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Summer is only a few days away. June 21st, the longest day, is this weekend. It’s difficult to believe that we’re almost half way through this year. So what might the Lord say to us as we look ahead?

Listen to Isaiah 30:15-21

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. You said, ‘No, we will flee on horses.’ Therefore you will flee! You said, ‘We will ride off on swift horses.’ Therefore your pursuers will be swift! A thousand will flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you will all flee away, till you are left like a flagstaff on a mountaintop, like a banner on a hill.” Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

God tells Israel to rest in him, to trust him. Israel refused. But God remained faithful, his promise never failed. And it’s a promise we can trust. Repentance, rest, quietness, and trust define the posture of those who are learning to trust God. As Isaiah reminds us, the Lord longs to be gracious and show compassion to us. No matter what might come, he will guide us along the straight path. A train cannot veer from the rails; in the same way the Lord keeps us on track as we listen to him: “This is the way; walk in it.”

Summer approaches; whatever circumstances lie ahead, whatever hopes or fears may come, look to Jesus. He is with you and will lead you. And in the end, he’ll bring you to your destination – eternal life in him.

視頻大意翻譯 (video Chinese translation):

嗨!

再過幾天就是夏天了。這周末，6月21日，最長的白晝。很難相信今年我們已經過了一半了。在我們往前望時，主可能對我們說甚麼呢?

聽聽以賽亞書30:15-21

主耶和華以色列的聖者曾如此說、你們得救在乎歸回安息．你們得力在乎平靜安穩．你們竟自不肯．你們卻說、不然、我們要騎馬奔走．所以你們必然奔走．又說、我們要騎飛快的牲口．所以追趕你們的、也必飛快。一人叱喝、必令千人逃跑．五人叱喝、你們都必逃跑．以致剩下的、好像山頂的旗杆、岡上的大旗。耶和華必然等候、要施恩給你們．必然興起、好憐憫你們．因為耶和華是公平的　神．凡等候他的都是有福的。百姓必在錫安在耶路撒冷居住．你不再哭泣．主必因你哀求的聲音施恩給你．他聽見的時候、就必應允你。主雖然以艱難給你當餅、以困苦給你當水、你的教師卻不再隱藏、你眼必看見你的教師．你或向左、或向右、你必聽見後邊有聲音說、這是正路、要行在其間。

神告訴以色列民要在祂裡面安息，信靠祂。以色列民拒絕。但神仍舊信實，祂的應許絕不落空。是我們可以信靠的應許。悔改、休息、安靜，和信任定義了那些正在學習信靠上帝的人的態度。

以賽亞書提醒我們，主渴望仁慈並憐憫我們。不管會發生甚麼事，祂會指引我們走在正路上。火車無法偏離軌道，就像我們聽從祂時，主會讓我們走在正軌上：「這就是路; 走進去。”

夏天就到了，不管前面環境如何，是盼望或恐懼，望向耶穌。他與你一起並會帶領你。在最後，祂將帶你到目的地-在祂裡面的永生。

讓我們禱告。

Grace and peace

Pastor Callum