Isaiah 11:1-10, Romans 15:4-13 Isaiah 11 is another prophecy of the coming of Christ. The word Christ means Messiah. It again uses the language of a shoot of Jesse, telling of the family tree Jesus will be from. The Spirit of the Lord is said to rest on him. This Spirit includes God’s wisdom, council, might, knowledge, and reverence for the Lord. Righteousness, equity, and faithfulness mark the leadership of Christ who will champion the poor and meek but overthrow the wicked. This reign of the true Davidic king leads to the ultimate advent of the peaceable kingdom where all orders of creation creates a new Eden-like community. In Romans Paul tells how whatever was written in former times was for their instruction. He quotes many Messianic prophecies emphasizing the servanthood of Christ. This he says is to confirm the promises – like our own Isaiah passage – given to their ancestors. He quotes these passages to declare that the Gentiles are included along with the Jews, finishing w...

2025 will be remembered in the Buist household as the great remodel. We are remodeling both bathrooms, our kitchen, floors, and walls. We are literally camping out in our house having to go out to eat or barbeque in our outside kitchen where the microwave lies. Next year we’ll hopefully have photos of our newly redone house. This is my last year before I have to retire from my church’s appointed ministry due to my age. I will work until November 1, 2026 and will return as a volunteer. I will also retire from subbing in 2026 when my credential runs out. It’s been 25 years! I published the 3 rd and final book in my Lone Trilogy, Grace aLONE. Find it on Amazon under Merrijoy W. Buist. I took two trips this year. I flew up to Seattle and took the Clipper ship with my friend Christy to Victoria, Canada. There I toured the beautiful Butchart Gardens, had high tea, and shopped. Then I spent two days at my brother Brian’s and his wife Terri and we had a mini-Seattle family reunion at Ma...

Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14 Isaiah prophesied in chapter 2 about people going up to the mountain of the Lord where God would teach them God’s ways and that they can walk in the Lord’s paths. The prophet beseeches the house of Judah to come and walk in the light of the Lord. In Romans Paul tells them to throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. By doing this they will walk decently by putting on the Lord Jesus Christ making no provision for the desires of the flesh – to step back into the darkness. Putting on the Lord Jesus Christ is a phrase that comes from a baptism liturgy which implies taking off meaning repenting and putting on Christ as spiritual enlightenment and empowerment to live in the light. The early Roman church must have struggled with the items Paul condemns and tells them not to engage in. Many devout Christians today don’t revel, get drunk, have illicit sex, or are licentious. However, many can be caught in quarreling – insisting on your wa...