Written By Mike Jantzen
November 24 2017
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One
branch of the ministry I work for digs deep-water wells in Africa so villagers
no longer have to travel for hours, often on foot, to obtain dirty and diseased
water. I love watching the videos they bring back. The moment the water first
gushes from the pipe, a party erupts: children jumping, dancing, and splashing,
the whole village smiling and cheering. They can’t help but rejoice!
The prophet Isaiah foretold the destruction of Jerusalem for the people’s idolatry, but he also spoke of God’s merciful salvation that would come later, and how people would rejoice when returned from exile.
The prophet Isaiah foretold the destruction of Jerusalem for the people’s idolatry, but he also spoke of God’s merciful salvation that would come later, and how people would rejoice when returned from exile.
Followers
of Jesus have been rescued from being judged and exiled from God. The gospel is
our well of salvation, and Jesus is the one who dug and built it.
The
African villagers depend on, and use, their well daily. What a waste it would
be if they didn’t! Yet, we too often forget to live by the grace of the gospel
each and every day — to remind ourselves just how saved and treasured by God we
really are. We let fears and distractions crowd out the truths by which we’re
supposed to live.
So,
how can we experience joy today and draw water from the well of salvation? If
we read back one verse in Isaiah and one verse ahead, we have the answer. Make
it your prayer today:
“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation…. Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.” Amen (Isaiah 12:2,4).
Go Deeper —
Preach the gospel to yourself daily, starting with today. Post one of your
favorite verses in a familiar place: the fridge or bathroom mirror as a sticky
note, or as the image on your computer or cellphone desktop.
Do you feel separated
from God today? Read The End of Our Exile.
Read more articles from the life, here.
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