Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.
The good news comes to God's people in Isaiah 52:7-10. The messenger is received with joy, how much more joy should greet the message? What is this message? Verse seven describes it as peace, happiness, and salvation which stem from the reign of God.
So many are hesitant. We want to govern ourselves. We want no other ruler. And by some who have been hurt by the church or have been taught that Christianity is foolish, irrelevant, or even dangerous, news of God's reign is treated as very bad news.
It's still good news. counter to our expectations, God is still the ruler of all, and his realm is full of mercy.
God brings peace. He is the one who breaks down the wall of separation our sins have erected. He is the one who makes peace with God in Christ. And he is the one who both commands us to live at peace with others and equips us to walk in that peace.
God in Christ also gives us happiness. There is a right pleasure to be had as we live in this good and beautiful world our Lord has created. There are delights all around, if we will bother to look for them.
The salvation of God is shown in his promise that his people will not be subject to sin and death forever. He has overcome death. He is able to preserve us in him.
All this comes from God's reign. He is the one who brings redemption and establishes his good and gracious kingdom. Maybe it's time we looked to him with fresh eyes. He is the good king of all.
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