12-21-19

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS

December 21, 2019

Guest Writer: Rev. John Frey

A Walk in the Kingdom

By John Frey

 

Scripture: Isaiah 2:5 

Come, house of Jacob, let us walk by the light of the Lord.

 

I believe the main story of the Bible is the establishment, struggles, and longing for the final completion of God’s kingdom here on earth. From the beginning, God called humanity to live as if God’s kingdom had already come and thereby help the kingdom come in all its fullness. This lifestyle called for each person to love unconditionally, care for the marginalized, seek justice, and treat strangers like friends. Throughout the Old Testament, God’s people refused to live into God’s kingdom invitation, choosing instead to live like the worldly cultures around them. Isaiah, one of God’s prophets, called God’s chosen people to “walk by the light of the Lord,” which mean to return to living as kingdom-dwellers. Unfortunately, the people soon fell back into their old ways, leading a period when God did not speak through the prophets.

 

This week, can you imagine how it must have felt to think that God had quit speaking? The prophets promised that God would do mighty things, but no one in your family could remember seeing God act. The world must have felt really dark. But, some of the people of God remembered the words of the prophets, who promised a new work of God. This promise kept the light of the Lord alive in their hearts. Their faith was rewarded with the gift of a Savior who came to earth to live among God’s people and demonstrate by his words and actions how citizens of God’s kingdom were to live. In the person of Jesus of Nazareth, we witnessed perfect example of how to “walk by the light of the Lord.” How can you “walk by the light of the Lord this week? In a season when many demonstrate their worst behaviors, how can you demonstrate the love first life to all you encounter?

 

 

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