Isaiah 43:8-13 What is Real?

 

Observation: God makes a bold statement in a time when most people believed in multiple gods. Not only is Israel's God the ruler and creator of all, but in fact there are no other gods who exist. 

Application: Even though, as a Christian, I believe there is only one God, I don't always act that way. We all have moments where we put our ultimate trust in something or someone else for protection, security and life itself. Maybe it's the stock market, or the economy. Maybe it's the government or our ideology about how it should be run. Maybe it's ourselves, as though if we worry enough about the right things, we can head off any imagined catastrophe. My mind is really good at coming up with fictional narratives of how, if everything goes right today, I can fix everything and save everyone. It's just not true. At the end of the day, I need constant reminders to put my faith in God alone. I can never know what the future holds. I can only know who holds the future.   

Prayer: God, you are real. You are more real than my anxiety, more real than my fear or my anger. Help me live each day fully connected to reality. Help me live trusting in you. Amen. 

Revelation 15:1-4 It's the Same Old Song

 

Observation: This text is from the "messy middle" of Revelation, in which John recounts some frightening and confusing visions. Yet the text says these seven plagues, unleashed by angels, are the very last. And at its end there is a praise song, the "song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb." 

Application: The Book of Revelation can be frightening and confusing. It is a type of writing called an "apocalypse" where a human author will see the curtain pulled back, and a deeper reality of Divine action in the world is revealed. If we understood every detail of what God is saying and doing there, I'd be suspicious that this was more of a human thing. That said, Revelation's message is remarkably simple. Are you the Lamb of God? No? Okay, so are you an angel? No? So you are in fact, just a mortal human being? Yes? Then your job is to give praise and Glory to God. Sing that same old song. The one Moses knew. That God is in control, and God saves. That's it. No further instructions. Keep praising and stay faithful until further notice, and, spoiler alert, there won't be any because God has the end times stuff well in hand. Period. No predictions, speculations, extra visions, underground bunkers or billboard ad campaigns needed. Just continued praise, trust and love.  

Prayer: God, help us to remain faithful. Help us to praise you in good times and bad. Amen.