Invitation and Preparation
O God, make speed to save us
O Lord, make haste to help us
(Silence)
Let us pray:
Blessed are you, sovereign Lord, just and true: to you be praise and glory for ever. Of old you spoke by the mouth of your prophets, but in our days you speak through your Son, whom you have appointed the heir of all things. Grant us, your people, to walk in his light, that we may be found ready and watching when he comes again in glory and judgement; for you are our light and our salvation. Amen.
Listen and Receive
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide disputes by what his ears hear,
but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,
and faithfulness the belt of his loins.
Isaiah 11:1-5
May the Word of God rest gently on our hearts, that when our hearts break the Word of God may flow in.
(Silence)
Reflect and Respond
Isaiah gives us a prophetic vision of the coming Messiah, a vision of power and justice. This is the righteous power to redeem and restore, but this is not wanton power. This is the power that knows and delights in the sovereign majesty of the Living God.
Jesus fulfilled this prophecy in the Incarnation. This prophecy continues to be manifest in the Body of Christ, the Church. Finally, this prophecy will be fulfilled when Christ comes again in the fullness of His Glory.
I wonder, as the Spirit of the Lord rests now upon the Church, how are you being joined together in one Body and empowered to bring redemption and restoration, truth and equity, justice and righteousness? In what ways are you resisting? In what ways are you following?
Blessed and Sent
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.
In this season of light, may your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.