2010 – October 26 – No Worries Today!

Study from God’s Word… Matthew, Chapters 5 – 7 and portions of Luke 6 from which we read Jesus’ famous and beloved “Sermon on the Mount,” likely delivered to a crowd of followers on a hillside just outside of Capernaum … Passage for Reflection: Matthew 6: 34 … NIV 33But seek first [God’s] kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things [the essentials of life] will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

My Journal for Today: Dr. LaGard Smith in his devotional entry for this date in The Daily Bible Devotional focuses on one of the teaching points Jesus emphasized in his Sermon on the Mount which was the focus of my devotional reading from The Daily Bible in Chronological Order today. And there is probably not one teaching from that great exposition about the kingdom of God where mankind transgresses any more than on the matter of stress, worry, or misplaced concern.

Who reading here with me this day would not have to admit – or confess – participating all too often in needless worry? And Dr. Smith asks a series of challenging questions which will likely nail you with conviction as much as it did me. He points to how many pills or drugs could/would be eliminated if we didn’t fret as much as we do. How many countless hours are wasted on worries about the stock market or the potential for terrorism in our world? How much of our health or well being is damaged because of our sinful worrying. And yes, my friend, it is sin we’re speaking of here, isn’t it?

And no, Jesus is not preaching about appropriate concern for you’re the well being of your kids or necessary planning for you to be a good steward of God’s providence. What our Lord is emphasizing here is the selfish – and yes, sinful – worrying and fretting that is birthed by our lack of faith in God’s providence and His love for His children. Do we really think God, our heavenly Father, is not big enough or caring enough to provide for His kids? So, Jesus was preaching to show His followers (and that includes you and me, I assume) that any time or mental effort we waste on worry is really a matter of choosing to focus on self rather than relying on our Savior.

And I’m not going to go off at length any more about this here this morning. I’m just going to take my conviction and be determined to move toward the reality and truth expressed in our Bible in passages like Isaiah 26: 3 … 1st Peter 5: 7 … and Proverbs 3: 5-6; because if I live in the reality of these truths, I will move toward God’s peace and away from any selfish, frivolous concerns or worry which stand in the way of a deep/abiding relationship with my Lord.
How about joining me today in a day of boycotting of self and resting securely in the love of God?

My Prayer for Today: Lord, today I rest in YOU and let YOU take control of my ship. Amen

2010 – October 20 – Resting in Peace

Image #1 ... Rembrandt's - Simeon's Joy ...
Image #2 de Gelder's - Nunc Dimittis


Study from God’s Word… Luke, Chapters 1 – 2 … Passage for Reflection: Luke 2: 28 - 30 … NIV 25Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28Simeon took Him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 30For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31which you have prepared in the sight of all people, 32a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."

My Journal for Today: I revel with peace in reading, re-reading, and mediating from the story of The Christ’s birth, being foretold some 700+ years before the Babe born in Bethlehem by the Prophets Micah and Isaiah and others. And the unfolding of the birth story of our Messiah just gives me great peace, … especially knowing that this One, Who was born in a manger stall, was, … AND IS, my Savior.

I can just imagine what must have been felt by that loving Priest, Simeon, who had been promised by God to one day see The Messiah before he died; and then to take THE ONE in his arms from His mother; and to be able to declare his “nunc dimittis,” which, in Latin, means “now dismiss me.” And this moment has been depicted often over the centuries, in song and art, such as the photos attached here, the first one by Rembrandt and the second by his student, Arent de Gelder, depicting the joy felt by Simeon as he was allowed to hold the very Author of Salvation.

But do you realize, along with me here in this moment, that we can hold the same “Rest In Peace” joy felt by Simeon, Mary, Zechariah, Joseph, and others who were there to look into the eyes of the Baby Christ child. Yes, we can also “R.I.P.” as the old cartoon depiction of death, declares. Why? Well, we can rest in peace ecause we don’t need to fear death and can experience the ultimate in peace, KNOWING that Jesus was born as a Child, lived as a Rabbi, and died as a Savior so that I can live in His peace FOREVER. And so, right now, as I write this, I feel the same L.I.P. (“live in peace”) attitude which Simeon must’ve felt when that babe was placed in his arms.

I live in the peace of knowing that no matter what happens in this life, my forever has been shaped by that Baby who was born as the God-child and Who became the God-man, … the Lamb of God, Who was sacrificed for my sin on Calvary. Yes, Jesus is my “nunc dimittis,” giving me eternal peace and assurance that He has saved me from myself.

And here I am again, declaring “Hallelujah,” my Savior!!!”

My Prayer for Today: Yes, Lord, HALLELUJAH, … for letting me rest in peace in this life and eternally with You in glory. Amen