Author: Brian Burdett

“The Lord God,
who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares,
‘I will gather yet others to him
besides those already gathered.’”
– Isaiah 56:8

God is the Gatherer of Outcasts! Not just outcasts of Israel but of all the nations on Earth. God loves those on the fringes, those looked down upon, laughed at, or left out in the world. In fact, God is gathering to Himself a beautiful family of outcasts from every nation and ethnic group on the planet. A new family of brothers and sisters praising Jesus as Lord in all the languages of the world. We catch a glimpse of that family in Revelation 7. There are no outcasts in Heaven!

Do you ever feel like an outcast? You certainly aren’t in God’s eyes! You are very precious to the Lord. Indeed, you are worth Jesus sacrificing His life for you! In God’s family, you are a beloved child. Never an outcast. The world may treat you like an outcast, especially once you’re a follower of Jesus. But it doesn’t change who you really are in Jesus Christ! Royalty. An ambassador. A priest of God. Certainly not an outcast. #FollowJesus

“Let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
– Isaiah 55:7

This is the fundamental invitation of God! He is merciful and gracious. He wants to have a relationship with people, regardless of who they are. Nobody has to do anything to make that relationship possible because Jesus already did everything required. People just need to recognize that they’ve distanced themselves from God by sin and turn away from those sins, coming to the Lord, asking forgiveness in the name of Jesus. When they do, they will always be forgiven and welcomed into God’s family as a gift of grace given through faith in Jesus.

Who in your life needs to hear this invitation today? Who needs to know that God is compassionate and forgiving? That He’s always ready to welcome them with open arms when they turn from their sinful ways and embrace Jesus as their Lord? That there’s a place in God’s family for them? That it isn’t too late to live a transformed life pleasing to God?

Now, what are you waiting for… go tell them this good news!!! #FollowJesus

“How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,
who publishes salvation,
who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’”
– Isaiah 52:7

How are your feet? Are they beautiful??? Do you want them to be? Then go tell people about Jesus! If Jesus is your Lord, then you have Good News and you’re meant to share it! You have a message to tell friends, family, coworkers, neighbors and strangers. A story to tell near and far. That Jesus loves them and died for them. That forgiveness and freedom are available in Him. That God rejoices in having a relationship with them through Jesus. That all they need to be saved from their sins and receive God’s grace is to believe in Lord Jesus and call on His name.

It’s a simple message, but it’s one of peace – with God and with others. It’s a message of happiness – that true, lasting joy is available in the Lord. It’s a message of salvation – from the world, the flesh, and the devil. It’s a proclamation of God’s authority and the truth that after His death and resurrection, Jesus reigns over the entire universe.

When you bring that good news to others, you are God’s messenger of peace, hope, love, grace, mercy, and reconciliation. Whether you’re taking that message down the hall in your home, across the street in your neighborhood, or to the other side of the earth, you are a beautiful-footed messenger of God! God will bless you as you serve His purpose and make disciples of Jesus Christ. Not everyone will appreciate what you say or do, but God is blessing your beautiful feet nonetheless! #FollowJesus

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.’” – Revelation 21:3

The Bible ends as it began. With an earth uncorrupted by human sin. With a universe free from the curse of sin. With God visibly present with His people. With a perfect relationship of friendship and love that never ends between God and His greatest Creation – human beings made in His image. It won’t be a garden, it will be a city. It won’t be for two people but for millions or billions. This is the renewed heaven and earth that will be ushered in after Jesus returns and His judgement is complete. This is what every follower of Jesus should be eagerly looking forward to!

At some point, a date known only to God, all the brokenness we’re familiar with will be repaired. All the ugliness will be replaced by beauty. The chaos will be tamed by order. The sense that “something’s missing” or that “something’s wrong” will be gone forever. In Christ, we’ll enjoy the visible presence of God the Father and Jesus the Son forever. We’ll never again experience sorrow, grief, pain, or outrage. We’ll work without difficulty, injustice, or oppression. We’ll worship without interruption. Our lives won’t be conflicted and inconsistent but will be perfectly whole in a way we can only dream about now.

This day will come. Until then, every follower of Jesus at every age and stage of life has work to do. We must be making disciples – introducing people to Jesus and helping them follow Jesus. Inviting others into this glorious Kingdom of Christ. We must be practicing the love that will characterize this perfect Kingdom and showing it to people who currently reside in the fallen kingdoms of this world. We must immerse ourselves in the reality of God’s presence in us as we carry the Holy Spirit with us wherever we go. Though it isn’t what it will be on that glorious day, the Kingdom of Christ is present in us today and we must live as citizens of that Kingdom and ambassadors of our King. #FollowJesus

“The Lord God has given me
the tongue of those who are taught,
that I may know how to sustain with a word
him who is weary.
Morning by morning he awakens;
he awakens my ear
to hear as those who are taught.”
– Isaiah 50:4

How do you start your day? News? Coffee? Tea? Social Media? Games? Talking? Silence? What about God’s Word? There’s a lot of wisdom in letting God’s voice be the first to speak into your mind and heart each day. Before the world. Before other people. Even before yourself. Let God awaken your eyes, ears, and thoughts by reading or listening to a portion of the Bible before you scroll your phone, read your paper, or catch up with family or friends.

The Bible is “the tongue of those who were taught”. It speaks with the words God spoke through the prophets and apostles long ago. It speaks to your life today. These words are what God will use to renovate your heart and soul if Jesus is your Lord. They’ll also be the words that come to your mind as you comfort, care for, strengthen, and encourage other people you encounter.

Let yourself be taught by God morning by morning. Make time (you won’t find it, you’ll have to make it) in your busy schedule to enjoy a chapter or two of God’s Word for yourself. Morning by morning, work your way through the Bible and let God’s full counsel speak into your soul. Read a bit. Think about what you read – what it means and how it applies to your life. Then pray about it and everything else on your mind and heart. God will do extraordinary things in you, morning by morning. #FollowJesus