Category: Godly living

 

12-11-11 Philippians 2:15 Innocence Shining

Philippians 2:15b You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people. Let your lives shine brightly before them.

Spending everyday with my grandson who is now five leaves me wondering if Jesus might change out this analogy if he had to spend hours and years with a child. Don’t get me wrong. I treasure my time with him, but there are times when I am absolutely befuddled by his capacity to manipulate and fabricate. Some days I wonder if he’s going to end up with a flat bottom from sitting in time out so much. Then this morning during our Sunday School class I saw a verse that gave me a fresh perspective.

Ever since our grandson came into our lives he has been the center of our attention. At first he and his mommy, our daughter, lived with us. If Asher wanted to play a game (Follow the Leader was his favorite), or run (laps through the kitchen, dining, and living rooms), or watch a video (Baby Einstein rules), then we responded and played. Five years later the games and videos have changed but not his thirst for our undivided attention. But this doesn’t stop at home. When we go out to eat or to a church function, Asher assumes that everyone wants to hear his story or play his games. He is completely convinced that what he has to say or do is exactly what everyone needs to listen to. I’m starting to believe that he could grow up to be a politician.

As I reflected on both the verse and Asher’s behavior, I began to feel better about Asher and Jesus. If nothing else, Asher’s life shines brightly. He has received praise and is pretty secure in his ability. He knows how to shine. As adults we tend to lose some of that. Insecurity and self-doubt take over and inhibit what should be natural shining. Asher believes that he is pretty amazing and without guile he just presumes to share that with everyone. Some may call it precocious. I see it as innocent and unperverse.

Prayer: Thank you Father, for teaching me what innocent looks like. Challenge me to see where pretense has gained a foothold in my life and help me clean it out. I want to shine brightly for you. Amen.

 

12-10-11 Isaiah 60:1-3 The draw of light

Walking in the dark is not something I do very well. When I was younger and either attending or serving as a counselor at different camps, I always made sure my flashlight was near at hand and on the ready. In some of those camps it could be extremely dangerous to walk around in the dark, alone, at night.

Yet even in this season that celebrates light in so many ways, there are many walking around in the darkness, and it’s just as dangerous for them. Financial concerns have doused their hopes for security. Relationship woes have left them vulnerable and afraid to trust, to love. Nothing is going the way they dreamed it would. They feel alone. They feel lost. It is to them that Isaiah seems to be shouting across the centuries. “Wake up. The light you need to dispel the terrible darkness that blakets and blinds you has come, and his name is Emmanuel, God with us.”

Our prayer for today: Father, keep your light shining through me today so that the light of your love will be able to lead someone from the oppressive darkness they are wandering in back to the safety of your great love. Give me courage to whisper a wake up call, your call to arise! Amen.

 

12-9-11 1 Peter 2:5-9 Chosen to shine

Chosen. I don’t know about you, but that is a precious word to me. I know what it is like to not be chosen. No teams wanted me in sports, or math drills, or spelling bees. But my husband chose me and chose to stay with me through the rockiest of times in our marriage. And my God chose me. In Ephesians Paul writes that God chose us before the foundation of the world (1:4).

In our passage for today, we read that we were chosen by God with a specific purpose in mind. Peter makes the amazing declaration that we were chosen to be God’s people, his special possession. But don’t rest there. There is no period at this point. Not time to sit back and just bask in the love. No. We are to declare his praises. And this isn’t just because God has some great ego and needs us to stroke it. No, no. If you keep reading you will find that we are to live Godly lives in a godless world. This is no time to put your light under a bushel (Matt. 5:14).

One of my favorite hymns lifts praise to the Lord. The chorus says:

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear his voice.

Oh, come to the Father through Jesus the Son

And give him the glory, great things he has done.

 It was an amazing day when I caught that if the earth was to hear his voice, it will need to hear my praises. You’ve been chosen. Make sure your light is shining. Make sure your praises are being heard.

 

12-8-11 Ephesians 5:6-14 Illuminated

My thoughts for today’s scripture come from verse 13. It reminded me of glow in the dark toys. My kids loved these, and now so do my grandkids. Truth be told the whole concept of glow in the dark anything has always caught my attention. Remember hiding under blankets or going into a closet, someplace dark to be awed by the glowing item? Remember the disappointment that would come if the toy hadn’t been in the light long enough and either only dimly glowed or didn’t glow at all?

Our text tells us that if we have had the light of God shone upon us then we will be illuminated. We will becoming lights. We will glow in the darkness of the world around us.

 So how’s your glow going?

 

12-7-11 Psalm 119:105-106 Runway lights

My grandson loves to play with flashlights, but he has never needed one to light his path through the dark woods, or through the house when the power has gone out. When he plays with a flashlight, the beam is anywhere and everywhere but at his feet. I have, on the other hand, clenched tightly to my flashlight when walking through the woods at camp, and searched hard when during a storm we are left powerless. A light for my path is very important thing.

As I pondered this text I got the image of a pilot getting ready to land a plane. It has always been comforting to see the runway lights as we approach our destination airport. I have seen footage of unlit airports and the tension is obvious in the flight staff. “Blind” landings can be done, thanks to amazing instrumentation, but it is never desirable.

