Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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  TITHE GIVING SUNDAY

Isaiah 52:7-12

V7 “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news…”

I could not help but sing the first verse of today’s passage, as it is the first stanza of the meaningful song, “Our God Reigns”.   It speaks of a messenger on the mountains, carrying the good news of salvation to the Israelites who are being released from Babylonian captivity.  
It initially seemed that the God of Israel had been defeated when the Israelites were exiled, but this passage shows how this was all part of God’s sovereign plan.  We often look at things from our perspective, without considering that this is God’s world, and we are living in it.  
And when that great day comes, all of Jerusalem is called to sing in joy for it is the Lord who redeemed them.  They had been a people who were removed from their land and whose future was unclear.  But through the mighty hand of God, they had been restored.  God fulfilled His promises to His people.  This is a time for joy and celebration.
As people who have been exiled because of sin, our souls long to be with God.  Rather than remaining seperated, we can now have a relationship with God because of Christ’s work on the cross.  No longer is our future dark but one filled with joy and happiness.  We were once lost, but now are found.  
What is our response to this reality?  Do we stay quiet and continue to live life as exiles?  Our lives and the testimony of our community needs to reflect the experience of a redeemed people.  We need to proclaim it.  We need to use our talents and the blessings that God has bestowed us in thanksgiving to a God who personally came to our rescue and saved us from the death we deserved.  
We need to sing loudly, “Our God reigns!”

Prayer
Father God, we thank you for the Good News of redemption through your Son Jesus Christ.  May we not be ashamed to declare with our mouths and thank you with our whole being for giving us life.  Let our lives be a testimony to your love.  Amen.

 Thought for the Day
“Through salvation our past has been forgiven, our present is given meaning, and our future is secured.”
Rick Warren

 
Tom Philip
Redeemer MTC, New Jersey

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