Isaiah 35:10 And those the Lord has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
    everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
    and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

A musical setting for this is echoing in my mind and heart as I read this chapter. Despite the many wars they have endured, this has been fulfilled in Israel over the past 77 years. It is striking to me that, alone among the developed nations of the world, the birth rate in Israel is well over the “replacement rate,” with families of 3 or 4 children being the norm rather than the exception. That shows that the people have hope, in the middle of danger. Actually, the danger is part of it, because the people are aware that they or their neighbors might be cut down by their enemies, and they want their heritage to remain. In other countries, people have become complacent, feeling little to no responsibility to preserve anything, because life is so easy. The same thing might be said of churches. When there is no opposition, simply keeping the organization running seems to be enough. In times of persecution, there is pressure to communicate the Gospel before those who know it are eliminated. As Jesus said to the church in Laodicea, complacency can be fatal! (Revelation 3:14-22) When life is easy, either individually or as a church, we need to be grateful for the blessings, but at the same time be very aware of our responsibility to propagate, so that God’s family may grow.

I have some real identification with this. My wife and I might not have started our family when we did, but I passed my physical for the military draft, and Cathy said, “You aren’t going to Viet Nam without my having your child.” I have always recognized the evangelistic imperative, but at this point in the life of this church, I want to have it on good footing before I am taken away, and I am more personally active in evangelism. God knows full well that we need some pressure and encouragement to keep growing, so He supplies it! My challenge as a pastor is to help the believers grasp that the time isn’t unlimited. Neither they nor their neighbors are guaranteed tomorrow, so today is the day of salvation! We can’t save anyone on our own, but God wants to save as many as possible before the time runs out, so we need to be cooperative.

Father, thank You for making it clear what You want me to say on Sunday. I ask for Your anointing as I prepare the notes and as I deliver the message, so that Your Word may have its full work through me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!