Note: We ran Isaiah 10:1-4 last Friday unintentionally, so we got a little out of order. We will back track through Isaiah 9, then continue.
Today’s scripture: Isaiah 9:1-7 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (David Zier):
This scripture has become very traditional and is often used at Christmas time; the foretelling of the coming of the Messiah. As I read this, I am fixated on this notion of “endless peace.”
I think to myself, why not here and why not now? It seems we go through endless cycles in history where there is this constant threat of war and killing others who are different.
And then there is this silly season in politics. Or should I say silly decades. No one wants to work with each other. Some people only care about getting their way and the power that comes with it. There is no peace.
And then I look at myself. Sure, I want peace. But there are areas of my life where I could always use more peace. If I really look into myself, there are things I do that may contribute to a lack of peace in my world and around me. No matter how right I might think I am, I am adding to this lack of peace in the world. I would bet we all do. But this is not hopeless! So what are we doing about it? Look at verse 7:
His authority shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time onward and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Jesus’ authority was in His teaching; love, forgiveness, kindness, mercy, reconciliation, and peace. This is what He spent most of his time doing, yet somehow this gets forgotten and only a few words are all that matter. How do I know I’m growing in the right way? It can be hard to know. But, by looking inward and evaluating myself, and praying to keep moving forward, I can continue to adopt Jesus’ teachings into my life as I transform. This transformation happens in each of us, changes us individually, and begins to change the world. That is something that is continual. As we grow, we will come closer to justice and righteousness and move onward. Sound too good to be true? I know I will always have room to grow. Jesus did not spend His time on earth teaching us to be disciples, Christians (little Christs), without good reason. It is not just about what happens after this life, but how we grow and what we do in this life, the life that Jesus taught us to live! The Kingdom of God is here . . . NOW!
When Jesus says to make disciples of the world, sometimes we can forget what Jesus’ authority really means. It is not some lip service to a few words some religious institution says it means. It is truly trying to live like Jesus, passing that on, and allowing what He taught us to be our authority.
This is not easy. But what will the world look like if we really all work on doing this!
Thought for the day: What authority do you live by, and will it help you obtain endless peace?
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.