An inviting future
Just as water fills the sea,
the land will be filled
with people
who know
and honor the Lord. ~ Isaiah 11:9b (CEV)
God himself was pleased
to live fully in his Son.
And God was pleased
for him to make peace
by sacrificing his blood
on the cross,
so that all beings in heaven
and on earth
would be brought back to God. ~ Colossians 1:19-20 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
The future God is making looks inviting.
PRAYER:
God, you are busy remaking creation -- restoring peace, reconciling humanity to yourself... It all looks bright and wonderful. Help me to live in light of the future and to not get so discouraged by the problems of the present. When I let things get to me I'm not trusting you. But I am going to look at things in light of your promised future. Amen.
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
