The Joy of Glory

Isaiah 42:1-4 (click here)
Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.

Reflection
Do you feel tired? Beat up? Powerless?

Do you feel like a cog in the machine of the world? Like no one notices you, no one hears you, and no one cares? It is easy for us to feel this way in a world that can be so brutal, loud, and unjust.

Isaiah spoke to the people of God in a time when they were overrun by loveless leaders. People of power who cared only for themselves and spoke over or silenced anyone who disagreed. Many were the causalities left in their wake that they merely considered necessary collateral damage.

Could there be a savior for such a world?

BEHOLD… the servant of the Lord.

The prophet Isaiah holds forth several “servant songs” filled with hope for they speak of a savior to hope in! He is not like the self-centered leaders and power hungry politicians who “rule” the world. Oh no… he is empowered by the very spirit of God and it shows in how his power is put on display! He humbly executes justice! He does not need to raise his voice over everyone so that he appears as the most powerful person. No. In fact, he is so gentle with those he loves, it is like he wouldn’t even snuff out a candle wick or break a twig.

He is gentle and faithful. No matter how much it looks like the unjust powers of this world are winning he does not grow faint or discouraged for he knows that he will redeem all of creation and establish justices to the ends of the earth! And he does it as a servant! Not as one who serves himself, but who serves you and me.

Do you feel tired? Beat up? Powerless? Look to our servant savior who is gentle with you and faithful towards you. He doesn’t not grow faint in his faithfulness. Let us not grow faint in our faith.

 
*All previous devotionals may be found at www.thejoyofglory.com
*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.

Isaiah 32:1-16 (click here)
For the palace is forsaken, the populous city deserted; the hill and the watchtower will become dens forever, a joy of wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks; until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is deemed a forest. Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness abide in the fruitful field.
(Isaiah 32:14–16)

Reflection
God’s people are in rebellion. Judgement is coming. In a little more than a year Assyria will invade (again). Cities will be deserted, and wild animals will make homes where God’s people once lived.

Can there be any salvation from such devastation?

YES! God promises that the day will come when his Spirit will be poured out upon his people! A people who were once barren will bear fruit! A people once consumed with self will now seek justice for the other. A people once dwelling in the darkness of unrighteousness will now shine with the bright righteous beams of the Spirit of God!

The good news of the Gospel is that this day has come! Because of Christ’s death and resurrection, the Holy Spirit of God has been poured out upon his people to empower them to live bearing fruit amidst the wilderness of the world!

This is how we are to live! In total dependence upon the Holy Spirit’s provision to be the people we have been recreated in Christ to be!

Today… are you depending on the Spirit’s power to bear the fruit of justice and righteousness? Are you asking him to provide all the power needed to bear fruit to the glory of God in the midst of this wilderness?

The day will come when God will bring redemption to completion and Easter will have it’s final effect! The wilderness of this world will become a fruitful forest to his glory… but until that day arrives… we live, bearing fruit by the Spirit’s power as witnesses to the fact that world is on its way… it is coming!

Can there be any salvation from devastation? Yes. There is. And God uses your fruit-bearing life to show the world where that salvation comes from… from him alone… through his son alone… by his Spirit alone.

So go today… depend on the Holy Spirit… and bear fruit for God’s glory, your good, and the spread of the Gospel.

*All previous devotionals may be found at www.thejoyofglory.com
*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.

John 15:18-16:4a
On Sundays there will be no written devotional as the reading for that day also serves as the sermon text for Shades Valley Community Church. If you would like to listen to this morning’s sermon on John 15:18-16:4a you may do so by clicking here.