Walking with God

 

When Enoch had 65 lived years, he fathered Methuselah. Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him. (Genesis 5:21-23 ESV).

 

It may seem like we are in the midst of an endorsement for an ancestry search website, however, I have found it very encouraging to sift through the names of the Old Testament genealogies. Our reading today is from a much longer list than the reference of Enoch. When we read this genealogy, we learn that Enoch was the father of the oldest man in the Bible. More importantly, Enoch is the only one in this list of names who doesn’t follow this pattern: “he lived… and then he died.” Instead, the Bible says, “Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.”

 

The Bible gives us a clear hint. Twice we are told that Enoch “walked faithfully with God.” The word “walked” here indicates a special relationship between God and Enoch, and Enoch did not die. After reading how each generation died, it’s awesome to read of this man, Enoch, who walked with God and then was “taken” to be with God.

 

It seems this is a key principle for us to understand in our own journey. It begins with a realization of one of the key principles of the incarnation. Jesus was the fulfillment of the prophesy that “Immanuel” would be one of the names of the Son of God. It means “God with us.” Just one of the conclusions we may draw from this truth is that God is literally “with us.” I find that comforting. No longer does the presence of God depend on my effort or works. He walks with us. That means I merely need follow Him.

 

Jesus bridges the gap between us and God so that we can walk with him not only today but forever, like Enoch. That is why Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die” (John 11:25). Christmas is a celebration that I have the full eternal presence of God with me every moment of every day. When I face any challenge I can know that Jesus is with me. Together we may overcome anything. What a gift!

 

 

He Looks Like His Father

 

And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD. (Genesis 4:25-26 ESV).

 

I have heard from many people who knew my Dad (especially in his early years) that I look a lot like him. I’ve attached a picture of him when he was in his twenties. If you knew me before my hair turned gray and my features aged, perhaps you see some similarity as well. I do know that I often hear that my sons look like me, though I see lots of Mary in them as well. I do know that genetics are often difficult to deny in a family. Some of this concept underlies our reading today.

 

Remember the prophecy from yesterday’s devotional. Adam and Eve must have been devastated when Cain murdered Abel (Genesis 4:8), as that signaled a devastating blow to the promise of deliverance from the curse of their sin. Nevertheless, they continued to rely on the promise of God. When Eve had another son, Seth, she said, “God has granted me another child…” The word for “child” here also means “offspring,” indicating reliance on the promise God had made (Genesis 3:15). Although we know salvation was a long way off, we can also see a glimmer of hope here, for as Seth grew up and also had children, we read, “At that time people began to call on the name of the Lord.”

 

We see another glimmer of hope where Seth is described as a son of Adam “in his own likeness, in his own image.” This reference echoes the words of Genesis 1:27, indicating that our gracious and faithful God and heavenly Father was renewing humankind.

 

As we look forward to the celebration of the coming of Christ at Christmas and long for his coming again to complete the work of restoring God’s world, I hope you are encouraged in your faith and call on his name each day, knowing that God’s Son himself came to live among us to fulfill God’s promise of salvation. This prompts us to worship him with all our heart, singing, “O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!”

 

The First Promise of Messiah

 

Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.” (Genesis 3:13-16 ESV).

 

Eve’s name is not mentioned in Matthew or Luke’s genealogy. But it’s important to include her as we reflect on God’s promise to bring the Savior. Having been tempted by the serpent (Satan), Eve disobeyed God, and so did Adam. Sin damaged Eve’s relationship to her husband and her childbearing. Yet there is hope. Genesis 3:15 includes what is often called the first gospel promise. God promised that one of Eve’s offspring would crush Satan and the power of sin in this world, and the offspring would be wounded in the process.

 

When Eve gave birth to her first son, she may have thought this child would be the promised victor over sin. She named him Cain, saying, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man” (Genesis 4:1). But Cain was not the promised one. Cain only made things worse by murdering his brother (cf. Genesis 4:8).

 

Many generations later, another woman, Mary gave birth to a son, and he was named Jesus because he would “save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). He, the Son of God and Son of Man, came “to destroy the devil’s work” by dying on the cross to save us. While the war was won in the cross and resurrection, the final battle has yet to be fought. The outcome of the battle is just as sure as was the birth of the Savior. When Jesus comes again (cf. Revelation 20:11-21:8) He will finally strike the blow that will complete Satan’s rule forever. What a day that will be when the victory over sin will be complete. All of this was begun the day God confronted Adam and Eve over their sin; and, it was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus. That is the reason for celebration at Christmas. Rejoice!

