Scripture: Isaiah 29:19-20
The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord, and the neediest people shall exult in the Holy One of Israel. For the tyrant shall be no more, and the scoffer shall cease to be; all those alert to do evil shall be cut off…
Thought for the Day: A day is coming… Those words have provided great hope for a multitude of people, but so many others have never tasted the day for which they dreamed. This portion of Isaiah is speaking of a day when the meek and those in need will find themselves lifted up. Alongside this joyous experience will be the demise of whatever powers cause such brokenness. I’m guessing we could get 90-95% of folks agreeing to such a vision, yet the arguments begin when we have to determine the HOW. Here’s my take – there are too many people who hunger and thirst for that day when they no longer suffer from solvable problems, but there are powers that really do not want to see a change. In fact, these powers thrive in a system where some are required to suffer, and these powers want the 90-95% of the world to fight over the HOW. They want us to become zealots on our individual HOWs, while others become zealots with their HOWs. As we become idealogical fanatics, we forget our common desire to see a world where no one suffers, and where immoral and unjust powers cease to exist. What would it look like to live in a world where human beings did not let their opinions solidify into dogma? Let’s never allow our personal HOW to eclipse the greater goal of ending the suffering that can be brought to an end. Yes, we need a HOW, but maybe the HOW God wants us to discover requires us sitting down together and sharing our ideas respectfully.
Prayer: You provide us a pretty clear vision of what your world is to be like, O Lord, yet we allow self-interest and greed to shape an alternative vision. Forgive us when we allow petty arguments to supersede your call to bring transformative love to individuals and systems in this world. Amen.
