Isaiah 60:1-6 (NRSV)
Read Isaiah 60:1-6 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 60Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Verse 2For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Verse 3Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Verse 4Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses' arms. Verse 5Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. Verse 6A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.
Devotion
I don’t know who first invented the concept of the “Homecoming Game,” but it was really a stroke of marketing genius. Because when “home” is a place of safety, nurturing and happiness, who could resist the opportunity for homecoming?
Isaiah understands that feeling. Isaiah describes a homecoming initiated by God. As Isaiah describes it, the experience will be beyond our wildest expectations: “Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice.” (v. 5)
Our relationship with God is never static. Some days are better than others. Some days are closer than others. Some days are wonderful, and some days are just too busy to think about it. But homecomings are wonderful! Homecomings with God are particularly blessed. Take a moment from your busy, stress-filled, perhaps chaotic day and enjoy a homecoming with God today.
Prayer
Dear Lord, you are our home, our shelter, our comfort, our place of safety in a troubled world, our place of comfort. Help me to find a moment of rest in you this day. Give me the sense of peace that only comes when I know I am home in you. Amen.