Thought for July 9, 2024

  •  1877: First Wimbledon Tennis Tournament--Men only
  • 1918: 101 killed and 171 injured in train wreck in Nashville. Two passenger trains operated by the Nashville, Chattanooga  and St. Louis Railway collide head on at Dutchman's Curve near Belle Meade [White Bridge Road] at 7:20 a.m. Track still in use near St. Thomas Hospital.
  • 1956: Dick Clark’s first appearance as host of American Bandstand
  • 1981: Donkey Kong game released
  • 2018: Brett Kavanaugh nominated to the Supreme Court
  • Born: Elias Howe, Tom Hanks, Courtney Love, OJ Simpson
  • Died: Zachary Taylor, King Gillette, Rod Steiger, 
Thought: 
Back in Mark 1 this morning reading verses 2-3 quoting Isaiah 40. Flip back to Isaiah for a moment and look at chapter 40. This chapter is a hinge chapter that begins with "Comfort my people." Why? The warfare has ended [40:2]. Jesus is victorious. The glory of the Lord is to be revealed and we will see it together [40:5] Things of earth will pass away, but the word of the Lord stands forever. [40:8] Mark's gospel reminds us that 700 years earlier, God gave word to Isaiah and the word was to comfort His people because warfare has ended--The Prince of Peace is coming and He will be our peace. 

Read again verse 2-3 of Mark 1. Who will prepare the way for the coming of the Lord? One crying in the wilderness. Of course, on one level this is a clear reference to John the Baptist as the following verses point out. But as I read these two verse this morning, the Lord speaks to me with the same question--who will prepare the way for His second coming? John the Baptist proclaimed His first coming, but we are those who now proclaim His second coming. The message is similar to the one in Isaiah 40--all flesh is like the grass and will wither and fade, but the Living Word of God stands forever and He is coming soon. 

Isaiah gives us instructions--say to the cities, "Here is your God." [40:9] We often sing that hymn, "Behold Our God” based on Isaiah 40. He comes as Shepherd for His flock with His reward [40:10-11], but He also comes with recompense in His hands [40:10] So, we proclaim the coming Great Shepherd to the sheep of His pasture and the coming wrath for those not of the flock. But it has been a long time since Isaiah wrote and a long time since the resurrection. Isaiah 40 ends with a promise--He does not become weary or tired; and He gives strength to the weary and power to the weak. Those who wait upon the Lord gain new strength, mount up on eagles' wings, run and not get tired, walk and are not weary. 

God knew that sharing the gospel would take a long time. He knew I would grow weak and get tired. He knew that days would be difficult and discouraging as we proclaim His victory--BUT He promised strength for every day and every occasion. So today as we cry out into the wilderness of this world--Jesus reigns--don't get weary and tired, don't give up--He is our strength. 

Blessings
Larry

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