Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – December 8, 2016
By Tripp Prince
In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths. Isaiah 2:2-3
We live in a fractured and divided world. We are suspicious of our neighbor, anxious about the unknown, and fearful of the unfamiliar. Yet as followers of Jesus, we share in a profound and radical hope. We long for the day when the nations shall stream together, not to increase division or conflict, but to unite together in the peace and unity that only God can give.
When we come into the house of God, regardless of our nationality, wealth, power, or privilege, each of us is invited to come with a shared posture: we sit as students at the feet of our master and teacher. As the prophet Isaiah reminds us, we come into the house of God “that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.”
Our identity as humble listeners and learners unites us as the people of God. In God’s kingdom there is no room for the abusive claims of power or the elevation of self at the expense of another. Likewise, there is no need to constantly fight for your own right to be heard or your place in line. We are loved and cherished equally by the Lord, and to anyone who wants to know him he says, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Mt. 11:29).
When we learn to follow Jesus as his humble servants and attentive students, we are showing in the present moment the hope that we share for the world yet to come. We take on the character and nature of that coming kingdom and live as signposts pointing to a future hope. And in a world that often feels dark, broken, and divided, the Lord is inviting us afresh to be beacons of light that fill our families, neighborhoods, and workplaces with hope, goodness, and truth.
Come today and sit at the feet of Jesus, learn to walk in his ways, and shine his light for the world to see!
Prayer
Father, deepen in us our longing and hope for the day when we shall see you face to face and live in your kingdom in perfect harmony with you and one another.Application
How can you today in simple and small ways show that your life is lived in hope and anticipation of the coming kingdom of God?Related Reading
Psalm 122; Matthew 24:36-44; Romans 13:11-14Post/Tweet today
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