Joplin Community of Christ

Racial Justice
Day

Today’s Prayer for Peace – United Arab Emirates

Direct link to download today’s audio message http://jcoc.no-ip.org/media/JoplinCOC-01-16-2011.mp3

http://jcoc.no-ip.org/media/JoplinCOC-01-16-2011.mp3

Ministry of Music: “God’s Spirit as a Wind Doth Move” by Robert Leaf GIA Publications (G-2312)
OR “Waiting on the World to Change” by John Mayer
 A sign-language interpreted version can be viewed from YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSKJZtGtE0Q.
     OR “Song of Shalom”      NS 40

News and Announcements

Wednesday, Jan 19
Mid-week Renewal of the Spirit – 6:00 PM

Sunday, Jan 23
Theme: Cast Yor Net
Presider:
Speaker:
Musician: Diana Martin
Morning Devotions: Max and Sylvia Honeyball
Deacon in Charge: Sylvia Honeyball

Birthdays and Anniversaries, Jan 16-22
20 Shane Galbraith
21 Lois Irick

Exploring the Scriptures

This scripture is found in what scholars refer to as “Second Isaiah.” The book of Isaiah is thought to be written by two or three different authors and at different times in the history of Israel. The first 39 chapters are understood to be written before the destruction of the temple in Israel and the capture of the Jewish nation. The remainder, including the 49th chapter, was composed after the fall of Jerusalem when the Jewish nation was in Babylonian captivity—and after their return home. As we see, the first verse is addressed to those “from far away.” The intended audience was those who had been separated from their home and taken to a strange and far-off land. But being taken from their home is not the worst of it. The nation of Israel understood their only connection to God was found in the Holy of Holies in the inner most regions of the temple. The temple was destroyed and with it their connection to God. These verses are written to a people who understand themselves to be in total isolation from their home and from their God. These are words of encouragement and calling to those in captivity—an important message that God has not forsaken them and continues to call them as servants, despite their understanding.

These verses (named by scholars as a “Servant Song”) are the proclamations of one who has heard God’s call personally and to the world in general. This servant testifies of his own call that has been his from the beginning of his own creation. It is an intimate call, one of renewed relationship with God. This same call must be heard by those in captivity. God has called them from the beginning of creation; it is a call to relationship, not separation. He speaks for God, just as God has always done, calling humanity into relationship with God. Just as God has called him personally, he understands and expresses that God calls the entire world into relationship.

However, he proclaims further and even more importantly that for him, and for the world, this is a relationship that is not to be merely lived out in personal reflection. It is a relationship that must be expressed in service. It is in the living out of this relationship in service, even in the most dire of situations as those being lived out by his audience, that a true expression of servanthood is found.

At times, as expressed in verse 4, this service can seem to be in vain. Even the most committed of servants encounter frustration and disappointment. But the author reminds us that even when we think we are alone in our despair, God is present with us. This is another reminder of our ongoing relationship with God, even when we feel we have been taken to a far land and our connection with God has been destroyed. God’s light continues to shine on us, even when we see nothing but darkness. And in a world where God’s light seems all but extinguished, we can be that light if we continue to live out our relationship with God in service to others, as testified by the author in verse 6.

Central Ideas

1. God has called us from the beginning of our creation to be in relationship with God.
2. Even when we feel like we have been totally separate from God, God never abandons us and continues in relationship.
3. The best expression of our relationship with God is one of worshipful and humble service.

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