Published 6/10/19
Read Isaiah 35: 3-6
Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, "Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you." Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
Reflect
• God is returning--are you ready?
• Is your heart filled with joy ... or fear?
• Are you fit to walk on God's Sacred Highway? Take some time to prayerfully reflect on these questions.
Isaiah reminds us that the world's pain and suffering is temporary. One day in the not-so-distant future, wounded hearts will be healed ... tears wiped away. The Lord is returning!
"Here is a message for all who are weak, trembling, and worried," the prophet shares in verses 3-6. " 'Cheer up! Don't be afraid. Your God is coming to punish your enemies." Yet Isaiah can't help but wonder if God's message is falling on deaf ears. Those who are supposed to be set apart and holy are caught up in every kind of sin imaginable. They have become stumbling blocks for those seeking the true God.
Isaiah could wash his hands of the stubborn bunch--but he wouldn't dream of doing so. The Lord has called him to share the coming hope: "A good road will be there, and it will be named 'God's Sacred Highway.' It will be for God's people; no one unfit to worship God will walk on that road. And no fools can travel on that highway. No lions or other wild animals will come near that road; only those the Lord has saved will travel there" (verses 8-9, CEV).
Pray
Gracious Lord, you are the Holy God of the universe--the One and Only God who calls His people to holiness. Convict my heart. Remove obstacles that would keep me from knowing and serving you. Teach me to love others as you love them. In Jesus Name, Amen.