The Daily Devotional
Tuesday, August 13, 2024
Unexpected Fields of Grace
I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:19)
Introduction
In the unexpected corridors of the Everglades Correctional Facility, a setting far removed from the roar of sports stadiums, Isaiah 43:19 resonates with profound hope. This verse declares, "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." Here, we find a narrative of transformation and redemption, marked by the visit of a star quarterback to a place where one might least expect to find renewal.
Reflection
The quarterback, known more for his athleticism than his evangelism, stepped onto a different kind of stage, one surrounded not by cheering fans but by walls that have confined broken spirits. Yet, his message rooted in Isaiah 43:19 was not about his prowess on the field but about a God who reaches into the depths of despair to plant seeds of new beginnings. As he spoke, the atmosphere shifted from one of confinement to one of liberation, highlighting that God’s work transcends all boundaries, making the barren fields of our lives fertile ground for spiritual awakening.
The scene at the chapel, where hardened men were moved to tears and worship, vividly illustrates the scripture. Just as God promised to make a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, so He carved paths of redemption in the hearts of many that day. The quarterback's willingness to be a vessel of God’s message reminds us that our influence can extend far beyond our usual spheres when we are attuned to God’s directive.
Application
This story urges us to reconsider where and how we are called to serve. Often, we look for God in the comforts of familiar settings, yet He is also profoundly at work in the places we least expect. Are there "wastelands" in your life or community where you feel called to bring hope? How can you serve as a conduit of God’s new thing, ensuring that His living water reaches those who thirst in the most parched places?
Conclusion
The transformation witnessed in the chapel of the Everglades Correctional Facility is a powerful testament to the fact that no one is beyond the reach of God's renewing power. The event serves as a reminder that divine moments await in every corner of our lives, ready to unfold when we step out in faith to share the inexhaustible hope found in our Creator.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise to do new things in the midst of our wilderness and wastelands. Give us the courage to step beyond our comfort zones and to be instruments of Your grace in the unlikeliest of places. Just as You moved powerfully in the Everglades Correctional Facility, move in us and through us wherever we go, that many more might come to know Your transformative love. Let our lives be fertile ground for Your work, and help us to perceive and participate in the new things You are doing around us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Devotional by: Kenny Sallee, ThM — Deming, NM, USA
The Bible texts are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible (NRSV)© 1989, 1993, the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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