Arise, shine ...

Meditate with me on the word of the Lord:

Isaiah 60:1-6

Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you.

To whom does Isaiah speak these imperatives? To the king of Israel? To the coming King of kings? No, Isaiah speaks these words to the people of God, to the Israel that will be when the King of kings has come. In those days, spiritual darkness will cover the face of the known cosmos like physical darkness did at the very beginning of time. In that day, the Lord will speak, “Arise, shine,” to the people of God, and the glory of God within them will begin to illumine the world.

The move of God that started as a solitary star in the dark night of the heavens is now working on this planet among us. Sometimes when we speak of our service as the light of the world, we talk as if we reflect the light of God from a distance. We speak as if we were the moon reflecting the light of the sun onto the dark side of the earth. Even in our children’s songs, we speak of our little light as if it were something separate from us – something we might wave or hide. For Isaiah, though, the light of the people of God is not reflected. The people of God shine. They illumine the world from within themselves because the glory of God lives within them, among them. They shine as a community, much more so than as individuals.

Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses' arms.

At first the light will shine from within a chosen people. Then the light will arise among a people newly chosen to expand the borders of the people of God. The attracting light, though, is intended to draw in all people, women and men, near and far. This new people of God must do that which the original people of God were intended to do: serve as the light drawing the entire world into a relationship with God.

The light makes direction and movement possible. Where do you go in the dark? Is it better to move in the pitch black, or to stand still? Our experience tells us to look for the light, to move toward the light, to function in the light, where there is safety and where we can see what we are doing. Where we can see what everyone else is doing. Moths are not alone in their attraction to light, after all.

Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD.

In the light, there is more than blind faith – there is sighted experience. Within this community of light, we experience both relationship with God and providence from God. We become a part of a people for whom God provides, even from the very corners of the earth. I think God does this because God intends for us to be a people who exist at every corner of the earth. The wise men have brought their gifts to the king of this people. In reciprocal hospitality, this people go out to receive the hospitality of the far places of the earth while carrying the gift that God gives in return: peace, the restoration of relationship with the Creator of light in person.

May you rise and shine in your corner of the world today.

Ron

Power and light ...

The devotional for today comes from Julia:

“For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord,
and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.
For God, who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’
is the One who has shone in our hearts to give
the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,
that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God
and not from ourselves;
we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed;
perplexed, but not despairing;
persecuted, but not forsaken;
struck down, but not destroyed;
always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus,
that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
For we who live are constantly being delivered
over to death for Jesus’ sake,
that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
2 Cor 4:5-11 (italics and bold mine).

Today I read these verses and was crying before I finished reading them. This is our job in a nutshell. We do what we do so that these boys can see the life of Jesus lived out in our bodies. And just like Jesus, our bodies experience pain so that life can come out of it. We are tired—make that exhausted. We are verbally abused by boys. There are spiders and scorpions around our children. We are achy. We have to cook dinner…AGAIN. They test our mental prowess daily. For administration, there are trials, as well. The paperwork never ends. There’s always something else to be done…. (You know what I mean.) I could go on and on.

But THEY SEE JESUS IN US, which makes it all worthwhile, even if it takes our dying every day. And praise the Lord, He gives us the power daily to somehow make it through each day. Hope this encourages you. Reading those verses was exactly what I needed today.

Josh and I love you all very much.

Julia

Your word ...

Today, a prayer:

Your word
Walter Brueggemann

Your word is a light to our feet and a lamp to our path.
Your word is a glue of the universe wherein the whole creation coheres.
Your word is the address of promise and command by which we live.
Your word has come fleshed among us full of grace and truth.
We are creatures of your word and give thanks for it.
For all that we are more dazzled that your word
is carried, uttered, acted
by frail vulnerable human agents.
We ponder and give thanks for those who this day
speak your word where it is desperately needed
and deeply resisted.
We ponder and give thanks for those who this day
act your word for newness and peace and justice.
We ponder with trepidation that among us
you will yet designate such carriers,
such speakers,
such actors.
In our thanks for your word,
we pray for courage in the name of the one
who emptied himself. Amen.

Whose way is blameless ...

All of us have heard Amy Grant's song "Thy Word." About five or six years ago, the Edmond senior high youth chorus sang this song at LTC, and I still feel overwhelmed with joy thinking about it:

“Thy Word”
Amy Grant, from Psalm 119

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.

When I feel afraid,
And think I’ve lost my way.
Still, you’re there right beside me.
Nothing will I fear
As long as you are near;
Please be near me to the end.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.