I’m thankful that God’s word provides light and guidance for our feet and for our journey. There’s no reason or excuse for us to walk blindly in our journey with Him.

 

12-6-11 Psalm 27:1-4 Getting beyond fear

What are you afraid of? I have a whole list of things, but the top two have to be fear of the unknown and fear of failure.

I found it interesting as I was preparing for Christmas one year to look at how many times the participants in that first Christmas were told not to be afraid. We may never be addressed by the heavenly host, but we have fears. We may not wear them on our sleeve, no one may even know what fears gnaw at our heart and keep us from enjoying life to its fullest. No one, but God.

There was a movie several years ago about some grown men, who in an effort to find themselves, go on a cattle drive (City Slickers). They meet up with a gnarly cattle boss who keeps telling them that life is about one thing. Unfortunately, he dies before he can tell them. As believers we too have “one thing” that should drive us, and keeping that goal in sight should dispel our fears. Our one thing is live in God’s presence: dwelling in his house, beholding his beauty, and asking all our questions.

Just now, thinking back over my own fears, I realize that their roots go deep into trust. I imagine that was true for Mary, for Joseph, for the wisemen and shepherds. None of this made sense, not to mention it was being fortold by a scarey and overwhelming angelic army. But God wanted them to rest assured, to trust him in the midst of their doubts and fears. He was in control and totally trustworthy.

What are you facing this Advent season that is causing fear to rise up in you? Hear the voice of God, “Don’t be afraid. I am in control.”

12-4-11 Romans 15:4-13 Waiting patiently

“May the God who gives this patience and encouragement help you live in complete harmony with each other (5a).”

There was a hit song in the 70’s that said something like, “Signs, signs, everywhere signs.  Blockin’ up the scenery, breakin’ my mind.”  At this time of year it’s more like: Lines, lines, everywhere lines.  Blockin’ up the freeway, makin’ me wait.  I do plenty waiting, I’m just not sure I do it very patiently or in any kind of harmony.

I don’t think I’m alone in this.  We want what we want when we want it and that is usually five minutes ago. We are an instant society.  Long live the microwave! The popularity of social media, like twitter and facebook, has infected so much of what we do: say what you need to say in 140 characters or less.  It’s all about my time and my need.  We’re more impatient and ego-centric than a three year old on Christmas eve. 

While some people seem more patient by nature, there are many more of us who struggle with never seeming to have enough.  Even though I find myself in the second category quite often, I’m encouraged by this verse. If I find myself running short on patience, then I need to turn to God who gives patience. 

12-3-11 Isaiah 60:19-22 Everlasting light

Have you noticed that nothing is built to last anymore? Except maybe the Volvo.  I recently saw a commercial where a man walked up to a woman who was carrying a large cup of coffee and he told her to be careful to not spill any of it in his car.  But it was her car.  But it would be his car when she traded it in.  Good thing I drive a Jeep and don’t have to worry about the big stain on the front passenger seat.

Beyond that, things don’t last.  As soon as you purchase most things they are antiquated and doomed for the trash before you ever leave the store.  On Christmas morning we usually place bets as to which toys are going to make it through the day unbroken.  I used to think this was a matter of shoddy workmanship, when in fact it’s more of a marketing tool to get you ready to purchase that item’s replacement.

One of the standard things of this season is Christmas lights.  At the end of every season I should just throw my strands of tree lights out and start fresh the next year because invariably one of the lights burns out making the entire strand useless.  At least the outdoor lights have bulbs that can be replaced, and replace them we do.  One year my husband bought a gross of bubble light replacement bulbs.  That was twenty years ago.  They’re the closest things to everlasting, but even they burn out.

Into our temporary and disposable existence God shines His everlasting light.  The Psalmist tells us that “from everlasting to everlasting” He is God.  There wasn’t a time when God wasn’t and there never will be.  If you want to place a bet on who will be there at the end of the day and everyday after that then bet on God. 

So as you struggle with snarled up strands of lights and hunt for fresh batteries to replace the dead ones, lift a prayer of thanks that the God who made this whole thing possible was, and is, and is to come.

12-2-11 Jeremiah 33:14-16 What’s Your Motto?

Catchy slogans are the brainchildren of marketing geniuses who hope their phrase will stick with you all the way to the cash register.  Think about all the slogans for products you use. Products aren’t the only ones affected by this way of thinking. Organizations are expected to have mission statements that can be reduced down to an eight word catch phrase so that every member can remember what they’re about. 

The chapter our passage comes from clearly describes how God is going to keep His promises and restore the people and their land.  As a result, the people will live by the motto: The Lord is our righteousness.  I’m sure they marched right down to their local Jewish bookstore and purchased buttons, banners, posters, t-shirts, and all kinds of items emblazoned with the phrase.  Their exuberance couldn’t be contained.

Okay, maybe that’s a bit of a stretch, but they had a motto and they spoke it and lived it. This people would bind things to their wrist, to their forehead, and post them by their doorways so that they wouldn’t forget and so that others would know.   What motto defines your relationship with the God who keeps His promises?  If we were to ask the people who live with and around you or work with you what your motto is would they know?  

Prayer: Ask God to show what His motto for your life is.