Royal Return

Welcome to Our Daily Bread. I'm Sheridan Voisey and I've called our reading today Royal Return. With a worldwide audience estimated in the billions, the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II was possibly the most watched broadcast in history. One million people lined London streets on that day and 250,000 queued for hours that week to see the Queen's coffin. A historic 500 kings, queens, presidents and other heads of state came to pay tribute to a woman known for her strength and character. As the world turned its gaze to Great Britain and its departing Queen, my thoughts turned to another event, a Royal Return. A day is coming, we're told in Isaiah 45, when the nations will gather to recognize a far greater monarch. A leader of strength and character, before him every knee will bow and by him every tongue will swear, including the world's leaders who will pay him tribute and lead their nations to walk in his light. Not all will welcome this monarch's arrival, but those who do will enjoy his reign forever.

Just as the world gathered to watch a queen leave, one day it will see its ultimate King return. What a day that will be when one and all, in heaven and on earth, bow to Jesus Christ and recognize him as Lord. Today's scripture reading is from Isaiah chapter 45 verses 20 to 25. Gather together and come, assemble, you fugitives from the nations, ignorant of those who carry about idols of wood who pray to gods that cannot save.

Declare what is to be, present it, let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past, was it not I, the Lord? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior, there is none but me. Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth, for I am God and there is no other.

By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked. Before me every knee will bow, by me every tongue will swear. They will say of me, in the Lord alone are deliverance and strength. All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame, but all the descendants of Israel will find deliverance in the Lord and will make their boast in him. Let's pray together. Dear Jesus, what a day that will be when all we have just read will be fulfilled. We bow to you today, honouring you as the ultimate King of the world and the rightful ruler of our lives. We pray it in your name. Amen. Thanks for listening. I'm Sheridan Boise and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.