Daily Devotions
Climbing the Mountain to See God
Reading for August 5th: Isaiah 36-41
Go on up to a high mountain,
O Zion, herald of good news;
lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good news;
lift it up, fear not;
say to the cities of Judah,
"Behold your God!"
The 40th chapter of Isaiah has some breath taking views in it of our God. We behold a God of might and power, but who tenderly tends for his flock like a shepherd. We see a God who can measure the waters in the hollow of his hand, and the heavens with a span, and yet he stoops down to give power to the faint and strength to the one who has no might.
The gods of this world are presented in this chapter and throughout the rest of Isaiah as lifeless and powerless. We are reminded of our own weak and feeble nature as well. We are like grass whose beauty is transient. The word of our God, though, endures forever.
I'm convinced that if we could see things more clearly (and Isaiah is showing us things as they really are), that we would be much more excited about evangelism. We are good news tellers (i.e. evangelists). We have found the real thing! We have something solid. We have something that lasts. Our God is the answer. He is the reason for our being. He is our purpose for living. He gives everything and everyone meaning and hope and peace and joy.
If we'll climb the mountain and see God as Isaiah is describing him for us, then maybe evangelism won't seem so forced and awkward. It will feel spontaneous and natural.
We might even climb a mountain and shout it out: "Look at my God!"
Father, thank you for filling us with such joy and giving meaning to our lives. May our joy and purpose in life spill over into natural and sincere praise in our conversations with others.
