Light unto the Nations

Faith in Action

The Early Church Proclaims Faith in Christ

Faithful Seekers of the King

Isaiah 42:1-9 The Message

God’s Servant Will Set Everything Right

42 1-4 “Take a good look at my servant.
    I’m backing him to the hilt.
He’s the one I chose,
    and I couldn’t be more pleased with him.
I’ve bathed him with my Spirit, my life.
    He’ll set everything right among the nations.
He won’t call attention to what he does
    with loud speeches or gaudy parades.
He won’t brush aside the bruised and the hurt
    and he won’t disregard the small and insignificant,
    but he’ll steadily and firmly set things right.
He won’t tire out and quit. He won’t be stopped
    until he’s finished his work—to set things right on earth.
Far-flung ocean islands
    wait expectantly for his teaching.”

The God Who Makes Us Alive with His Own Life

5-9 God’s Message,
    the God who created the cosmos, stretched out the skies,
    laid out the earth and all that grows from it,
Who breathes life into earth’s people,
    makes them alive with his own life:
“I am God. I have called you to live right and well.
    I have taken responsibility for you, kept you safe.
I have set you among my people to bind them to me,
    and provided you as a lighthouse to the nations,
To make a start at bringing people into the open, into light:
    opening blind eyes,
    releasing prisoners from dungeons,
    emptying the dark prisons.
I am God. That’s my name.
    I don’t franchise my glory,
    don’t endorse the no-god idols.
Take note: The earlier predictions of judgment have been fulfilled.
    I’m announcing the new salvation work.
Before it bursts on the scene,
    I’m telling you all about it.”

For Reflection

In this season of Advent, we await the celebration of the birth of God in human form.  We await the long-promised Messiah.  We await the one who will be a guiding light to the restoration of humankind. We await the authentification of our holy selves.  We await the release from the secular slavery into spiritual freedom. We await the one in whose life there is hope, in whose death there is life, and in whose reign there is justice. In Christ the truth becomes knowable. 

Pray

Pray prayers of thanksgiving and praise for the opportunity to enter into a partnership with God for the salvation of us all. Pray so that you will have sufficient confidence in the promise of God to follow the example of Christ.

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