Christ Church Daily Devotion June 1 2024

The Daily Devotion for June 1st, 2024, focuses on the passage from Isaiah. It encourages seeking the Lord and turning away from wickedness. The passage emphasizes that God's thoughts and ways are higher than ours. It reminds us that God's ways are not limited to a specific group and that God surprises those who think they have Him figured out. The reflection highlights the relief in knowing that despite human mistakes, God's ways offer forgiveness and new life. It concludes by suggesting a prayer of gratitude for the opportunity to learn and live God's ways. Welcome to Christ Church's Daily Devotion for June 1st, 2024. Today we will be reading from Isaiah chapter 55 verses 6 through 9. Seek the Lord while he may be found, call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways, and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. It is good to be reminded every so often that God's ways are not our ways. When we have done something really bad to mess up our life, it's good to know that God's ways are not our ways, that we can be forgiven and can be given new life. When we get to thinking that God is primarily for me and my kind, it is good to know that God's ways are not our ways, that God is connected to all people of the earth in an amazing diversity of languages and cultures. When we get to thinking that God is on our side about any particular situation, it is good to be reminded that God's ways are not our ways, that throughout the Bible, God surprised those who thought they had God all figured out. When we reflect on how often us humans have messed up the world since the beginning of time, it is such a relief to know that God's ways are not our ways. So let's give thanks today that God's ways are not our ways, but let's also be reminded that God, that Jesus Christ, came to teach us the ways of God and invite us to learn and live those ways. And as we do that, the world becomes more what God intends it to be. Your personal worship option today, offer this prayer or one like it in your own words about this devotional. Holy God, I am thankful that your ways are not my ways and thank you for your invitation to learn your ways so that I can help others come to know, love, and serve you. In Jesus' name, amen.