Isaiah 51:1-6 (NRSV)
Read Isaiah 51:1-6 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 51Listen to me, you that pursue righteousness, you that seek the Lord. Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug. Verse 2Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one when I called him, but I blessed him and made him many. Verse 3For the Lord will comfort Zion; he will comfort all her waste places, and will make her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song.
Verse 4Listen to me, my people, and give heed to me, my nation; for a teaching will go out from me, and my justice for a light to the peoples. Verse 5I will bring near my deliverance swiftly, my salvation has gone out and my arms will rule the peoples; the coastlands wait for me, and for my arm they hope. Verse 6Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and those who live on it will die like gnats; but my salvation will be forever, and my deliverance will never be ended.
Devotion
There are times in life when it seems fitting to be proud of accomplishments, when it is so easy to say, "Look what we did!" I am (and will always be) a part of the second cohort to make the journey through Luther Seminary's Distributed Learning program. Our group is creatively called Cohort 2. Over the last six years (and more for some of us) we worked hard to live life in our regular world while having our other foot in the seminary world. We are not the first to do so, and we will not be the last.
Yet I am reminded by this Isaiah text to instead say, "Look what God did!" God called. God led. God strengthened. And God's work was done.
God's work is bigger than just me. It's bigger than just my classmates. It's bigger than all of us. God's work goes on, even after the heavens vanish like smoke, and the earth wears out like a garment, God's salvation will be forever. We are blessed to be a part of God's ongoing work of creation.
Prayer
Mighty God, as we go about your work in our daily world, let our lives reflect what you have done. Remind us daily that we are blessed to be a part of your work no matter what our vocation. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.