I will not forget
Your love for me and yet,
My heart forever is wandering.
Jesus be my guide,
And hold me to your side,
And I will love you to the end.

Nothing will I fear
As long as you are near;
Please be near me to the end.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
And a light unto my path.
You’re the light unto my path.

These words are the expressions of an individual before their God, praising the power of their God’s word. Yet not all is well: “ … and yet, my heart forever is wandering.” A part of the human condition is the struggle with a distracted, an impatient, or even an inconstant heart. Yet how much of this problem is a problem of solitude, of individualism, of separation from the people of God?

In fact, this psalm begins with plural pronouns, not singular ones. Is it too much to think that the psalmist is contrasting community with individualism? Here is how the psalmist begins:

Happy are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the Lord.
Happy are those who keep his decrees,
who seek him with their whole heart,
who also do no wrong,
but walk in his ways.
Psalm 119:1-3 – NRSV

Together, with accountability to the truth,
our walk can be blameless.
Together, we can walk in the truth of the law of the Lord.
Together, we can be happy in keeping his decrees
and seeking him with our whole heart (as one body).
Together, we will naturally seek to avoid wrong and
walk instead in his ways.

That is why the voice of those young people singing together was so powerful. Together they were affirming their solidarity, their accountability, their purpose in seeking and serving the truth. May God help us to follow their faithful and virtuous example.

Grace and peace,

Ron

Break forth like the dawn ...

Saturday's scripture is worthy of careful meditation:

Isa 58:6-9

Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of injustice,
to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover them,
and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up quickly;
your vindicator shall go before you,
the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.

NRSV

Blessings,

Ron

Darkness is not dark ...

On Thursday, we observed that the Light was in the beginning with God:

He was in the beginning with God.
All things came into being through him,
and without him not one thing came into being.
What has come into being in him was life,
and the life was the light of all people.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not overcome it.
John 1:2-5 – NRSV

That Light is something worth singing about:

Father and Friend, Thy Light, Thy Love
John Bowring

Father and friend, thy light, thy love,
Beaming though all thy works we see;
Thy glory gilds the heav’ns above,
And all the earth is full of thee.

Thy voice we hear, thy presence feel
While thou, too pure for mortal sight,
Enrapt in clouds, invisible,
Reignest the Lord of life and light.

Thy children shall not faint nor fear,
Sustained by this delightful tho’t;
Since though, their God, art ev’rywhere,
They cannot be where thou are not.

Can this Light really go anywhere? Didn’t the Creator separate light and darkness in the very beginning? According to the Psalmist, that Light can go wherever it wills …

Where can I go from your spirit?
Or where can I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
If I take the wings of the morning
and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me fast.
If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light around me become night,"
even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is as bright as the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
Ps 139:7-12 – NRSV

All is known to God, whether in his light or out of it. And eventually, everything will be revealed by his Light.

May God help us be prepared for the revelation that comes with the arrival of his Light.

Blessings,

Ron

The enlightening light ...

Today, a scripture and prayer to celebrate our Creator:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

John 1 – NRSV

Your world-forming speech
Walter Brueggemann

Light from light
Creation from chaos
Life from death
Joy from sorrow
Hope from despair
Peace from hate
All your gifts, all your love, all your power.
All from your word, fresh from your word,
all gifts of your speech.
We give thanks for your world-forming speech.
Thanks as well for our speech back to you,
the speech of mothers and fathers
who dared to speak
in faith and unfaith
in trust and distrust
in grateful memory and in high hurt.
We cherish this speech as we cherish yours.
Listen this day for the groans and yearnings of your world,
listen to our own songs of joy and our drudges of death,
and in the midst of our stammering
speak your clear word of life
in the name of your word come flesh.
Amen

Blessings,

Ron

Jesus walking for us ...

