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Monday, May 25, 2020
“In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” —Psalm 5:3
For much of my life, I’ve had on-and-off problems falling asleep at night. I’m susceptible to a racing mind, and late at night is apparently as good a time as any to solve the world’s problems, re-litigate past disagreements, or thoroughly explore my many regrets. Add to this that I often stay up too late looking at screens and I have a recipe for a bad night’s sleep.
One of the knock-on effects of having trouble falling asleep is that early morning is often not my best time. When I haven’t gotten enough good sleep, I often sleep later than I intended or drag myself out of bed in a haze.
And this is a problem for several reasons, not least of which is that the morning is an important time for my relationship with God. In Psalm 5, David writes about speaking with God in the morning. Of course, conversation with God can happen at all times, but it seems like there’s something special about the morning.
I think it’s like a lot of other things: What happens first tends to establish the tone for what happens later. When we greet someone warmly, we set the tone for a positive interaction. When our tithes are the first thing we do with our income, we set a tone of gratitude and generosity. When we wake up in the morning and raise our voices to God, we establish an awareness that our lives are being lived with and for God.
In the Jewish calendar, a day really starts with sundown. Keeping that in mind, it seems even more important to start the day well with what I do in the evening as I prepare to sleep. Good rest and morning conversation are the start to a day lived joyfully with God. I’m going to try to take this seriously as a real part of following Jesus.
Friday, May 22, 2020
But while the son was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. – Luke 15:20
My grandma was a poet. A couple of months ago, my mom found a poem she’d written (who knows when!) addressed to me. It was an apology for an event I don’t even remember – a time she’d scolded me, evidently, for losing something. The content of the poem surprised me. My memories of Grandma are all smiles and warmth. But something I’d done had upset her, and I guess she didn’t feel great about how she’d reacted. And baked right into her poem of apology was also an offer of forgiveness: it was obvious that whatever I’d lost way-back-when was much less valuable to her than our relationship.
Today’s passage from Luke comes from the Parable of the Lost Son. It’s the ultimate story of repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation. When we read this parable, sometimes we identify with the lost son who’s messed up and is seeking forgiveness; and sometimes we identify with the father, who forgives everything because he’s just so happy his child is home. (Sometimes we even identify with the older son, who did all the right things, and still sees his brother getting all the attention). Wherever you find yourself in this parable, the message about forgiveness is the same: whether you’ve sinned or been sinned against, forgiveness is always the goal. It’s what God gives us, what God wants for us, and what God instructs us to give. The state of our relationships with God and with people matter. This parable reminds us of some simple, essential truths: 1) We sin, and by God’s grace, we are forgiven. God loves us and nothing we do limits that love. 2) Because we have been forgiven, we must – we get to – imitate God by forgiving people, too. It’s the only fitting response.
Grandma’s poem reminds me of the beauty of both sides of the coin. She sought forgiveness and she offered it. This receiving and giving of grace is what God wants for our lives. We’re called to be like the lost son and like the forgiving father. May this sink in for you today. May you stand confidently in the knowledge that your heavenly father forgives you completely, and treasures your return to him. And may that knowledge cause you to overflow with forgiveness for the people in your life, also treasured by God.
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. – Hebrews 6:10
Psalm 103:12 says that God takes our our sin and removes it from us “as far as the east is from the west.” In Isaiah 43:25 God says, “I will forget your sins.” I find verses like these so comforting because more often than not, I want God to forget what I’ve done.
This verse reminds me that God isn’t only paying attention to the stuff I mess up so God can forgive it, God is deeply invested in my life because God is rooting for me to succeed. When I am taking steps that allow me to better follow Jesus, I am taking steps toward being the version of myself that God created me to be.
As you go through your day today, may you feel the encouragement of God. Imagine God looking at you and delighting in you. And know that when you show love to others, you are showing your love to and for God.
