Today's Scripture:

Isaiah 55:6-11 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Read: Reflect on a story in your life that pertains to this scripture.
This passage speaks to me deeply, especially its beginning and end. It reminds me that my life—my thoughts, beliefs, and actions—must be consumed by the breathtaking vitality of God’s Word.

Reflect: What is this scripture telling you during this season?
If I were to tell the story of my life through the lens of these verses, it wouldn’t be just a single moment—it would be the entire journey. For about 25 years I’ve been wrestling with letting go of this world and the habits I’ve embraced along the way. I’ve always loved the “shiny things” this life offers, the comfort and joy they bring. But over time, I’ve realized that those comforts are fleeting. They are momentary distractions, not lasting fulfillment. The only thing that truly endures is God’s mercy, and all we need to do is embrace it, trust in His plan, and move forward in faith. “Seek the Lord while He may be found.” Those words hit me like a brick through a window. It made me pause and reflect deeply. I’ve always felt an urgency in my faith—both for myself and for others. We never know how much time we have left on this earth. Maybe tomorrow is our last day; maybe we have 60 more years. But the urgency I’ve always felt was about making sure people knew about faith, almost as if it were a checklist. I would secretly hope they would turn their life over to God and that my time wasn't given in vain. Yet, when I read this verse closely, I see something deeper. The urgency isn’t just about me having a relationship with Him—it’s about Him having a relationship with me. It not about my bringing others to Christ, its about my bringing Christ to them. That may sound like the same thing, but it isn’t. One puts me at the center, the other puts God at the center. And that perspective changes everything.

Respond: How is this scripture calling you to respond?
A wise man in the Voyagers class often reminds us, “Faith without works is dead.” How true is that here? It is because of the gift of faith that I am compelled to help others meet Jesus—not just so they can hear about Him, but so they can truly know Him. It is through faith that I can help those who have a relationship with God return to Him. Just as I have. These verses remind me that our time here, in this broken world, is limited. But His Word? His truth? That is all we need to stand firm and fight the good fight. This passage isn’t just a reminder—it’s a call to action. Seek Him. Live for Him. And let the urgency of faith not just move us, but transform us and those God puts in our path.

About Aaron Hansz:
I am one of your pastors, a husband to Stephanie, a dad to Audrey, Kyle, Gretchen, Benjamin, and Elizabeth, plus Grandfather to Archer.
I have been at Grace since the fall of 2022.