I heard an analogy once talking about Christ’s death. It explained the death of Jesus as a new birth for us. Jesus was led down the road to Golgotha, and as he was going, all the angels or demons could see was a bright shining light bearing a rough-hewn wooden cross. This light filled the streets and blinded both angels and demons. Satan was laughing and cursing Christ, saying, “I have conquered the Son of God!” As this light came to the foot of the hill, it grew brighter and brighter. And then they heard the hammer, driving the nails into the hands of Jesus. Even though the demons couldn’t see Jesus because of the light, they knew he was in pain and about to die. The Romans then stuck the cross in the hole with a thud, and a scream was heard, a scream of pain coming from the cross. Then weeping, then some words coming from the light. “Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing!” With those words, all of a sudden the light started to dim. “Why is Jesus’ light growing dimmer?” one of the angels said. It continued for hours. The light kept growing dimmer. But as the light on the cross was growing dimmer, the darkness among the crowds was giving way to specks of light. A small demon asked his general, “Why are all of the humans losing their darkness?” The large demon, finally realizing what was going on, screamed, “Jesus is taking on the darkness of the sin from the world!” With this shout, the angels finally realized why Jesus was going through with this horrible death. They finally realized why He didn’t call down fire from Heaven. This had to be done. Then with three words and a tear-stained face, all of the sin was taken from the world. The figure on the cross was totally black with sin, and each person standing there was pure, bright, white. Jesus had done His job and made a way out for sinners.

Satan was still laughing though. He said, “The people will get their darkness back, so that’s no problem, we have destroyed Jesus.” Satan didn’t know about God’s plans for three days later. On that day, a few demons were wondering around, and many angels were hidden, waiting for that one shining moment when… “There it is,” said one small angel, “there’s the light, there is the master, the Son of God has just risen from the dead, and He is the Light. Sin and Satan have been conquered.” There were shouts of joy everywhere, and a great many shouts of pain as demons scampered and hid under anything they could find. This meant the end of their existence. They knew though, that they still had time to bring anyone who falls into their trap, down to Hell with them. Satan has been defeated for eternity, but there are still going to be battles between light and darkness.

Brothers and Sisters, this is one way to see the death of Jesus, and to fully understand how he made a way out of sin. We still need to be on our guard, because Satan is after us. He doesn’t want to burn in Hell alone. He wants You! Satan uses little things to get us. Temptation is all around us and if we try and make it on our own, we will surely fall to the darkness. We have won the victory in the end, but always be ready to battle Satan. He’s always ready to battle you.

1 John 1:5-7 says, “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship, with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” Walk in the Light! Focus on Jesus, the only true light!

Jason

World-forming speech

Today, a scripture and prayer:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

John 1:1-8 – NRSV

Your world-forming speech

Light from light
Creation from chaos
Life from death
Joy from sorrow
Hope from despair
Peace from hate
All your gifts, all your love, all your power.
All from your word, fresh from your word,
all gifts of your speech.
We give thanks for your world-forming speech.
Thanks as well for our speech back to you,
the speech of mothers and fathers
who dared to speak
in faith and unfaith
in trust and distrust
in grateful memory and in high hurt.
We cherish this speech as we cherish yours.
Listen this day for the groans and yearnings of your world,
listen to our own songs of joy and our drudges of death,
and in the midst of our stammering
speak your clear word of life
in the name of your word come flesh.
Amen
- Walter Brueggemann

Grace and peace,

Ron

Sweeter than honey

Today, a meditation on Psalm 119:102-105:

I do not turn away from your ordinances,
for you have taught me.
How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!

It is not as though we have always had this way of thinking. There have been, for many of us, times when we have either not been aware of the value of God’s ordinances, his Torah, or that, having some awareness, we have turned to pick our own path. But the rockiness of the road to disobedience has a way of teaching even the most foolhardy of souls the sweetness of relationships, the satisfaction of company on our journey. Torah maintains those relationships, Torah keeps us in the company of others whose lives are rooted in love, honor, trust, and loyalty. To be right with God, to be right with others, and even to be right with ourselves, we must attend to God’s rules for relationships.

Through your precepts I get understanding;
therefore I hate every false way.

It is not as though Torah anticipates every situation and provides a simple “Do this,” or “Don’t do that.” It does provide a set of principles, and a view of the God who gave them, though. These principles and divine perspective allow us to think through all of our life situations and “get understanding.” We do have a guide that is useful for reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness. The Bible, though, is not about easy and cheap answers, and whenever someone presents the book in that way, it ought to make us more than a little nervous. There are false ways on both sides of the true path, and we ought to hate every one of them.

Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.

God’s word is for illumination, not gravitation. It is not meant to be a paperweight, bookend, or doorstop.
God’s word is for illumination, not manipulation. It is meant to reshape the way that humans think, not the thickness of their pocketbook.
God’s word is for illumination, not alienation. It is intended to make clear the connections between people and the ways that we might strengthen them; it is not meant to be molded into bricks to build walls that classify, divide, or protect.

When God’s word properly illumines our path, then we find purpose, strength, and joy. May we so dwell in his word that we find these things today.

Grace and peace,

Ron