Let It Shine

Psalm 119:130 (KJV)  The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

Last week a crew came to the parsonage to remove four large maple trees from the property. Three were on the perimeter and one was on the lot not far from the house. It was not a healthy tree. Two of the trees were leaning over the roof of the house. And one of them was near to the corner of the church building. Since their removal I have noticed how much more light there is in the yard. Over the years all the trees around the parsonage have grown large, and because they virtually surround the yard, it has become darker. While that’s nice on a hot summer day, at other times it can feel a bit closed in and a bit gloomy. The grass has not done well as light to it has been reduced.

When I saw how opened-up it looked – just from four trees being removed – I thought of Psalm 113:130, which speaks of the power of God’s words to give light, or understanding, to those who read or hear them. There are several ways we might think of darkness. One way could be to think of spiritual darkness, or living without God or without the knowledge of God. In one Old Testament prophecy about Christ we learn that His coming brings light to those walking in darkness (Isaiah 9:2). Those living in the world without God were in a state of spiritual darkness – a darkness they could not get out of or escape from on their own. So God was taking the initiative in Jesus. In the Gospel of John we learn that Jesus is the Light of the world (1:4-9, 3:19-21, 8:12, 9:5, 12:35-36,46)

Another way of thinking about darkness is as a metaphor for uncertainty and indecision: not knowing what to do. The way forward may be difficult to discern and one can feel hesitant to act unless more light is shed on the situation. The person might need more information or need more support when facing a difficult decision.

Or maybe the darkness could describe the emotional state of one’s soul. Discouragement, depression, or despair could all be ways to describe a strong feeling of being in the darkness. Hope or strength may be waning and one might be suffering or succumbing to fear. The results of these kinds of things can keep us from the joy of the Lord and from the blessing of His peace. We may wonder how we can move ahead or get out of these kinds of dark valleys.

However we may think about darkness in our lives, I love the idea of applying Psalm 111:130. God’s words bring so much to us and to the circumstances of our lives. Just like the trees in my yard, there are obstacles in our lives to God’s Word: things like our busyness, disinterest, or distractions. These things need to be removed in order to “make room” for the light of God’s words. The light of God’s Word cannot be extinguished – it overcomes darkness wherever it shines.

Do you remember the children’s song, “This Little Light of Mine”? Whether at home or in the church building when Sunday school or worship begins, you can think of it this way: a Bible is waiting to be opened, read, and applied. Shall we “let it shine”? Shall we go to it every day and trust it to give light to us? May the answer be yes. May our longing and our felt need for the light of God’s Word be strong, and may nothing in our lives put it out. And may our eyes be opened and made to see all that God has in His Word to draw us to Jesus, to guide our lives from day to day, and to give us hope for now and for eternity.

Isaiah 9:2 (NIV)  The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned… For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

Psalm 119:105 (NIV) Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my      path.

Matthew 5:15 (NIV)  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

PRAYER:  Lord God, Thank you for the power of your words to address every circumstance of life, to bring hope and help in time of need, and to save my soul. Thank you that your words are contained for us in your Word, the Bible. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!   

Scott

An Engraved Invitation

Romans 10:14 (NIV)  How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

In 2005 Hollywood released a movie titled Wedding Crashers. I have never seen it, but I think the gist of it is as follows: A couple of guys make it their regular practice to “attend” wedding receptions (not sure if they go to the wedding ceremony) even though they were not invited, or even known by the bride and groom and their families. They capably “melt in” and, because the guest list is large, few people (or no one) question their “right” to be there. Their motives are probably along the lines of obtaining great food, free alcohol, and women with whom they can have sex (this is, after all, Hollywood). Since the movie is a comedy, they probably get in trouble at some point and it’s all played for laughs.

My guesses may be right on or a bit off, but I want to reference this movie plot as an illustration about the idea of being invited (versus not being invited). Perhaps you have been in the situation of being asked why you weren’t at a particular event and your answer was simply, “I wasn’t invited.” If you are not on a guest list or do not receive an invitation, it is possible then that you would not even know about it, or unlikely that you – a normal person – would attempt to “crash” the event/party. You may feel bad or glad that you weren’t invited, but you would not likely try to force your way in. In the parable of the wedding banquet in Matthew 22 Jesus describes a father of a groom (a king) coming across a “guest” who didn’t have proper wedding garments – something he would have received as part of a proper invitation. The king has his servants tie the guy up and throw him out. Jesus concludes the parable with the words, “For many are invited, but few are chosen.” Any person who thinks he will get to heaven apart from being clothed with the righteousness of Christ (wearing his own garments - trusting in his own works/righteousness) will be in for a sad awakening, for it is only by Christ’s perfect righteousness that we have any hope of heaven. The invitation of God is an invitation of grace – of trusting in Christ alone for the forgiveness of our sins and for being made right with God. It is not an invitation to those who have become good enough in their own eyes or worthy because of something they have done. It’s an invitation to sinners. It has been referred to by some as an “engraved” invitation, having the idea that God’s invitation is engraved in the hands and feet of Jesus as He dies as our substitute on the cross, the ultimate expression of God’s love,… or also that the invitation is engraved with His own blood.

