Friday - God is good

Prayer:  Great God,  You are the giver of all good.  Accept our prayers and bless our actions this day.  Whatever may come our way today O Lord,  may we share Your love with those we meet. Through Jesus Christ,  our risen Lord.  Amen.

Read Isaiah 51:1 - 4

This portion of scripture is in the middle of something called the “Servant Songs”.   Isaiah 51 is not part of the Servant Songs.  The Servant Songs were songs (we have lost the tunes) that remind the worshipper that there will be a return to God … and that all peoples would return to the love of God through God’s servant. 

Isaiah 51 is also a song but very different than the Servant Songs.    It is almost a reality check for the listener.    In chapter begins with “listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the LORD: look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn”  (Isaiah 51: 1  NIV  Zondervan, 1983).    As soon as you read words like “cut” and “hewn”  you know this means change for somebody.   The life they had before will be changed. 

The chapter continues with a reflection of history.  Abraham and Sarah were called by God.  They left their home as individuals and became a mighty nation.  Humm,  more change. 

Then comes confirmation.  The LORD will surely comfort Zion--  the place that has been changed—instead of being a place of mourning,  Zion will become a place of joy and thanksgiving will be the sound of singing.       

What does this say for us today?   If we rest and abide in God,  we will find joy and thanksgiving… even when life gets tough and horrible,  God is present.

Just lately in our house,  we have been having a discussion of the words   “God is good” when something wonderful happens.    God is always good so why do we only state God is good when something good happens in our life?    Is it because we ignore God the rest of the time and think when something good happens it must be from God?   Is it because we don’t “see” God working in the whole of our lives and only think God is present when something good happens?    Remember that God is always with us and present in our lives….we just have to make the time to listen and sing with thanksgiving… even when you are standing waiting for a bus and the heavens opens up with rain and you have no umbrella!   God is good.

Today,  the three things I am thankful for are:

 

Prayer:  God,  each day You share with us Your goodness.  Remind us of Your presence – that You are with us each step we take today.  We give You thanks and praise for  Your love through Your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.