“Shout it out loud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the descendants of Jacob their sins.” Isaiah 58:1 NIV
Nearly one year after Emma Bates considered no longer running professionally, she crossed the finish line of the California International Marathon Sunday in 2:28:18 - to not only win the 26.2 mile race but become the 2018 USATF Marathon champion. Competing without a sponsor, the 26-year-old’s sole intention, she said, was to raise awareness and funds for the victims of the California wildfire that recently destroyed the town of Paradise. “My goal in running is to be good enough to have a voice for people who need it. I wanted to run for more than just myself today.”
You know, Isaiah was also a person with a sole intention. A sole intention to use the position God had placed him in to raise his “voice like a trumpet” to people who needed to hear the message of repentance - people who would perish in their sin if they didn’t turn from their rebellion. He was told to “shout it loud” and to “not hold back” so that the message might be heard and heeded. And it’s that same message you and I should be boldly sharing today as well.
So in a world that needs to hear the Truth, will you be silent? Or will you, like Isaiah, "raise your voice" to warn a rebellious generation of the consequences of turning away from God? As followers of Jesus Christ, let me remind you that remaining silent is not an option my friend - our sole intention must be leading others to the foot of the Cross.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the reminder that there are people that desperately need to hear the message of salvation. Help us to be bold yet loving as we sound the alarm that the time of redemption is near. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.
Happy Running!!!
Shout it out - Phil Wickham
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