Isaiah 11:1-5

“The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.” vs. 2

Isaiah had great hopes for the coming child, the shoot from the stump of Jesse, the one who restore the glory of Israel. This child would bear the stamp of God and transform the world. “The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him…” he wrote, and we echo these words as we bring children to the baptismal font. Following the confession of faith and the pouring of the water, hands are laid on the child’s head with a prayer for the coming of the Spirit. “Pour out your Holy Spirit, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.” This is indeed our fervent prayer, that every baptized child would bear the stamp of God and be an agent of transformation in our world. This is our calling as followers of Jesus. We’ve not just joined a religious club, we’ve been touched by the spirit of the Lord, and through us the world is being changed for good. Advent gives daily opportunities for reflection on that precious and crucial commissioning. It may be that we’ve drifted away from the faith into which we were baptized. Self-examination can give us our bearings and guide our return…and that’s precisely the reason for this season!

Thought for the Day: What do I see when I examine my life?