 

From Good to Bad

 

And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:17-19 ESV).

 

“Do you want the good news or the bad news first?” is a question I hate to hear, especially when I’m in the doctor’s office after a battery of tests have been done to determine the state of my health. Having said that, there have been those times in my life that I been asked just such a question. Honestly, it is a question that many of us ask ourselves regularly. It seems the longer I live, the more likely I will receive bad news as easily as good news. That is the context of our reading today.

 

Adam and Eve, the first human beings, were created good. If God created all things good, including humankind, then why is there so much bad in the world and in our lives? Where did sin come from? This question has intrigued people through­out the ages. Genesis 3 tells us the sad story of the fall into sin. God had called Adam and Eve to obey him freely and willingly as they cared for his creation. But they failed to obey. Because of their disobedience, which we call sin, this world and our lives are now filled with brokenness, pain, and sorrow. Further, the lives of all people will end in death (Genesis 2:17; Hebrews 9:27).

 

Perhaps today you are experiencing the devastating effects of sin around you: the death of a loved one, a life-threatening disease, hunger, homelessness, or the ravages of war. Thank God that the story does not end there.

 

In Romans 5, the apostle Paul compares and contrasts Jesus and Adam. While Adam, the first man, brought sorrow and death, in Jesus we receive new hope and joy. Christmas reminds us that God sent his Son to heal this sin-scarred world, to forgive our sins, and to give us eternal life. What an awesome gift! And here’s more good news: you don’t need to wait until Christmas to receive this gift. Why not trust Jesus as your Savior and Lord today?

 

Jesus' Family

So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to tthe Christ fourteen generations. (Matthew 1:17 ESV).

 

Our reading today comes from the opening words of Matthew’ Gospel. It presents us with a list of names in the family line of Jesus. It begins with Abraham and takes us through the lineage of Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. Some readers skip over such lists, seeing them as boring or only filled with names that are hard to pronounce. The gospel account of Luke has a list of names like this too. There is another list in Luke’s Gospel (cf. Luke 3) that does contain some differences since all such genealogies are selective. However, the message is the same. In each of them God is saying, “See, I have kept my word; the promised Messiah and Savior has come through my chosen people.”

 

The list in Luke includes many names that are different from those in Matthew, possibly because Luke lists the ancestors of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The list in Luke is also longer than the one in Matthew, going back all the way to the beginning, to connect Jesus with God himself. This helps us see that the story of salvation — indeed, the story of the whole world — is really all about God. God created a good, amazing world, only to have it scarred by sin because our human parents disobeyed (cf. Genesis 3). But God did not sit idly by. He set out to redeem and restore his world!

 

From the beginning, God planned to renew us through his Son, Jesus. And when Jesus, the Savior, was born in Bethlehem, God’s plan took a major step forward. It affirms that God is One who keeps His promises. So as we look ahead to celebrating Christmas, let us join with the angels who announced Jesus’ birth, singing, “Glory to God in the highest” (Luke 2:14)!

  

Is It Really Good?

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. (Genesis 1:26-31 ESV).

 

First let me apologize for being late with today’s devotional. I simply didn’t get it done. However, in thinking about where we would go this month leading to Christmas, I felt it might be encouraging to meander through some of the lesser used topics relating to Christmas. The “condition of our world” is one of those. Our reading today is the end of the story of God’s creation. I love the way the Holy Spirit communicated with Moses that after God finished creating he surveyed His work and simply declared it to be “very good.” We tend to scoff at that given the condition of our world today. At the very least we can say it is a far cry from what God saw on that sixth day of creation. It is simply not “good.”

 

About 5% of the world’s population are ultra rich with annual economic growth greater that the rest 99.5% of the world. Religion extremism is killing more people on earth in Syria, Afghanistan, Niger, Nigerian and other countries prone to extremism’s than combined factors of earthquakes, tornadoes, tsunamis and any pandemic the world has known. Humans have developed the most highly advanced science in regard to disease and yet we cannot make a dent in world hunger. The hopelessness among the poor and impoverished people of the World is at its highest in recorded history with nearly six million dying from a lack of food every year. Personal relationships, especially in the family unit, are collapsing. Violence is at an all time high. This cannot be the definition of “good.”

 

As we will see in the coming days, there is an answer. It is in the birth of a Savior nearly 2,000 years ago. He is THE answer to all our needs, now and in the future. That is the real celebration of Christmas. My prayer is that these musings will serve as an encouragement to you this season!

  

Happy Thanksgiving from Texas!

