E-votional - Report Day
January 7, 2002
Verse:

"Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations."

Isaiah 42:1 (NRSV)

Thought:

    You have lived a life that has been full of challenge. You struggled, at times, to be a good son or daughter. Then your challenge moved to work and school. This only to be followed by relationships, parenthood and etc. Life rushes by like the water coming from a broken dam, through a small river. That water will never find its way back into the dam, so what do you do? Without spending too much time, you look back and reflect on the life you have led so far, gathering understanding seeing where it is you have been and which direction you are going. This leads you to wonder. When it comes time to be counted or identified, we all have hopes. We are who we have been. We can be who it is we will be.

   Hear the Good News, Isaiah offers to us a beautiful report, a dream, a promise of one to come, that promise is Christ. Two points made by Isaiah. The first, the "is." Servant. Chosen. Delightful to God. The second, the "will be." One who brings justice, to everyone. As far as I know, the will be is still being. Wow. What a legacy, what hope and what a challenge for us. Not that we can "be" Christ, but we certainly can live a life that honors God, that has Christ in us, a life that is faithful to God's call upon our life. If your report day were today, how would it sound? What would it look like?

Prayer: 

   Gracious Father, You have chosen so many, You have made such a difference in the lives of Your servants. Accept me, accept me as Your servant that my life might be a living offering to You. I have something to offer, and by Your grace and mercy it will be shared with others. Thank You for all that You have done in my life and all You will continue to do, for I ask this through Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.