Category: Scripture ponderings

 

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.

12-1-11 John 1:6-9 True light? 

There’s a common phrase, used often when someone has to tell others bad news: don’t shoot the messenger.  Equally as dangerous is becoming enamored with the messenger and missing or forgetting the message. This happens in churches and organizations where the leader becomes the center of attention and allegiance.  Then when that leader leaves, the people feel rejected and have a difficult time adjusting to new leadership.  It borders on a personality cult or worship of the individual .

I sometimes wonder if John the Baptist would have signed up for his role of preparing the way for Jesus if he had known that it was going to be such a short gig and he would end up losing his head. In our function as “light of the world” (see Matthew 5:14) are we more focused on the perks of being light or the beauty of being light, or are we aware that we are pointing to something far greater than ourselves?  Let’s be sure to use our light to shine on Him.  Imagine that you have the role of the star.  The star shone above the place where the baby Jesus lay and drew shepherds and magi to that place.  The star wasn’t looking to be worshiped or given any credit.  It’s job was to point the way, and so is ours.

Prayer: Star light, star bright, that is what I wish to be tonight.  May the light of my life draw others to you these days of Advent.  Amen.

11-30-11 John 1:1-5 Unquenchable light

For a short period of my adult life I worked a third shift job.  It was probably one of the hardest jobs I had.  Several years before that a woman I knew from church and I were talking about working those nighttime hours.  She was a unit clerk in a very busy hospital and she worked third shift.  She called people who worked those dark hours moles.  She also said that most people were not wired to work while most the world around them slept.  I could definitely add a loud amen to what she said, and the sad truth was I knew because I was definitely not wired for overnight. 

 The hard part for me wasn’t staying awake through the shift.  The hard part for me came when I got home and I needed to sleep during the day.  I just couldn’t seem to block out the light or the noise so I could sleep.  In my efforts and vain attempts I became aware of all kinds of products being sold to darken a room or cover up the sounds.  Sadly, none of it worked for me and I ended up having to quit that job because my health began to suffer.

 John’s words about Jesus in our scripture for today reminded me of my futile attempts to turn light into darkness: the light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.  Jesus announces to the crowd that while he was still in the world that he was the light of the world.  In a conversation captured in Matthew’s gospel, Jesus looked at his disciples and told them, “You are the light of the world.”  Isn’t that amazing?  We are the unquenchable light of Jesus in a world that is dark, lost and confused.  So as you move through this busy season, be sure you have your light on.

 Prayer: Jesus, shine on my path dispelling all the darkness and confusion that come my way.  But also shine through me. Help me to do my part to make sure your light is shining in my corner of this world.  Amen.