A Thought

“There will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain.”  Isaiah 4:6

The prophet is obviously not talking about literal covering from the elements when he is referring to the Lord’s protection for a nation called to repentance, just as Jesus Himself reminds us that the Lord sends “rain on the just and the unjust”.  Storms will come as we face adversity almost daily, some more than others. 

The compelling question is whether the Church (that is, the body of believers) is waiting for literal covering to come for its own sake, or is willing to provide covering for those who endure adversity not of their own making.  This is the difference between a “private club” mentality and the true Body of Christ on a mission to “make disciples”.

Either way, the promise the Lord makes through the prophet is certain; the “shade”, the “place of refuge”, the “shelter from the storm” will come for those who turn to the Lord.  The “compelling question” asks whether we as the Church are willing to be the Lord’s instruments to make this happen – or – if we will be the barrier the Lord will have to work around.

Let us be instruments of grace today and each day the Lord gives us breath.  There will never be a better time than the present to be the Body of Christ.

Blessings,

Michael