December 17, 2018
Isaiah 40:1, 28-31
“Comfort, comfort my people,
    says your God.

Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

New International Version (NIV)
                “The beautiful world is broken, but it will not always be so.”  This week has reminded me again of how fragile life can be.  I will remember the end of 2018 as a time when we unexpectedly lost young men and women.  Our sorrow knows no bounds.  With Jeremiah, we feel like our heads are fountains of tears.  We are so sad. 

               What does God want to do for us, his people?  “Comfort, comfort my people!”  At the end of a long exile in a foreign land, God was bringing his people home again.  He spoke through the prophet, offering comfort to the people.  On what basis?  The rest of Isaiah promises a Messiah who will give his life so that we may live. 

               Even the young can stumble and fall.  But when we hope in the Lord he renews our strength.  These verses remind us of the progress of our lives:  we soar when we are young, we run through our middle years, and finally we walk.  God has grace for all gears.  He sustains us with life.  The beautiful world is broken, but in Christ the hope of a new life has come.  It begins today as we hope in him.  He is making all things new, including us.

Pray with me:  
Father, help us to weep with those who weep.  This season reminds us of great losses of those whom we love.  Your comfort sustains us.  We grieve, but not hopelessly.  Our hope is in Christ.  Renew our strength we pray.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.    
   This year we focus our Every Day with Jesus readings on Jesus’ story.  With references to Tallowood's Read Through the Bible in 2018 daily reading plan, let's focus our undivided attention on Jesus and follow where he lead. He will not fail. Neither will we!
 
Joyfully, 
 
Duane 
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