A Moment in Time

 

Write From My Heart / September 30, 2020 / A Moment in Time

Genesis 1:1 (NIV)  In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:14 (NIV) And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years.”

Genesis 8:22 (NIV)  “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”

            As humans, we have a very linear conception of time. We are constantly moving from the past—time that is “no longer,” into the present—time that is “now,” while we anticipate the future—time that is “yet to come.” We live from one moment to the next; and as soon as that moment arrives, the previous moment is gone forever, it no longer exists except as memory, and it cannot be retrieved or relived.

            I have been thinking about this concept for some time (pun intended), and what I realize is that God does not require the measurement of time to function, nor does time place constraints upon him. Before the world began—before it was created—Our Triune God existed. In fact, it was God who created the world, created the planets, stars, universe and all the orbiting movements that generate time as we humans understand time. We are time-bound and our life is fleeting…naught but a momentary breeze as compared to God’s eternity and the time span of his word.

Isaiah 40:8 (NIV)  The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.

James 4:14 (NIV)  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

            We survive by living moment by moment, and some days we accomplish this better than others. Truly we are time-dependent creatures. Worse still, we tend to cling to the past heaping guilt upon ourselves for what no longer exists. The only thing that does is muddy our joy in the present and hinder our hope for the future. God stands over and above time just like he stands over and above the world. He understands the guilt of our past; but when he forgives, it is remembered no longer. It doesn’t follow us into the future unless we fail to let it go. Furthermore, he understands what lies ahead of us in the future; and through the Holy Spirit, he is able to address our concerns and guide our directions in life. 

Psalm 30:5 (NIV)  For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Ezra 9:6 and 8 (NIV, excerpts)  O my God, I am too ashamed and disgraced to lift up my face to you, my God, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens. … But now, for a brief moment, the LORD our God has been gracious…

Ezra 8:22 (NIV)  The good hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him.

            I am reminded of an old hymn and I will close with one of its verses.

“Moment by Moment” (words by Daniel W. Whittle, 1893)

Never a trial that He is not there, never a burden that He doth not bear,

Never a sorrow that He doth not share, moment by moment I’m under His care.

 

           

The Lord's Day

 

Write From My Heart/ /September 26, 2020 / The Lord’s Day

Psalm 27:4-5 (NIV) One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.

            God’s people are in a time of temporary “church-attendance fluctuation,” at least that’s what I call it. Some states allow open church attendance and some states do not, while many states agree to allow partial capacity church attendance. In some states, the rules for church attendance change with the whim of politicians of that state. As a result, churches are continuing to seek ways in which to engage the members even if it means requiring reservations as restaurants do in order to meet state-mandated requirements for church capacities or offering online services or both. Who gets to go? Who stays at home? Who has means of online worship? It’s quite the conundrum for those of us raised in homes where church attendance was the expectation—not out of duty—but out of love for our Heavenly Father. We looked forward to the Lord’s Day with Sunday School, morning worship, evening worship, and Bible study & prayer on Wednesday evenings. For some of us, we attended choir practice before worship on Sunday evening or else on Wednesday evenings. Gradually, Sunday evenings have been dropped by many churches. But the point is: this has been a drastic change in the lives of many of us, which in turn, only results in causing an increase in our feelings of isolation.

            I firmly believe God understands our current situation and he knows our hearts. Perhaps if we are willing to pay attention he may even be working in our hearts, using this time of isolation or semi-isolation to teach us that our worship focus is our LORD. Perhaps all the attention-getting bells and whistles to entice worship attendance is leading us away from the primary purpose of worship—specifically, to honor and show reverence for God.

            As we mentioned in yesterday’s devotion, the Psalmist David spent years fleeing for his life. He seldom had opportunity to visit any local facility to engage in worshiping the God he so dearly loved. But he made every opportunity to worship where he was. He didn’t let it slide. He spent hours in prayers of concern, prayers of thanksgiving, joyful song. His Bible was most likely the combination of verbal recounting of historical events (i.e., God’s wonderful deeds) and the view of God’s creation surrounding him.

            I truly look forward to the day when the politicizing of worship attendance ceases, the day when we are free to gather in the Lord’s house to worship once again. Until then, I won’t let worship slide. I’ll study my Bible, spend time in prayer for both concerns and praises, sing songs in my heart—but always keeping my focus on my Heavenly Father. It is the Lord’s Day on Sunday, but it is also the Lord’s Week. Perhaps this is the lesson we are learning independently in order to revive true worship in our churches when we meet again.

Prayer for Mercy

 

Write From My Heart / September 25, 2020 / Prayer for Mercy

Psalm 28:1-2 (NLT)  I pray to you, O LORD, my rock. Do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you are silent, I might as well give up and die. Listen to my prayer for mercy as I cry out to you for help, as I lift my hands toward your holy sanctuary. 

            The Psalmist David spent years literally running for his life. His enemies were fierce, relentless, and sometimes they were his family members. I cannot imagine the depth or scope of David’s utter dejection at times. I’m not convinced the struggles you and I face can truly compare even though in the moment we may be overwhelmed. You can sense evidence in how low David is by the requests that follow the above passage. His prayer continues: 

Psalm 28:3-5 (NLT)  Do not drag me away with the wicked—with those who do evil—those who speak friendly words to their neighbors while planning evil in their hearts.  Give them the punishment they so richly deserve! Measure it out in proportion to their wickedness. Pay them back for all their evil deeds! Give them a taste of what they have done to others. They care nothing for what the LORD has done or for what his hands have made. So he will tear them down, and they will never be rebuilt!

            Even David knew that it was not his responsibility to seek retribution no matter the depth of his despair. Rather his trust was in his LORD to punish wrong. Notice the last verse—not “I will tear them down” but that “he will tear them down.” Folks that makes all the difference in the world! We take our burdens, sorrows, cares, and concerns to the Lord, and leave them there.

Romans 12:19 (NLT)  Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord.

            When David places his utter despair in God’s hands, he knows he has been heard. I love how he closes this psalm, and I especially enjoy the NIV Bible for these verses:

Psalm 28:6-9 (NIV)  Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.

            You can probably guess what I am going to tell you next, but I believe it from my heart! Our Heavenly Father is never more than a prayer away!