Misti McComas
Shelter from the Extremes
Isaiah 4: 2-6 (The Branch of the Lord)
Isaiah prophesied the coming of Jesus, his ministry, his death and resurrection, and even what is to come in the Kingdom of Heaven. In this passage, the Branch of the Lord is beautiful and glorious and its fruit is the pride and glory of God’s people. God promises to wash away the sins of the people and provide for them a place of shelter or a tabernacle from the extremes.
2020 has been a year of extremes. We can’t see our friends and family without extreme measures, we can’t even purchase groceries without putting on a mask, maintaining our distance, and frequent sanitizing and hand washing. We just had record breaking participation in our national elections and our nation is almost evenly divided, right down the middle. Plus, many of us may be experiencing the usual extremes, a death, illness, addiction, discord, job loss, and more. Where is our shelter?
Our shelter is in plain sight. Repent of your sins, then start treating people as if they were Christ. When you see someone else struggling, lift them up. Feed them, clothe them, advocate for them, and direct them to the places best set up to help them overcome. When you see someone rejoicing, rejoice with them. Put away your jealousy and envy. When you see someone facing the consequences of their sins or the sins of another, help them find healing and forgiveness. When you meet someone who’s grieving, grieve with them.
When you choose to become the fruit of Christ, you will find the shelter of God. “For over all the glory there will be a canopy.” This Advent season, I challenge you to find Christ in each other and together, discover the tabernacle.