Heavenly Posture

"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 4He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore." (Isaiah 2:3-5)

I'm learning late in life that I am getting easily distracted these days. My mind is usually a few days ahead focusing on what I believe will be or might be, and developing plans to deal with those things a few days (or months) out. In sitting back and trying to relax, I get distracted by "things" like gadgets, or thoughts, or gadgets and thoughts simultaneously.

So, how do we posture ourselves to minimize life when we hear or read God's Word? How do we remove the distractions? For example, how do we prepare for worship on Sundays?

As of the last 10 years or so, I'll listen to the Lutheran Hour on Sunday morning as I get ready to come to church by pulling it up via the LHM Connect app. I know we have a member at our church who does the same and sits in his truck listening with his son before worship on the radio. Hopefully, my mind is quiet and listening to God better when I come to worship.

Isaiah is addressing Israel and inviting Israel to come to the temple (Zion) in Jerusalem to hear God's Word. In his temple, his Law and his Word will come forth, and he shall judge the nations. He will bring peace ("beat swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks"). Isaiah will make many prophecies about this "messiah that is to come," and he is appealing to a divided kingdom to change its posture.

Pray for the Spirit to help us with our posture as we read or hear God's Word, that we hear the call of Christ, the Word of God, in our own lives, and that we take this Word of God to the lost. Through living Christ's greater purpose in our own lives, we pray we have opportunities to disciple to many in our own communities, to prepare for Christ's return.