God doesn’t forget

A day is coming when the new king from the royal line of David will be symbol to the nations. They will gather in his royal city and give him honour. When that day comes, the Lord will once again use his power and bring back those of his people who are left in Assyria and Egypt, in the lands of Pathros, Ethiopia, Elam, Babylonia and Hamath, and in the coastlands and on the islands in the sea. (verses 10,11)

Read Isaiah 11:10-16

Do you recall yesterday’s reading of the branch that had sprung up from the stump? Look at the branch now – it’s no longer one small branch but has again become a glorious tree and stands for all people to see.
You may despair at times, thinking that governments fail to set moral standards, that the church fails in its work, that people fail in their lives. It may seem that where there should be spiritual life there are only signs of spiritual decay and death.
Take heart from the above reading. It may appear that God is forgotten in the hearts of many people, but our God is not one to forget his people. He will and does reach out again and again, bringing life where there is apparent death and hope where there is despair. He reaches out to you and he reaches out through you.

God, when I am tempted to despair and see death instead of life, give me a vision of your son, Jesus Christ, at work in the lives your people. Help me to bring this vision to the lives of those around me. Amen.

by Anne Maczkowiack in ‘Renewed Hope for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2000)

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