 

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:3-7 ESV).

 

Well, we have arrived at the day we celebrate as Thanksgiving. I’ve attached a print of the 1988 Texas Turkey Stamp originally painted by John Cowen. If you hunted the Rio Grande Turkey in Texas, undoubtedly you have seen such a scene as this unfold. I’ve been set up in a mesquite and cactus filled field, quietly waiting for the sun to rise and thinking of the excitement of calling a gobbler into range on many occasions. Usually this time of the year is cool with a bright sunrise. I am always struck by the joy of the beginning of a new day, especially outdoors. The birds are the first to awaken with their songs; then the smaller critters stir as they rush through the underbrush; and, last the larger wildlife begin to make their way through the fields foraging for their day’s food. It is a glorious sight.

 

I won’t be afield hunting today. Mary and I plan to be with family and friends for lunch and spend the evening at home. While I don’t know what your plans are for the day I hope you’ll leave a comment of your plans along with this post. It will be fun to hear from you. I’ve also chosen the Scripture from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippian church in which he sends his own expression of gratitude and some instructions to them. Toward the end of the letter he indicates that we ought to not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God (v. 6).

 

There are plenty of things to “be anxious” about today. It may be a critical situation you are facing personally; or, possibly a family situation that has begun to erode your hope and peace. When these circumstances develop in my life, I find it very helpful to immerse myself in those very pleasant memories of God’s provision in the past. These times are often found in my time afield. I seem to see God best at those times. My encouragement to you today is to relive such a time in your life. It will bring you great peace. God bless… and Happy Thanksgiving from Texas!

 

Gratitude's Song

 

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; gas the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:13-17 ESV).

 

Music and song often express the emotions of our hearts. As our reading for today suggests, this is an important part of being God’s people. The writer of Psalm 22 adds that God is “enthroned on” or “dwells among” the praises of his people (v. 3). God has come near to us, and it’s important for us to draw near to him with songs from our hearts. The debate often is surrounded by determining what kind of song please God? Ancient? Contemporary? With instruments? Without? Actually, these distinctions are not important. The Apostle Paul provides three guidelines for our thinking.

 

§  First, Paul, as well as Scripture in general, talks about our singing in community. It does not exclude singing alone; however, he is referring to the singing and learning and growing that we do together as God’s gathered, worshiping people. It’s in our joining together in song that God is praised and pleased. Music in our worship is very important; and, it is important that we participate, even if it is not much more than a “joyful noise.”

 

§  Second, our singing needs to come from our hearts. Out of the heart, the mouth speaks and sings. God wants our expressions of praise to be true and authentic. A genuine desire to praise God and to be thankful for His great gift of grace are essential.

 

§  Third, our communal singing reveals our gratitude for all that God has done for us in Christ. Drawing attention to ourselves is not the goal. The goal is that God’s goodness, grace, and powerful love will be lifted up by grateful hearts joined together in love.

 

Today is the day before “Thanksgiving.” Find some time for praise and worship in preparation for true gratitude.

 

A Powerful Hope

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:1-6 ESV).

 

It’s been said that our souls need hope the way our lungs need oxygen. Paul knew about our need for hope. It’s good to keep in mind that Paul was writing to Christians living under the dark, oppressive grip of Roman power. With such uncertainty and threats hope was not something easily attained. That was a day when people worried that they would make it through the day without being betrayed, arrested, and tortured to death. Today our greatest worry is far less than that. Of course that’s not to say we don’t have valid reasons for concern in our personal and family lives; however, we must understand those early believers found a way to overcome every threat with the powerful hope of the gospel.

 

Perhaps you find yourself surrounded by situations of uncertainty and turmoil. Maybe a loved one has received a troubling diagnosis and the path ahead is frightening. Maybe you have a strained relationship with a child or friend and you’re uncertain if or when it might be restored. Or maybe you are uncertain whether God, who knows your past and heart completely, will accept and love you. Here’s the answer that the Apostle Paul extends: God provides a hope to each one of us that is so powerful that it can both calm our fears and move us to give thanks. That hope is built on the truth that even though we are powerless and sinful, Christ died for us. And there’s more: Christ rose again from the dead. So our hope is forged out of death’s destruction, out of Christ’s victory over the grave. There’s no greater hope in this world.

 

The darkness and uncertainties in the world around us do not get the final word. God does. And God reaches out with life-renewing love to us. So let’s live this day with hope, giving thanks for Christ, our Savior!

  

Cousin Eddie

 

Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—  even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:1-9 ESV).

