Wednesday, October 28, 2026

Opening Scripture

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be our peace.” Micah 5:2-5

Opening Prayer

Almighty God, You are holy and worthy of praise. You are my Father, and I walk humbly in Your love. You are my Shepherd, who guides and protects me. I make myself available to You to accomplish Your will in me. I surrender every attitude, thought, and action to You. You are my Provider, and I trust You to meet my needs. Forgive me when I disappoint You and fall short. Help me to forgive others, that I might reflect Your forgiveness. Show me my sin, so I can confess it to You. Don’t let my feet stray from the path of righteousness. Protect me from Satan’s temptations, lies, and deceptions. Strengthen my faith and trust in You alone. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

Isaiah 55:8-13

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.”

Reflection 

Today’s passage describes the “sign” that will be the proof of God’s final covenant with His people, the perfect and complete fulfillment of His promises. God will make all things new – a new Heaven and a new Earth – where all creation will flourish eternally. God will gloriously transform a world that is cursed and broken into a joyful and fruitful paradise. “This will be for the LORD’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.”

Since God’s ways are above our ways and God’s thoughts are above our thoughts as the sky is above the land, we cannot fully grasp all the He is accomplishing and will ultimately accomplish. However, we have great hope and confidence that God’s Word will fully complete all that He desires and entirely achieve the purpose He intends. God’s plan of redemption is beyond anything we can imagine!

The difference and distance between Almighty God and His creation is infinite and eternal, but Heaven has come to Earth in the Person of Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word. Through His saving grace and sanctifying work, we can become more like Him as we submit to His will and follow His way. One day, Heaven and Earth will be joined together forever under the LORD’s glorious reign. We will receive a fuller description of that in Friday’s reading.

In today’s passage, the LORD portrays His work in the world using the water cycle. Rain and snow fall from the sky to hydrate the ground and fill the oceans. The water evaporates back into the sky to repeat the process over and over. During this cycle, plants flourish, seeds are harvested, and people make bread to enjoy and sustain life. God’s Word is fertile and fruitful, accomplishing His purpose, satisfying the needs of His people, and resulting in joy and peace.

Isaiah illustrates the transformation and culmination that will take place in the Day of the LORD using nature as an example. “The mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.” All creation will rejoice at the miraculous work of God in fulfillment of His promise!

Flourishing Habit

Flourishing Christians

In today’s reading, the LORD assures His people, “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace.” The Hebrew word for “peace” (shalom) is rich and meaningful. It conveys much more than just the absence of conflict. Shalom includes completeness and well-being, safety and prosperity, harmony and tranquility.

Isaiah refers to God’s “peace” several times in this book. In Isaiah 9:6, he includes it as part of Jesus the Messiah’s title. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

The Prince of Peace offers His shalom to those who put their faith and hope in Him. He provides an inner peace for His followers. “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal. LORD, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us” (Isaiah 26:3-4,12).

Of course, the greatest and most important peace that Jesus provides is peace with Almighty God. The Suffering Servant had to pay the price for sin as an atoning sacrifice to make that peace possible. “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

In Isaiah 32:17, the Messiah is a King who will reign in righteousness, and “the fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.” God’s peace is a gift for His people that calls them to justice, mercy, and faithfulness.

However, as Isaiah 48:22 declares, “The is no peace for the wicked.” That is part of the tragedy of rebelling against the LORD. “If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea” (Isaiah 48:18). Instead, those who reject God’s invitation will never experience true peace.

The peace God gives to His righteous people – the “fruit of righteousness” – will bless future generations. “All your children will be taught by the LORD, and great will be their peace. In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you” (Isaiah 54:13-14).

The salvation that the Suffering Servant offers His followers provides peace with God, peace with others, and peace within.

Ask God to give you His peace today, for your sake and the for the sake of those you will interact with. “Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.”

This week’s collective prayer: Father, teach me to be sensitive to your Holy Spirit at work in me. Amen.

Remember: Nothing changes until something changes!