Devotions
Greatness----It’s something we all yearn for, strive for, grasp at, and jostle each other for from the cradle to the grave. Ask a group of little children, “Who wants to go first?” and you will hear that unmistakable chorus of shrill voices chime out, “Me! Me! Me! Me!” We learn early, to compete and defeat and secure that coveted position at the top of the human pile.
There is a Kiswahili word that is spelled “We!” and pronounced with an “h” sound at the end. When an African parent says this word sternly while pointing at a child, that child knows that they had better stop whatever it is they are doing and pay attention. That word is a pre-cursor to a dreaded whipping. The expression is so terrifying that no child defies it. It declares intention; it announces that punishment is certain to follow; it will happen unless you stop what you are doing or are about to do.
Elijah was in the throes of fear when God spoke to him. He feared that Jezebel would kill him. Even though Elijah believed fully in God’s power; and even though he had just won the contest on Mt. Carmel over 450 prophets of Baal and four hundred prophets of Asherah (1 Kings 18:19), he was still very afraid. In the midst of this fear, God told him to go stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD and wait for the LORD to pass by (1 Kings 19:11). Elijah could have mistaken the powerful wind, the earthquake, and the fire for the presence of God. But he did not, because he was listening; he was tuned in to God.
We live in tumultuous times, with bad news coming at us relentlessly. It is easy to get overwhelmed by it all. But God is neither surprised by the events unfolding on the earth, nor by where we find ourselves (helpless, hopeless, worried, angry, sad…etc.), and he has already made a way for us to overcome, every time.
Time and time again, the Bible makes reference to the unexpected nature of Christ’s return. He will come back while people are eating and drinking; marrying and giving in marriage, while people are sleeping and while others are working in the field. In other words, no one will see it coming. What should we do when we are expecting Jesus to come back and yet are not certain when this will be?
It is hard to be hopeful when we wake up to a world that feels like it is on the brink of destruction. There is so much darkness, and so much distress. Nations are in disarray, the COVID pandemic is still raging, millions of people are in dire need, the climate is changing, and fires are burning, greed for power and wealth at any cost is manifesting across the globe and cries for mercy are rising.
Prior to his departure into heaven, Jesus took his disciples to a mountain in Galilee and gave them instructions on how they were to conduct themselves in his absence (the period between his departure from earth and his return to claim his bride (the church). Jesus began this speech with the words, "All authority...." Not some authority or most authority but "all authority…."
Words matter! As someone once noted, “Words are free, but they cost.” The writer of the gospel of Matthew says that every word we speak is a gauge to our spiritual condition. For it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34). Indeed, God will hold us accountable for every word we speak, in the judgment.
St. Francis of Assissi personified devotion. It is said that he did not love humanity but men, and he did not love Christianity but Jesus Christ. What does this mean? This means that St. Francis of Assissi did not fall in love with the church, but with Jesus Christ himself. For him this faith was not about religion, it was a love affair with a person,… Jesus.
Has it ever occurred to you that God longs for you? I know, it is hard to imagine that the creator of this universe has the time to engage in longing. The truth is, that is what this whole Christian journey is about. It is about a Holy God longing for an intimate relationship with his people. That is, you, me and everyone else.
How do you fight life’s battles? Right now, millions of people across the world are facing private battles some big, and some small. Battles can strengthen us and sharpen our wits against the enemy and then sometimes battles can destroy us. It all depends on our spiritual stance. Many people are familiar with scriptures that remind us that it is God who fights our battles (2 Chronicles 20:15; 1 Samuel 17:47). And indeed, he does. He fought for his people Israel in the Old Testament and he fights for his children today. But we may be less familiar with scriptures that call upon believers to take up a sword and fight (Ephesians 6:17).
Love. Perhaps no other topic in the universe has been talked about, sang about or bandied about as much as the topic of love. Some of us grew up believing that love was this breathless wonder, this overpowering emotion that can leave one breathless or set one’s heart racing uncontrollably. Such love is worldly and often fickle; like froth in a coffee cup it frequently loses air and goes flat.
Do you remember the toilet paper shortage of 2020? It was absolutely insane was it not? I remember visiting my local supermarket and thinking, “You’ve got to be kidding!” The aisle was completely empty. Later I learned that the pandemic had interrupted production lines, thus the shortage. Sadly, when we look for peace in the world today, we sort of get the same feeling. The peace aisle is empty. Production lines have been interrupted. Nations are in turmoil. Families are in turmoil. People are in turmoil.
Every now and then, we hear miraculous stories of people who have come back to life from the brink of death. We are captivated by these near-death stories because they give us a glimpse into the hope that we all cling to concerning the afterlife with Jesus. Our physical death is the portal to this eternal dwelling. It is the final step to something new.
As Jesus turned his face towards Jerusalem, there was a buzz on the street as the townspeople chanted, “The king is coming!” The religious leaders were already looking for him. Threatened by his popularity, they had already decided to kill him. The crowds on the other hand saw him as the one who would free them from Roman oppression and domination. They had waited a long time for him. Each group had made him their kind of king. So, they waved their palm branches as they went out to meet him shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who come in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel! (Luke 12:12).
Recently, I listened to young woman describing her life as she was moved from one foster home to another. She stated, “I always felt adrift, like I did not belong.” This is such a cruel reality, one that would have been ours, were it not for God. Like this young woman, it is easy to feel adrift in this world, it is not our home, but the love of Jesus anchors us and holds us close.
Perhaps you have heard those horrific stories of people who have been kidnapped and held captive for many years, and then been released by some miracle. Our hearts rejoice with relief and gratitude that they found freedom at last. Quite often, a strong bond develops between the rescued and the rescuer. The rescued never forget the person who rescued them.