 

One of the traditions for me between Thanksgiving and Christmas is viewing the movie National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. The Griswold’s march their way through their own family traditions with tongue and cheek humor that is altogether too close to the truth in many of our families. One of my favorite characters is Cousin Eddie. He is the relative no one wants to be around for any length of time and yet seems to be stuck dealing with him throughout one of the most important of family gatherings. You never know what they might say or do; however, you know it will be an embarrassing moment. Almost every family has a “Cousin Eddie.”  

 

Our reading today comes from the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. We don’t know a lot about the people to whom Paul was writing in the ancient city of Corinth. But we do know that the people struggled sometimes with getting along. Much like the Griswold’s they seem to have had lots of problems in their gathering together. That shouldn’t surprise us. If you belong to some kind of community of faith, whether it’s a family, small group, house church, or large congregation, you know there is sometimes discord and disagreement. That happens in all kinds of groups and gatherings.

 

Paul’s greeting to the church in Corinth gives a helpful perspective. First, Paul affirms that living out our faith in community with one another is God’s intent for us. The Bible from beginning to end makes clear that God blesses and lives among the family or community of faith that he is gathering together. Second, Paul identifies the glue that gathers God’s people together and keeps them united to one another. That glue is God’s grace. God’s grace not only covers all our sins and unites us to Christ as individuals; it also helps us see others as people for whom Christ was willing to die. When we see others through God’s grace-filled eyes, our bonds with one another are strengthened. This requires the hard work of dying to our own preferences and egos and giving thanks to God for his grace that brings us all together. Use that truth in your gatherings this season. It is a part of being thankful!

 

Grief and Gratitude

 

Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” (John 11:38-44 ESV).

 

Our reading today presents the striking miracle of Jesus when He raised Lazarus from the dead. Perhaps the most unusual detail about Jesus’ miracle the intimacy of this story. Jesus’ human connection of friendship, caring, and grief with Mary and Martha over Lazarus’s death shows that Jesus is like us. Jesus built friendships. He expressed feelings and emotions. He experienced sorrow and empathy. Further, I believe that when Jesus cried out for Lazarus to come from the tomb, that cry rose from a grief not only for his friend but also for all humanity stuck in death’s grip. As he stood before that tomb of death, Jesus’ heart broke (cf. v. 35).

 

But death and grief don’t win the day here. They don’t have the last word. God is the one whose breath animates every living thing. And Jesus the Son is so intimately connected to the Father that there’s no doubt about the Father hearing his prayers. Jesus prays aloud for the benefit of those around him: “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.”

 

Then Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. With the power of God, Jesus looks death square in the face without fear, though he knows how frightened we are by it. Jesus can stand at the graveside with gratitude because he knows God’s plan to bring us life through his own death. And today he wants you and me to know it too. Believe the good news. Celebrate the incredible miracle of Jesus’ work on our behalf to insure eternal life. This is the foundation of all gratitude.

 

What Are You Thankful For?

 

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” (Matthew 26:26-29 ESV).

 

One of my favorite memories of service during my years in Tennessee was the time I was able to volunteer to serve meals at the Nashville Rescue Mission. I have been able to do similar things in other places, though the times I went to the NRM I was always surprised at the numbers of people that were served. This was especially true during the holidays. I also was privileged to spend a bit of time with the people who were served after everyone was fed.

 

I remember one particular group I sat with as they finished their meal. An older man looked at me and asked, “What are you thankful for brother?” I wasn’t shocked or taken aback at all. As I began to tell him about my family I noticed everyone at the table had stopped eating and was really listening. As I stopped a younger woman, perhaps in her twenties, looked at me and said, “I wish I had a dad like you.” Only God could’ve given me my next words as I said, “You can have the best Dad in the world if you will believe in Jesus.” As tears began to slowly flow down her cheeks, she said, “I want to.” And then, the most marvelo9us thing happened. The older man took her hand and began to pray for her.

 

As I reflect on today’s reading, I wonder what Jesus was giving thanks for at this moment. He knew he would soon be betrayed by Judas. He had told his disciples that he would soon be crucified. In the coming day he would also be abandoned by his followers, denied by Peter, sentenced by the religious leaders, beaten and mocked by Roman soldiers, and hung on a cross to die. But in this moment Jesus gave thanks. Maybe he did it as an example, reminding his disciples and us of the importance of regularly giving thanks to God for our daily bread.

 

Or, perhaps He was giving thanks for His heavenly Father and the new family members He was about to welcome into the greatest relationship anyone could possibly imagine, all of this made possible by His sacrificial work of grace and mercy. That causes me to be thankful today. I hope it does the same for you!

