2026 Epiphany Devotions
Monday, January 12
Isaiah 49:1-4
1 Listen to me, O coastlands;
pay attention, you peoples from far away!
The Lord called me before I was born;
while I was in my mother’s womb he named me.
2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword;
in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me a polished arrow;
in his quiver he hid me away.
3 And he said to me, “You are my servant,
Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”
4 But I said, “I have labored in vain;
I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity;
yet surely my cause is with the Lord
and my reward with my God.”
“… 3 And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” …”
After the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians in the sixth century BC, many of the Israelites were led into captivity where they languished in despair for fifty years while the land itself fell into disrepair. It is during this time the Isaiah pens the prophecy about Israel being a servant of the Lord. Rather than abandoning the peoples God had created, nurtured, and loved for generations, God offers a promise of renewal – a renewal that serve others a glorify God.
Sometimes, our lives get tough. Like those ancient Israelites, we become captive to despair, anxiety, and sorrow. We languish in our depression, anger, and frustration. It is difficult for us to see any way out and everything around us seems to be falling apart.
But, as God did with the Israelites, God offers us a promise of renewal. It comes in the form of servanthood. Serving others for the sake of the Lord becomes our mission and ministry. Rather focusing on self, we focus on others – how we might help them, raise them up, and care for them. In this way, not only are they assisted, not only do we often discover renewal and joy, but God is glorified.
Prayer: Lord, as you called the Israelites to be Your servants, so too You have called us to servanthood. Renew my spirit this day that I may seek to glorify You by serving others. Amen.