Good morning on this first day of June! I'm glad to begin this new month with you in the Pastor's Workshop.
Usually in the workshop we are working on a series of messages that advance a particular "growth in grace." But then there comes along events such as happened last week with the killing of George Floyd and all the aftermath. They cause us to interrupt our "regularly scheduled writing" and call us to think more deeply about not only the events, but also our response as followers of Jesus Christ.
To guide us in our reflections for this week I've chosen a text from Isaiah 58:6-12.
"6 Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? 8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, 10 if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. 11 The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. 12 Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in."
In this Scripture the prophet calls us to be part of solution - not part of the problem. In verses 6 and 7 he summons us to concerns of compassion and justice. In the closing verses he states that "The Lord will guide you continually." As we follow God's leading we will be "repairers of the breach, restorers of streets to live in."
By now you know "the drill." On Mondays we read and re-read, write and re-write, listen and paraphrase the chosen text. Use several translations if you have time.
Biblegateway.com is a great online resource for easy access to multiple renderings of a particular Scripture.
I look forward to exploring these words of Isaiah with you. I know there is a message they will speak to us as God's Holy Word. It is a Word we need to hear in these tumultuous days.
In the faith that God is at work in the midst of all things, I invite us to go to work and I'll meet you again tomorrow in the workshop.
Prayer: Gracious God, you would shine your light of truth and bring your healing into all moments of our lives. As we live in these difficult days we ask you guide us by your Word and Holy Spirit. Let us be the witnesses you would have us to be. Help us to be those who "repair the breach and restore the streets," who would seek after your ways of justice, righteousness and peace. This we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
In Christ,
Paul