Day 212, or July 31. I am here for you.
Our thoughts today are rooted in Isaiah chapter 65 verse 2. All day long I have held out my
hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations.
And now the big picture surrounding this verse. Isaiah, author of the longest prophetical
book in the whole Bible, has been called the St. Paul of the Old Testament, and his output,
style, and considerable vocabulary back this up. Isaiah's last three chapters bring his
prophecy of groaning and glory to a close, with the final chapter concentrating on the
seven times. Towards the end of Isaiah's life, King Hezekiah died, and was replaced
by the most wicked king who ever ruled in Judah. He was called Manasseh. Despite having
a very godly father, Manasseh veered away from everything connected to the God of Israel,
and probably gave Isaiah a hard time for the last years of this outstanding prophet's
life. And now today's action step.
It was a cynical but dim celebrity who looked at the wonderful statue of Christ the Redeemer,
standing on top of the Corcovado mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, and
laughed. He went on to say, If Jesus is shrugging his shoulders and hopelessly spreading his
arms wide, thinking, I don't know, do I? What hope do we have? How could he have missed
the point so miserably? Isaiah would have recognized the symbol immediately—a powerful
Christ holding out his arms as wide as they will go, to an obstinate world. It's a similar
gesture to a child describing how much they love you, or a shepherd ushering sheep into
a fold not wanting any to wander and get lost. Wherever you go in Rio, you are never far
from Christ the Redeemer, with his welcoming arms. And that is so true for all of us, wherever
we are. Isn't it about time you came back to him to receive his protection and forgiveness,
but most of all, his unfathomable love? This is another opportunity to listen to Day 21
again for more help.