Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

Return, Repent and Rejoice

Isaiah 44:21-28

Rev. Vinoy Daniel
St. Thomas MTC, Pattoor, Trivandrum
“I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.” (44:22)
In the second part of prophecy in the book of Isaiah, the prophet faces a serious question, how could people believe in a God who lost the latest war? And the people of God are in the Babylonian exile. They have a serious doubt about the deliverance from the exile. They are in severe hopelessness. But God has His own plan. In Chapter 44: 21 – 28 God asked his people:
1. To remember.
V.21 begins with a reminder to remember and ends with an assurance that I will not forget you. God asked His people to recall past events in their history especially the deliverance from Egypt. God reiterates that 'you' are in my memory. You are remembered because you are my Servant. Here servant is not a slave but the one who was formed and created by God. God gives one more assurance to His people that He has swept away all their sins and offenses. It gives hope to us that God remembers us but forgets our sins and transgressions. The first step to liberation and salvation is to remember what God has done for us.
2. To return.
There is no more hiding away from God like Adam and Eve. Now people can come close to God. God’s invitation to His creation is to return.  In the first chapter of the Book of Isaiah itself God invites the erring people to come and have a talk with him. The word “come” is not simply an invitation but it is an act of Grace. God’s first painful question to Adam is “where are you”? It echoes through ages. It is the inner urge of God to have fellowship with His people. Now in this passage also God invites His people to return and repent. God is going to deliver His people. God’s invitation to His people is for their redemption.
3. To rejoice.
Since redemption process began, God asked His people to rejoice.  Nature is also called to join in praise.  In the first chapter of Isaiah, God summoned the nature to hear His lamentation about His People.  In the same way while God is redeeming His people, He also asked the nature to join in that celebration. The reason for celebration is God reclaimed, redeemed and restored His people.
4. To receive the redeemer.
And finally God unfolded his plan of deliverance before his people. Cyrus the pagan king is God's own anointed one.  Why Cyrus? God has reason for His election. God’s answer is clear that, "I am the creator; I have freely chosen Cyrus as my agent. He will build My city and set My exiles free." God works in an amazing and mysterious way.

PRAYER

Lord, help us to see Your providential care in all our ways. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
“God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform. He plants his footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm.” - William Cowper. 

Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind wh...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tel...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things...
Read more