Morning Devotional 050225 Boldly Go the New Way

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

  May 2, 2025

Isaiah 43:16-21                     

16 The LORD says—who makes a way in the sea and a path in the mighty waters, 17 who brings out chariot and horse, army and battalion; they will lie down together and will not rise; they will be extinguished, extinguished like a wick. 18 Don’t remember the prior things; don’t ponder ancient history. 19 Look! I’m doing a new thing; now it sprouts up; don’t you recognize it? I’m making a way in the desert, paths in the wilderness. 20 The beasts of the field, the jackals and ostriches, will honor me, because I have put water in the desert and streams in the wilderness to give water to my people, my chosen ones, 21 this people whom I formed for myself, who will recount my praise.

Good Morning. God makes a new way so that we might find our way home!

There is a fine line between pondering ancient history and ignoring it. To ponder is to think about (something) carefully for an extended time, especially before making a decision or reaching a conclusion. 

It is important to remember so that we don’t repeat the same mistakes over and over again, but not be restricted to doing things the way they’ve always been done. Just because something worked 1000, 100, or even 10 years ago, doesn’t mean that is the best or only way to do it. 

We are continually moving forward, and we are not the same people who lived in the time of our ancient or more recent ancestors. Wesley believed that if we are not moving forward, we are actually falling behind. 

Churches become caught in this quagmire. Our vision is tainted by what has worked in the past when our church pews were full and everyone showed up for church events. We can’t or shouldn’t recreate the 1950s when we create church programming and policies. This idea might be comforting to a few, but it is destined to epicly fail because we have moved seventy years beyond those ideals.

Who will fill our pews if we expect everyone to come dressed to the nines wearing white gloves and patent leather shoes? There would be no food or drink in the sanctuary, and some of our creature comforts, like AC, would not exist. 

Whether our lifestyles are better or worse is not the heart of this discussion. The point is, we have changed, and we can’t reform ourselves into that persona. Churches must embrace the exciting, innovative edge and lead the way. The Methodist churches in the 1700s were out doing things in a new way as they helped shape the landscape and moved with the people across our wide country boundaries. 

Our job as Christians today is to step to the front and lead others as we follow the new ways revealed by Christ. We are called to boldly go where no people have gone before as we embrace new and exciting ways to journey toward eternal life together. 

Loving Lord, Maker of all things! Help us to shake off the dust of those who are pulling us away from you. Thank you. We love you, Lord! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen

Thought for the day: Boldly move into the future!

Embrace the new way! Pastor Liz