8 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Steve Adams):
Sometimes I analogize our minds to helium balloons. As we go through our busy days, striving to fulfill our responsibilities and meet the demands of our schedules, the helium gradually leaks out, and after a while, what began as a big, shiny, colorful balloon which can float to the heavens, becomes a shriveled, wilted blob that sits motionless in a dark, lonely corner. But when we read scriptures like this, our thinking is enlarged, our minds are energized, and our souls are inspired. So we float up to a heavenly perspective and capture at least a glimpse of how our loving Creator God sees things.
Isaiah first speaks of justice, encouraging his readers to maintain it and continue doing the right thing, assuring them that even if people are in the midst of oppression, salvation is just over the horizon!
The second subject covered here is almost a lost art. It’s the concept of the Sabbath. Doesn’t it seem heavenly to think of taking one day a week to immerse yourself in God, time to thoroughly enjoy truth, purity, peace, and strength? There’s only one problem: we don’t have time. Or, do we? Why not make it a goal to spend one day a week focusing on spiritual things? Even if it’s an hour here and an hour there, a Sabbath is an oasis for our souls.
Next, Isaiah assures eunuchs and foreigners who devote themselves to the Lord that they are not separated from God. God honors them! Let the eunuchs never say, “I am just a dry tree.” How beautiful. For all those who choose the things that please God, God will give them an everlasting name. This concept ties in beautifully with Romans 2:6-11, which says in part, “to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, God will give eternal life…glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.”
Thank you so much, God, for letting all of us who love You come into your fold!
Thought for the day: I’m ready to embrace with open arms all those who love God and seek God’s name, whether they share many of my religious beliefs, or have a vastly different spiritual paradigm.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.