Corona Devo 3015

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”  ~Isaiah 52:7

Christmas parties!  Christmas Eve gatherings.  Christmas Day brunches and lunches and suppers.  Friends-mas!  New Year's Eve get-togethers!  New Year's Day celebrations!  And every holiday-gathering in between...

The holidays mean people.  And people mean personalities and conversations and connections, and opinions, and opposites and sometimes opposition.  

People can mean gossip and hearsay and negativity.  Or, people can mean love, and words-of-encouragement, and life.

There will be many gatherings in the coming days.  What will our verbal role and attitude be like?

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”  ~Isaiah 52:7

Isaiah gives us our holiday talking-points right here in a single verse.  It's almost as if (over 2700 years ago), he knew our family, or he knew our friends...or he knew us.

But perhaps, it isn't Isaiah that knows us and our family all-too-well.  Just maybe it is our Heavenly Father and Almighty God who speaks this verse into our hearts today...before the big family gathering.  

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, (17) so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.  ~2 Timothy 3:16-17

We know the pitfalls of many words and one-way opinions.  It's difficult to discuss (or digest!) anything when there is someone (verbally) ugly at the table or in the family.  

Does someone come to our mind?

Do WE come to people's minds?

...But what if at the holiday get-togethers this year--we were beautiful.

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”  ~Isaiah 52:7

What if at this year's party it was our feet who bring (God's) good news?  

What if, instead of dissecting our differences...we were the ones proclaiming peace and bringing good tidings to the team/family/friends/co-workers/visitors/neighbors that we encounter throughout holiday festivities.

What if?

I dare say that this verse helps us to understand one of God's recipes for proclaiming salvation and inviting others into it.  Our condescension will not bring others to Christ, and shaming someone has never completed a conversion.  But bringing good news, proclaiming peace, bringing good tidings, and proclaiming salvation...these things can proclaim and initiate true change and salvation.

Let's be beautiful (in Christ) this Christmas season!

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”  ~Isaiah 52:7

Father, please forgive us for the many times and many tongues of ours that have NOT done these things.  Our feet are not always beautiful.  And in truth, we often track-in "dirt" (opinions/judgments/bias/self-righteousness) that we shouldn't, and we leave muddy footprints on people's hearts...all because we are speaking the opposite news/love/grace/mercy that you compel us to proclaim to others.

Lord, have mercy on us for the (too) many times that we have not proclaimed peace, but instead we have used our words to wound, or to stir suspicion through gossip.  Peace comes from You and Your Word and ways, but unrest, dissonance, and brokenness come from us.  When we are not proclaiming Your peace, we are choosing to proclaim ourselves instead.  Forgive us, Lord, and make us beautiful in our coming interactions with others.  Purify our hearts and beautify our Spirits, Father.  Help us to bring (Your) good news, to proclaim peace, to bring good tidings, to proclaim salvation, and Lord God, help us to say to Zion and the world, “Your God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7), because YOU DO!  Amen.



Whatever the reason for the gathering, let's let our Lord be the guide of our conversation and attitude.  Make us beautiful for Your glory, Father!

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”  ~Isaiah 52:7 

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com

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