Now it’s our turn. Having heard several examples of faith embodied, having set a foundation of Christ’s example, now Paul closes with a blessing for us as we live our faith out in this world. He blesses us on the good days and bad, when things are going well, and when they are challenging. Since God is the one who empowers us, we can have hope of how the Spirit can walk with us through whatever life sends our way.
It feels like one of the hardest parts of Christmas growing up was waiting. The Old Testament ends with a cliffhanger. One day God will send a Savior, who will fulfill a litany of promises and prophecies from the Old Testament. But when? There is about 400 years between the time that it is estimated the last book of the Old Testament was written and the arrival of Jesus. Isaiah 53 helps to paint the picture of the coming Savior, and why He was worth waiting for.
This week we get to hear stories of how God is at work in our community, women’s ministry, and through students making their profession of faith.
One definition of integrity focuses on who you are when others are not looking. Part of what this passage invites us to consider is also why we are doing what we are doing. Do we have a sense of why we are doing what we are doing that will guide us and ground us even if no one else is watching, or no one else sees, or we don’t even know the impact?