Isaiah 60:17-22 (NRSV)
Read Isaiah 60:17-22 on biblegateway.com
Verse 17Instead of bronze I will bring gold, instead of iron I will bring silver; instead of wood, bronze, instead of stones, iron. I will appoint Peace as your overseer and Righteousness as your taskmaster. Verse 18Violence shall no more be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. Verse 19The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you by night; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Verse 20Your sun shall no more go down, or your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended. Verse 21Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever. They are the shoot that I planted, the work of my hands, so that I might be glorified. Verse 22The least of them shall become a clan, and the smallest one a mighty nation; I am the Lord; in its time I will accomplish it quickly.
Devotion
Years ago I served on the board of directors of Lutheran Family Service of Oregon. One weekend another board member and I visited the LFS office in Klamath Falls. There we met a counseling group of Vietnam veterans and their families. Every last man said that he would not be alive except for the group. The only gift more precious than life is life given back again. For death we are given life; for darkness, light. The light of Christ has come into the world! Alleluia!
Prayer
Precious Light of God, thank you for the life you give, the everlasting light of Christ! Amen.