Forgiven Much... Love Much

 

And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.” “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” (Luke 7:40-47 ESV).

 

True happiness is always bundled up with gratitude. Gratitude is always a response. Gratitude depends not on ignoring what’s going on in our lives, but in choosing to see and accept the deepest reality about our existence. Jesus’ encounter with the woman “who lived a sinful life” demonstrates this beautifully in our reading today. You see, the Pharisee had swept all of his sins under the rug of self-righteousness and self-sufficiency. He chose to ignore the truth of his brokenness and his deep need for forgiveness. His ingratitude produced a toxic bitterness that caused him to completely miss the fact that the Savior of the world and of his soul was standing right in front of him.

 

The woman didn’t miss that. There could be no sweeping of sins under the rug for her. Everyone seemed to know about them anyway. So, acknowledging her brokenness and receiving the forgiveness Jesus offers, her heart and her hands poured out her gratitude.

 

It’s too easy to think of ourselves as being “pretty good.” After all, we’ve never really done anything as bad as some folks. “They” are a lot worse than we are… aren’t they? God simply doesn’t measure our sin. It is all destructive to our relationship with Him. The Apostle Paul reminds us we are all sinners and have earned death as a result (cf. Romans 6:23). Just that truth alone ought to humble us enough to cry out our praise and thanksgiving to Him. Continue today to express your gratitude. While we were once unforgiven, we now have eternal life through Him!

 

In All Things, Small or Large

 

Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting. The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground. Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre! (Psalm 147:1-7 ESV).

Last month I went in to our doctor for my regular annual check-up. He asked if I’d like to get my flu shot while I was there. I said, “Sure, but can I have one of those cool superhero band aids also?” They know me very well and laughed along with my little frivolity. We all have known the same feeling though, especially when our young children scraped a knee or elbow, they’d cry for a bandage whether they needed one or not if they were imprinted with their favorite cartoon character. It is surprising how much comfort could come from a small adhesive strip. That’s probably because the tiny bandage represented much more than a wound covering. Perhaps the comfort also came from the application from people who also gave comfort and love with the first aid.

 

Throughout the Bible we can see that God uses small things to bring hope and healing to the world. God chose the small nation of Israel and charged them to be a blessing to all other nations. Through this group of people, preserved and cared for by God’s faithful hands, the Savior, Jesus Christ, came into the world. And the Savior himself came in a tiny package: a baby born of a teenage peasant girl. Who would imagine that such a child would heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds?

 

Psalm 147 uses words that echo throughout the Bible and were made visible as Jesus went about his compassionate healing ministry. What’s more, Jesus promises to forgive all our sins and to be with us always to bring comfort and hope far beyond words printed on a page.

 

Let’s give thanks that God works in small ways. Ask him to help you see today how his faithful hands are tending your wounded heart.

 

When Your World Flips

 

He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. (Psalm 103:10-19 ESV).

 

“But… Don, you don’t understand how hard it is.” I’ve heard those words (or some very similar to those) many times when encouraging others to look beyond this moment to a day God is even now preparing for each of us. I must confess that I don’t know exactly what you may be experiencing in this moment of your journey. However, I want to share one experience that may be an encouragement to you at this time.

 

It was during the days before the Pandemic of 2020 that Mary and I traveled to Ft. Worth for a routine procedure for Mary. All was good. The procedure was more of a precautionary measure just making sure her cancer has not spread and was under control as much as the blood work seemed to indicate. Well… it turned out to be anything but routine. After a while I was called back to recovery since the procedure required some sedation. After a few moments the doctor came into the room and informed me that EMT’s and an ambulance had been called to transport Mary for emergency surgery to repair a tear he had made in her colon.

 

My world was flipped in a moment. Thankfully Kyle was able to meet me immediately at the hospital. Later he would tell me how much of a “basket case” I was. The surgeons came in to tell us what needed to be done. It was in that moment that I realized how fragile and fleeting life is. The surgery was successfully completed about 1:30 am. Fortunately I was able to stay with Mary in the room. The nights were long and surprisingly quiet, interrupted only by the nurses and doctors who came to check on her. During those quiet interludes I was reminded of the words in our reading today. They are both simple and haunting: “The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone.” Though these words may give us pause, they must not lead us to despair, for we can also be sure that “from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him.” God’s love is with us and will not let anything separate us from him (cf. Romans 8:38-39). That is the foundation for real gratitude!