Shiny New Things

Isaiah 9:2-7

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom,establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.

The people of Jesse had forgotten who they were. They had chosen the gods of other lands and governments over Yahweh because they were new, different and they came with statues, idols, mystery and with the promise of more. More wealth, more blessings... more stuff. These gods were shiny and new, but with each choice of other false gods they separated themselves farther and farther from the God of Israel, from God’s protection, and God’s blessings. These gods could give them nothing because they weren’t real. They were a distraction that would lead to darkness and captivity for Israel.

Sometimes our hearts are also distracted. We see the world with it’s beautiful shiny new things and we get a bad case of the gimmee’s. In fact, sometimes we think somehow we DESERVE these things. If other people don’t have these shiny new things and we do, sometimes somewhere deep, deep down in our hearts that dark little glimmer of sin that wants to come out, convinces us that we are better than the people that don’t have them. We begin to pat ourselves on the back for our shiny new things instead of taking our sense of satisfaction in serving the Lord well. But shiny new things can’t love us. Shiny new things can’t make us happy. Shiny new things could care less about our day and our problems…because the things we think we have and who we think we are when we have shiny new things just aren’t real.

Shiny new things will break, fall apart and go out of style but our God won’t. Our God will always hear our prayers. Our God will always hurt when we are hurting and bring us comfort when we struggle. God’s love is always waiting, ever true. Today, let us put aside all other “things” and as the people of Israel turned back to God and a new light dawned over them, may God light our hearts.

Prayer: Holy God, light our hearts and minds anew to your love and steadfastness. May we put aside distractions and focus on the Light of the World.