Thoughts for the Day

Seek the Lord while he may be found,
call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake their way,
and the unrighteous their thoughts;
let them return to the Lord, that he
may have mercy on them...

For as the rain and the snow come down
from heaven,
and do not return there until they
have watered the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out
from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Today is Bible Sunday, when we think of all who wrote our scriptures, of the stories that mean so much to us, and of the lives of prophets and faithful Christians. We remind ourselves of God's covenant with the Israelites, and of His action in sending His Son to bring us back to Himself.

Isaiah reminds the people to 'seek the Lord, while he may be found'. The gracious call of God may not continue for ever, and they should turn to Him so that He may forgive them. More explicitly he says that God's word is not 'talk', for when God speaks action takes place. His word has power, and His purposes never fail. Isaiah gives us a picture showing that God's word produces fruit, in different ways. For example, the watered earth produces seed, which is good for the sower and also for bread for people to eat.

God's word may be ignored by one person, but for another who has really listened to the message, it will result in seed that will grow into fruit. It will eventually result in a life that will be changed for ever.

Lord God,
help us not to take our bibles for granted,
but to read, learn, mark and inwardly digest them,
so that we continue to grow as Christians
and follow Your word
for the rest of our lives.
Amen.