Rise Daily: March 25

Rise Daily: March 25

THIS WEEK’S THEME & PASSAGE

Doing Justice and Mercy – Isaiah 58:1-12

This week’s sermon from the series “Where We are Going: The City and the Mission“

THIS WEEK’S MEMORY VERSE

Memorizing scripture is a way to keep God’s word close to our hearts. Each week we will select one verse of scripture to remember as a community.

Isaiah 58:10
If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.

THE WORD

Each day’s devotion will focus on one part of the week’s passage.

Isaiah 58:10-12

10 If you pour yourself out for the hungry
and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
then shall your light rise in the darkness
and your gloom be as the noonday.
11 And the LORD will guide you continually
and satisfy your desire in scorched places
and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water,
whose waters do not fail.
12 And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
the restorer of streets to dwell in.

MEDITATION ON THE WORD

In our busyness and distraction, it is easy to skim through our reading rather than taking it in. Yet we believe this is the inspired word of God. Take a moment to pause, thank God for the scriptures and ask him to speak to you through them today.

When the relationship between God and his people is as it should be, the priorities of his heart are the priorities of theirs. We have been meditating on how the suffering of the poor and oppressed is a primary concern for him. When the Son of God inaugurated his earthly ministry, he actually quoted a portion of verse 6 of this passage with another from Isaiah 61:1-2, identifying his concern for the the poor and suffering as central to his gospel mission and key to its final outcome:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19)

Verses 11 and 12 of today’s passage lay out God’s promises to his people as they carry out Christ’s mission. When we pour ourselves out in loving works of mercy and justice, we will experience the uninterrupted leading of God. The gospel we bear will be that same tangible water of life promised to the woman at the well: true satisfaction. And the City of God, the light to the nations, will be restored.

As we reflect on the cross this Good Friday, we remember that Jesus poured out everything of himself to bring justice and restoration to the world. If a society of justice and flourishing is really what we want, there is no other choice for us but to do likewise: to take up our cross and follow in his steps toward that same goal—the ultimate restoration of the world.

THIS WEEK’S RISE REFLECTION

We hope you will say “I’m In” to pray, engage and give in your neighborhood as part of a gospel movement for the good of our city.  The vision of Rise is to see thousands of people rising to bring the hope, joy and grace of the gospel to every neighborhood. That vision starts with you… in your neighborhood. Have you considered how you could help bring hope to the poor and marginalized in your neighborhood by serving with or giving to Hope for New York?

TODAY’S PRAYER

For your Heart: Praise God for the promise that he will “guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong.” Praise God for the promise that “you shall be like a watered garden like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”

For your Church: Praise God for Easter! Pray for all the new people who will be attending worship services this weekend. Pray we would all live in greater hope and assurance of his ultimate restoration.

For our City: Praise God that he is renewing and restoring New York–he is working to rebuild our ruins, raise up the foundations of many generations, while repairing and restoring the streets and neighborhoods we live in.