Easter Sunday, April 20

Scripture: Isaiah 5-8, Psalm 110

Happy Easter Friends! He is risen! 

After his resurrection, Jesus  gave the disciples the choice to trust him and go into all the world and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28). In our reading, we see two people given a choice to trust God and do what God says. One responded in faith, one responded in fear. 

Isaiah was in the middle of great political change and spiritual unrest. But when God asked, “whom shall I send?” Isaiah faithfully replied: “Here am I. Send me!” (6:8)

King Ahaz was in the middle of conflict and despite God encouraging him to ask for a sign, Ahaz fearfully replied: “I will not ask.” (7:12)

Isaiah even included his family in his obedience. When God warned him “not to follow the way of this people” (8:11), Isaiah replied, “Here am I, and the children the Lord has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the Lord Almighty.” (8:18) 

As Isaiah and his family were a sign of God’s presence in a community filled with conspiracies and fear (8:12), we are invited to live OurStory as a sign of God’s grace and peace in the middle of great political and spiritual unrest and anxiety. God has defeated death and sin and created a new community in the church through Jesus! Will we choose faith or fear?

Household Challenge: 

1. If you do an egg hunt, incorporate the phrase, “Here am I. Send me!” after asking, “Who will go and find the eggs that have been hidden?”

Answer this question:

2.  Who is God sending us to so that we can be a sign of his grace and peace? Then pray for them and say, “Here we are. Send us!”

~Pastor Josh Kleinfeld

 Daily Prayer Focus:

For renewal of compassion, revival of joy and justice, resurgence of unity, restoration of hope in the Church in York  & PA & USA & the globe.