*Scripture: Isaiah 30:15-26 (NKJV)* 15 For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: "In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength." But you would not, 16 and you said, "No, for we will flee on horses"—therefore you shall flee! And, "We will ride on swift horses"—therefore those who pursue you shall be swift! 17 One thousand shall flee at the threat of one, at the threat of five you shall flee, till you are left as a pole on top of a mountain and as a banner on a hill. 18 Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him.
19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; You shall weep no more. He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; When He hears it, He will answer you. 20 And though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, but your eyes shall see your teachers. 21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left. 22 You will also defile the covering of your graven images of silver, and the ornament of your molded images of gold. You will throw them away as an unclean thing; You will say to them, "Get away!" 23 Then He will give the rain for your seed with which you sow the ground, and bread of the increase of the earth; It will be fat and plentiful. In that day your cattle will feed in large pastures. 24 Likewise the oxen and the young donkeys that work the ground will eat cured fodder, which has been winnowed with the shovel and fan. 25 There will be on every high mountain and on every high hill rivers and streams of waters, in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. 26 Moreover the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD binds up the bruise of His people and heals the stroke of their wound. *Devotion* In our readings for this past week we have heard the prophet tell God's people to repent and return to Him. And in each reading the people have said, "No thanks, Lord, we'll do it our way. We can take care of ourselves!" The Israelites of Isaiah's day could be compared with much of the Christian Church today. Many of the things they claimed to be their strength are the kinds of things the church uses today. For example, big buildings, big organs, a powerful preacher, creative worship, social programs, and acceptance of all lifestyles are all simply ways to make the Church acceptable to society. But in all these programs is there any assurance from God that He wants to use them to make disciples of Jesus Christ? In St. Matthew 28 Jesus tells His Apostles how to make disciples. He told them to baptize them "in the Name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you." Then He tells them not to worry, "I am with you always." He doesn't advocate for better and more popular programs, bigger parking lots, more attractive enticements. He simply wants the Pastor to be about preaching and teaching God's Word in its truth and purity, and administering His Sacraments faithfully. There is where you will find God's Church strong and confident, living in God's grace. There is where God promises to be active and working, calling people into His eternal kingdom. Thanks be to God, we can trust Him to give the growth!
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