Heaven cannot be “crashed”. No one would be clever enough, strong enough, or good enough. Heaven is available on God’s terms, not ours. And His “terms” are grace… by faith in His Son Jesus. The Church is in the inviting business. We are called to pass on God’s invitation to men and women and children so that they might understand His grace and respond. God knows who will respond, and His grace makes that response possible. Ultimately, it is not even our invitation. It is God’s. But God uses us in the delivery. Inviting people into our lives and building relationships can lead at some point to the opportunity to invite them to consider Christ. It could include an invitation to church or to a small group or to church related events. Almost all people who are Christians are Christians because at some point they were invited by a Christian to one or more places or occasions at which they were exposed to the Gospel. Many people have never been invited to a church worship service or church-related event/activity. And not all will respond “yes” to an invitation. But some will. And God may use that to draw them to Himself. This is why we invite.

We have something to offer. Are we an inviting people, or are we spiritual hoarders? God’s invitation is generous, so let us be generous in heart to open our homes, our lives, and our church to people as well, so that we may also invite them out of a sincere love to know Christ.

John 1:40-41, 45-46 (NIV) ⁴⁰  Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. ⁴¹  The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). ⁴⁵  Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote--Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." ⁴⁶  "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked. "Come and see," said Philip.

Luke 14:21-23 (NIV) ²¹  "The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.' ²²  "'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.' ²³  "Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full.

Isaiah 55:1-3 (NIV) ¹  "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. ²  Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. ³  Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.

PRAYER:  Lord God, thank you for your great generosity to me in Christ. Thank you for the person(s) you used to invite me to know you and to receive your grace. Lead me to be an inviter as well. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!   

Scott

The Last Storm

Revelation 21:3-4 (NIV) ³  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴  He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

This time of year it is difficult to know when the last snow of the season is going to fall. Weathermen are not perfect. Almanacs are not always right. Punxsatawney Phil isn’t reliable (not to burst anybody’s bubble). My shovels are still on the deck, but I find this time of year tempts me to put them away. A storm – a nor’easter – is being forecast for this week even, so I definitely won’t put the shovels away just yet. But the “feeling” of Spring is in the air, as they say. Temperatures just aren’t as cold as they were. People want to get outside more – especially on sunny days. I know what’s coming and I’m eager for summer and getting out in shorts and a t-shirt: no more layer bundles of clothing to stay warm. But it’s not here yet.

I sometimes wonder when the last “storm” of my life will come and go. I expect to encounter a few more storms before the Lord takes me or returns, but I live day by day in His hands – not knowing what a day will bring, but confident of His kingdom control. Though my mind and my spirit look forward to being with Jesus forever, I am living in a current season of expectancy that also is characterized by the reality of times of physical, mental, and emotional weariness and challenge. As each one comes I do not literally wonder if it will be the “last” storm, but I do know the time will come – as it will for all of us – when we could say, “That was the last storm.”

As we wonder about potential storms to come, isn’t it wonderful to have assurance that winter actually will end, and that summer actually will arrive? Our assurance of heaven is similar. There may be times when that hope is all that keeps us going, but it does give us strength and confidence and reassurance. An eternal season awaits us, in which all hurts will be healed, all pain forgotten, and all sin will be nothing but history. The last storm of our life will be behind us. God will be with us through it, as He always is, and then we will be with Him, as He has promised us in Christ. May the Lord keep you in perfect peace, as your heart and mind is stayed upon Him (Isaiah 26:3).

John 14:1-4 (NIV) ¹  "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. ²  In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. ³  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ⁴  You know the way to the place where I am going."

2 Corinthians 5:1-5 (NIV) ¹  Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. ²  Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, ³  because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. ⁴  For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. ⁵  Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Revelation 22:3-5 (NIV) ³  No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. ⁴  They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. ⁵  There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

PRAYER:  Lord God, I am looking forward to what is awaiting me in heaven. Above all I look forward to being with Jesus. The timing of the last storm of my life is in your hands. I trust you for both now and for the future. My hope is in you. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!   

Scott