Loving God of great surprises, bless the life of this dear reader with an unexpected blessing of joy and peace; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Today's text is very special to me. It comes from Isaiah 40:21-31: 21 Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22 It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to live in; 23 who brings princes to naught, and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing. 24 Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows upon them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble. 25 To whom then will you compare me, or who is my equal? says the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these? He who brings out their host and numbers them, calling them all by name; because he is great in strength, mighty in power, not one is missing. 27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God"? 28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. 30 Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; 31 but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (New Revised Standard Version)
If you've ever heard the Christian Song, "Everlasting God" by Lincoln Brewster, at the very end a child is heard reading this passage (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP2nz6PG8KM). The first time I heard it, I was taken back many years to La Trinidad United Methodist Church, on a Sunday morning, when our firstborn, Nellie Maria, was asked to read the Scripture for the day. She was six years old and was already reading at a sixth grade level. Her voice and that of the child on the recording were the same. Today is Nellie Maria's birthday, so it is extra special to have this OT lesson on her birthday. (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NELLIE!).
The passage is the prophet's song of praise to Almighty God. His life experiences had allowed him this time of reflection on the greatness of God and God's presence in his life. He had reached a point of faith that others' lack of faith puzzled him. It was as if he's asking, "Weren't you ever in Sunday school? Did you not pay attention? Have you not ever picked up a Bible or seen across the sky or in the beauty of the earth, the presence and majesty of God?" Sadly, there are still many like that and Isaiah would be puzzled. It's as near as your next breath, proof of the presence of God. If you can reach the nearest window and look out and see the stars or the moon or the beginning of a new day, you've seen God's handiwork. If you hear the singing of a bird or the rustle of the wind, you're listening to God. If you smell the bouquet of fresh flowers in your garden, you're smelling the presence of God's awesomeness. At some point in our life our faith should allow us to recite this affirmation of faith: The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. 30 Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; 31 but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Our God is a God that will never die. Our God is the creator of all things. God's strength cannot be compared to ours, where one day we are strong, the next we are not. God understands all things. God gives power to the faint and give strength to the weak. Even the youth among us may faint and grow weary and the young may fall from exhaustion; but we who wait for the Lord shall receive new strength, even that which seems like we have mounted up with wings like eagles. We will run and not be weary, we shall walk and not even faint. What more do we need for having a great day?
PRAYER: Loving God, grant me an increase of faith today to face all that may come my way. Let me be a beacon of inspiration to others, especially the weak that I may live this affirmation of Your presence and strength in my life. I claim for my life that strength so that I may not grow weary nor faint, but instead have that newness of faith that gives my life wings, and my legs untiring strength. I ask and pray this in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
