Renewal

This week we are going to use our devotionals to go through a different one of our values or cultures each day, and to spend time thinking and meditating on what it looks like for us to live these out even in lockdown, in this unique time that we’re living through.

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Pause:

Before you start reading this devotional, take a moment to stop what you’re doing, slow down and focus on Jesus.

Pray and ask him to open your eyes to see as you read the scriptures, and to open your ears to hear as you wait on the leading of the Spirit.

Read:

Matthew 6v9-10+33: “Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Isaiah 61v1-11: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
4 They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
5 Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks;
foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers;
6 but you shall be called the priests of the Lord;
they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God;
you shall eat the wealth of the nations,
and in their glory you shall boast.
7 Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion;
instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot;
therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion;
they shall have everlasting joy.
8 For I the Lord love justice;
I hate robbery and wrong;
I will faithfully give them their recompense,
and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 Their offspring shall be known among the nations,
and their descendants in the midst of the peoples;
all who see them shall acknowledge them,
that they are an offspring the Lord has blessed.
10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my soul shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
to sprout up before all the nations.”

Going Deeper:

I am an idealist, so I like things to be the way they are supposed to be. So when I read passages like Isaiah 61, they fill me with both great joy and deep impatience. Thinking of the future that is to come, where there will be no more sin, suffering, pain, injustice, evil, brokenness, hurting, sickness, grief, guilt or shame makes me want to be there already. In the renewed world, where Jesus has returned and dealt with satan, sin and death once and for all, and where He has brought justice, and healing, and salvation and renewal to His beautiful, broken creation. And where He lives with us fully and finally for the rest of time.

I cannot wait.

In Isaiah 61 we see this picture of the King’s work and His Kingdom realized, and it is beautiful:

• The brokenhearted healed.
• The captives (slaves, prisoners, emotional captives, captives of sin or shame or guilt) all set free.
• Jubilee to those who need a reset on life, and a fresh start economically.
• An end to systemic injustice, oppression and evil.
• Comfort for those who mourn.
• Ruined Cities and Ancient Ruins rebuilt.
• Generations of Devastation made right (Both in hearts and in society).
• No shame or dishonor, but rather blessing and celebration in its place.
• Justice. Salvation. Righteousness. Praise.

This is a picture of things the way they are supposed to be, redeemed from the effects of sin, and made right.

This is a picture of the King and His Kingdom. Or paradise. Of the world we all long for.

Now, our world is currently going through a ‘shaking’, and we have been deeply effected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are well aware that we are not yet living in Isaiah 61, and we feel that pain and longing strongly at the moment, as we struggle through the effects of our sin marked world.

In the days, weeks and months ahead, as we come out of lockdown – and as we patiently await Jesus’ return one day – we are not called to just wait for Him to bring this renewal when He returns. No! We already know this is His will. We already know what He wants His world to look like, and as His ambassadors, we are commissioned, called and invited into playing a role in His renewing work in our world today.

And this changes everything for us and how we live. This changes how and why we work. It changes how our families should work. It changes how we interact with our neighbours, and strangers. It changes the way we speak, spend our money, make decisions, and everything really…

When Jesus’ disciples ask Him how to pray in Matthew 6, part of His answer is that they would pray for these Isaiah 61 realities for our world now. That God’s name would be hallowed, or honoured, or glorified, or treated as Holy by all people. And that His Kingdom would come and His will would be done everywhere. That His rule and reign would be felt and experienced in this life, now.

And then, He bookends this chapter, after speaking about financial stress and uncertainty about the future, telling us that God is our Father and provider, who cares for us. And in the midst of our uncertainty, fears and the unknown, that what we should prioritise and do before anything else: Is seek first His Kingdom and righteousness. Which is to say, “I’ve told you to pray for these things. But you must also live to see my Kingdom come and my will be done.”

So, now in lockdown, and when we are able to emerge into a ‘new normal’ post-lockdown, God’s call to us is the same. Pray and live to see my Kingdom come and my will be done. To see men and women meet and know Jesus. To see justice done where there is injustice. To care for the poor, vulnerable, broken, oppressed and needy. To see our Cities rebuilt and restored where they have been torn down by unrighteousness. To see this spiritual, social, economic, political and cultural renewal take place.

And even though some of us might only be able to play this role in small ways (that we often disregard as unimportant) - in our lives, in our homes, in our conversations, with our limited money - God is at work through His people redeeming and reconciling all things to Himself through Christ.

Pray:

Respond to God in prayer by speaking to Him about what stood out to your from this passage this morning.

Listen:

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you this morning?

Apply:

What are you going to do in response to what God is saying to you from the text and by the Spirit?