Day 282: God is Invested in Us

1 Thessalonians 5; Isaiah 23-24; Psalm 116

I love the metaphor of light and darkness. Followers of Christ should live in the light, which I kind of equate with transparency, authenticity, purity, and awareness. The darkness, to me, represents secrecy, lostness, and hiding. Paul encourages believers to live in the light, that that is what God saved us for. He goes on to say a little more about how we should live: get along with each other, warn people who aren't living right, encourage and help people who feel left out or weak, be patient with people, and don't hate anyone. It's a lot harder to live out those things, than it is to list them off, but these should be some of our goals, some tangible ways to live out the gospel and love of Jesus.

Isaiah is pretty doom and gloom. For these two chapters, Isaiah shares of the destruction God is going to cause the earth. I think what is significant about this is that the people of these places saw themselves as being so secure, so wealthy, as if they had it all together. They weren't worried, thought highly of themselves, and trusted in their position and wealth. Then God shows up and with one swipe, knocks them on their rears and ruins everything they had built. This is a good reminder that the stuff I accumulate, whether it be money, possessions, popularity, status--they will not last if God's plan is to eliminate them.

This psalm is all about how God is personally invested in us and saves us. He pays attention to us, our prayers, our needs, our hurts, and wants to restore us. The psalmist wonders what he should give God for being so kind and merciful, but all he can really do is give a sacrifice or offering and his praise. Today, that sacrifice and offering is ourselves, our obedience. I love these verses especially: "You, Lord, have saved my life from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. Now I will walk at your side in this land of the living."