Creator

September 21: Tuesday Refocus

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‘Life has no other purpose than to be rendered up to God in adoration and gratitude.’ - C.F.D. Moule

All is grace.

The very breath in our lungs, placed there by God (Gen 2:7).  The beating of our hearts, the movements of our bodies and brains gifted to us by the One who knows the number of our days, and has numbered the hair of our head (Ps 139:16, Luke 12:7).

And what is the purpose of this grace and goodness?  What is the aim of this life and breath and everything (Acts 17:25)?  To glorify God and enjoy Him forever - as the Westminster Shorter Catechism reminds us.

All is grace.

All is gift.

All is given by God to be given back to God in adoration and gratitude.

‘The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein…’ Psalm 24:1

Father, would your lavish grace, goodness, and gift to us lead us to respond to you in adoration, gratitude and surrender.  Because all we do is give back to You what always has been Yours.  In Christ’s name, amen.

Grace,

AB

April 20: Tuesday Refocus

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‘For whenever the human soul turns itself, other than to You, it is fixed in sorrows, even if it is fixed upon beautiful things.’ - Augustine 

Our hungry hearts and souls are quick to exchange the truth about God for a lie and worship and serve creature rather than the Creator (Rom 1:25).  Since the fall in the Garden, this has always been our story (Gen 3:1-7).  We have found time and time again the words of the Psalmist are true: ’The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply…’ (Ps 16:4).

Where can we set our gaze to not be fixed in multiplying sorrows?  Toward Christ.

‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.’ Hebrews 12:1-2

Instead of turning toward immediate relief from His suffering, He set His face like flint toward Jerusalem (Lk 9:51).  He set His face toward doing the will of the Father (Jn 6:38).  He set His face toward the cross.  And when we look to Him, we live. 

Lord, may we look to You.  May we run to You and away from the lesser gods, the lesser loves which so easily entangle.  May we look to You and live, in Your name, amen.

Looking,

AB