“A voice says, ‘Cry!’”Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” (Isaiah 40:9)
God always wants preachers and teachers and singers and yellers and talkers. Even before He gave the law to Israel, He first spent a good chapter or so telling the Israelites to teach and share the law. His most beloved king, David, authored psalms, and King Solomon wrote proverbs; he sent prophets to preach the coming gift of His Son. Search all the religions of the earth, and you won’t find another God so in love with communicating Himself to His people.
Where there’s speech, there’s a desire for relationship—even hateful words are spoken with a desire to reach out and hurt. Words reveal that the bond between two parties isn’t over yet; at least one is still in touch. Wherever speech remains, the possibility of friendship remains.
So now consider what you will hear on Christmas, less than two weeks away: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). God’s speech, the proof of His desire for you, lives. He lives eternally, having surpassed even death. By His life, the Church has something to speak—a good word from God!—and in the Church’s speech, Jesus lives. Surely, then, God hasn’t given up, not on you and not on the world!
LET US PRAY: Fill all the ears of creation with Your word, O Lord, and open our lips to speak what we have heard, that all the world would know and love Your redeeming friendship; through Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. Amen
