Prayers: Confession and words of assurance (taken from rootsontheweb.com):

Lord, we chase after many things, money, possessions, even relationships.  Things we feel we need, must have, should have, and are entitled to.  We act on impulse, wanting things now.  In our instant world, waiting is a struggle.  Lord, we are sorry for chasing such things, for being selfish and for making poor choices.  Help us to look to you first, to trust and wait for your guidance.

Amen.

Jesus’ sacrificial blood has been poured out so we can be forgiven. We are dead to sin and alive in him, forgiven and free.

Amen.

Reading: Isaiah 55:10-13

Reflection:

Words in our modern world have gained a bad reputation.  Politicians are masters of the silky sound bite which is pleasing to the ear, but which means very little.  Advertisers convince us that the latest gadget will change our lives, only for it to disappoint.  Social media spews out millions of words, many of them unreliable.  Little wonder that people take mere words with a pinch of salt. People want action rather than words. They want some evidence that what is said, is true and being lived by the person saying it.

In Isaiah 55 we find the prophet trying to instill hope into a people whose hopes have been dashed.  They had seen their homes destroyed and experienced the long march into captivity and slavery. They were used to the false promises from those in power. They also remembered God’s words of promise to their forbears with little hope in their hearts. It seemed to those captive slaves on the banks of the Euphrates that the word of God was as slippery as any other word.  But Isaiah says No!  God’s word and God’s action are not disconnected, like human words which let you down.  God says in Isaiah 55,  

“my word shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,  

and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.   

Centuries later Jesus came as the Eternal Word of God.  His words were God’s words and his actions were God’s actions.  Today God’s word is still active in our world, taking root in human hearts and minds.  When we hear God’s word and take it in, then our lives can never quite be the same again.  His word grows within us bearing fruit. For example, ‘Love God and love your neighbour’, says Jesus.  These are some of the  most profound words ever uttered, and completely transformative when we live them like Jesus.  May God’s enduring word produce fruit, transforming our lives, our communities and our world.

Hymn:  StF 164,  H&P 482. “Your words to me life and health”