Dawn is Breaking

Luke 1:67-79 Zechariah’s Prophecy

Reflection:

I sing to my kids all the time.

But I’ve never sung like that.

In the passage linked above, you heard one of the greatest songs of praise in the New Testament, as Zechariah sings to his new little boy, who we will later meet as John the Baptist.

About halfway through his praise song, he starts singing directly to his son…

“You, my child, will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways…”

The most beautiful line, however, is right near the end. In it, Zechariah – priest, father, prophet – uses one of the most beautiful images in all of scripture to describe what Jesus will be for the world;

“The dawn from on high will break upon us…”

Indeed, Jesus’ light breaks forth in the darkness of human brokenness.

Jesus’ light breaks forth in the darkness of human pain and suffering.

Jesus’ light even shines THROUGH the darkest human experience of death, shining all the way to the glory on the other side.

So, today, no matter how short winter makes your days, or how dark your everyday struggles feel, know that just as each morning brings the brightness of the sun, so each moment brings the brightness of the Son.

The dawn from high breaks upon us!

Prayer:

God of light, shine through my darkness today. Help me to see beyond the barriers right before me – guide my feet into the way of peace. Amen.

Would you leave?

Luke 5:27-32 Jesus Calls Levi - Click here to read passage

Reflection:

Have you ever wondered why the folks in the Bible seem so ready to just walk away from their professions to follow Jesus?

I mean, if you trained for years to be a mechanic, let’s say – and your livelihood depended on what you brought in from that work…and then some wandering preacher comes and tells you to follow him, learn from him, and be part of his movement – would you leave it all, trusting that this was the right thing to do? Of course not!

This highlights the difference between the culture of Jesus’ day and our own. Back then, rabbis were well-respected members of the community…and to be a “follower” of one of the rabbis was a distinct honor. It meant that you had excelled past your classmates in knowledge of the Scriptures. It meant that you had memorized the Scriptures. It meant that you were the best of the best. Only the ‘cream of the crop’ got called to be a rabbi’s disciples.

Except this rabbi did things differently.

He went to those who were ‘not good enough.’

He went to those who had not excelled past their peers.

He called regular, everyday folks like you and I to be part of his radical movement of good news, joy, and peace.

That’s why the disciples dropped everything and followed him – because it meant that before they even believed in him, he believed in them. He believed in their ability to carry his message. He believed in their ability to be a vehicle for his love. He believed that this rag-tag group of “anybodies” could change the world. And they did.

They still do. Now you and I are a part of that rag-tag group as well. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: God of all people, you call us to be your followers and to echo the love you show to us. Help us to rest secure in the fact that before we even believe in you, you believe in us and our power to let your love flow through us to others. Amen.

What Are We To Say...?

Romans 8:31-35, 37-39 God’s Love in Christ Jesus

Click here to view passage

Reflection:

One year ago yesterday, a terrible earthquake rocked the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. Recent news headlines remind us that the weight of systemic poverty is more than a year can lift. Many, many people still suffer terribly in Haiti.

Last night, a memorial service was held for those lost in Tucson a week ago. The weight of that tragedy, and the loss of public servants, family members, and even a 9-year old child brings the inevitable question: “Why did this happen?”

When faced with tragedy, loss, and unanswerable questions, words seem to fail us. But the scriptures remind us that there’s one thing that never fails us in such situations…

In the passage linked above, Paul clearly states his reasons for hope in the midst of despair. The love of the one who bore the cross of despair now pierces through any obstacle. Said simply, “nothing…will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Now, it is simply our job to live and act as though this is true. We do not succumb to the temptations to point fingers of blame. We do not lose heart or hope. We do not retreat into apathy or cynicism. We live and love as though Christ is reaching others through our hands and our hearts.

Prayer: God of uninterrupted love, be with the family and friends of those lost in Haiti, Tucson, and elsewhere. Show us what we might do to reflect your love in significant ways to those we encounter this day. Amen.

Gathered to be Scattered

Acts 8:4-8 Philip Preaches in Samaria (Click here to view passage)

Reflection:

The old adage goes: “There’s strength in numbers”

Usually, a crowd loses its power when it is scattered.

But the Christians were, and are, a different sort of phenomenon.

Right before the passage linked above, we hear about Saul, before his conversion to Christianity. He is a zealous persecutor of Christians…and that persecution causes the group to scatter to the four winds to save their own tails.

One might think this is the end of the “movement” of Christianity. The group’s been scattered away from their leaders. They no longer can claim strength in numbers. It’s over.

Except for this group – the scattering simply spreads the message further. We hear of Philip, on his own, telling people in Samaria about Jesus…and God’s grace extends to more and more people.

Eventually Saul will get knocked off his high horse and become Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles…and God’s grace extends to more and more people.

On Sunday mornings, you and I are gathered for an hour; to be trained, to be blessed, to be strengthened; to be shown by example what love looks like. But then, just 60 minutes later, we are scattered to the four winds again – to make sure God’s grace continues to be extended to more and more people.

So wherever you are reading this devotion from, no matter how far it is away from the church, know that you are the presence of Christ’s love in that place. Extend God’s grace to those you encounter today; through words, through actions, through a willingness to be the hands and feet of Christ.

Prayer: Gracious God, give us the strength to be scattered today, so that the walls of the church may not keep others out, or your love in. Amen.

Take Off My Shoes?!?

Exodus 3:1-5 Moses at the Burning Bush

Reflection:

Most people have to be pretty comfortable with you to take their shoes off.

I don’t know what it is – maybe we’re all afraid that we have ugly feet…maybe it’s a feeling of nakedness on some level…but whatever it is, most folks don’t like taking their shoes off around other people.

Unless, that is, you are truly feeling at home.

For me, the places that I feel comfortable removing my shoes are also the places that I feel most comfortable, period. They are the places where I know I’m loved and accepted for who I am, warts and all (and no, I don’t have warts on my feet!)

I can take my shoes off at home.

I can take my shoes off at my parents’ house.

I can take my shoes off at my inlaws’ house.

These are the places where I know I can be myself.

As Moses approaches the very presence of God in the passage linked above, God tells him to remove his shoes, because the ground he is standing on is holy. On one level, this is to show respect to the divine. But on another level, it is an intimate moment. Moses is himself before God. No shoes. No barriers. No pretentions.

This week, it is my hope that you know that the ground you walk is holy ground, because Jesus walks every step with you. Maybe, knowing that presence of unbounded love in your life, you’ll be able to remove your shoes!

Prayer: God of peace, open our eyes to your presence in our daily lives, that we might know your all-encompassing love. Amen.