08-16-24

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
August 16, 2024
The Prophet Isaiah, wrote in chapter 55, 

“...so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands” (vs. 11-12).

Joy and peace are not the usual words used to illustrate success, but in this passage, God’s life-giving message goes out and has success in achieving God’s purpose. Joy pours forth from God, and it brings back peace. B.C. Forbes, the founder of Forbes Magazine, wrote, “The man who has done his level best... is a success, even though the world may write him down a failure.” As people of faith, we are called to do our level best at promoting joy and working toward a world of peace. Probably more often than we’d like to admit, the world will probably write us off as failures, but God will see within us the divine purpose moving toward its full realization. And God will declare it a success.

Living God, where there is joy, I pray for peace to be one of the products. I know you are present and at work in all things, specifically those things you are passionately working toward your purpose. Amen.