August 9, 2021

Daily Devotionals

august 9, 2021

Our Peachtree Church email devotionals this week, August 9-13, will be written by Peachtree’s Pastoral Care staff.

Here is my servant, whom I uphold,

my chosen, in whom my soul delights;

I have put my spirit upon him;

he will bring forth justice to the nations.

He will not cry or lift up his voice,

or make it heard in the street;

a bruised reed he will not break,

and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;

he will faithfully bring forth justice.

He will not grow faint or be crushed

until he has established justice in the earth;

and the coastlands wait for his teaching.

Isaiah 42:1-4

Gentle Reverence is one of our values here at Peachtree. There’s an explanatory addition: “Because the Gospel requires both grace and truth.” Pastor Rich came by my desk one day as I was looking over our three values and said that Gentle Reverence is the hardest one of the three. It takes rare skill and wisdom to share both truth and grace and have it be accepted. For example, you might have to share with a colleague or friend that you know they have done something unworthy, something they should never repeat. But you still want to be friends; you forgive and still love them. It’s a tricky conversation as you thread a path between being seen as harsh and judgmental or being seen as a pushover who lets go of the misdeed just to keep the peace. And yet the relationship will be permanently affected if both truth and grace aren’t operating.

If we are Gospel people, we must speak with both truth, as we hold on to our values, and grace, offering forgiveness just as we have been forgiven. As we think about how to do both at the same time, the Scripture above gives us some help. For the Suffering Servant, both truth and grace are fully lived out. The prophet Isaiah described this servant of God in four passages, often called the Suffering Servant songs. Jewish readers identify the nation of Israel itself as the servant of God who endures horrible suffering as the servant seeks to represent God among the nations. There is a great deal of helpful truth in this interpretation.

Christian readers find the Messiah Jesus in these same songs. In verses 1 and 4, we can see that bringing about justice in the world is one of His assignments. But look at the way the Servant does that in verses 2-3: He does it gently, not raising His voice, not being strident or overwhelming. He doesn’t storm in, crushing the bruised reeds or quenching flickering flames. Could these be people who are already bowed down with hurts or sorrow? The kind of justice the Servant wields does not brutalize them because the Servant is gentle with them. Justice will come as the gift of the Servant but not at the cost of brutality.

Have you ever had truth spoken to you in such a way that you recognized you really did need to do better? And yet the truth was so kindly shared that you actually felt that you could make the needed change because you were valued and encouraged by the truth teller? If so, then you have known gentle reverence.

For Reflection

Sometimes having someone tell you the truth partnered with grace can be life-changing. Can you pinpoint such a time in your life?

Have you ever shared both truth and grace with someone?

Prayer

Dear Lord, sometimes I don’t want to know the truth about myself because I don’t want to change. I’m afraid I don’t have the energy, courage, or resolve to make the necessary change. But when You bring me truth, You also bring Your grace to help me make those necessary changes. You love me and value me so much that You tell me the truth and also offer me grace and companionship as I try to make things right. You won’t let me stay as I am, and You love me through it all. Thank You, Lord! Amen.

Rev. Vicki Franch

Pastor for Pastoral Care

404-842-2571