December 3: Tuesday Refocus

‘The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.’ - Isaiah 9:2

From darkness to light is a theme we see throughout Scripture.  We were those dwelling in deep darkness, darkened in our understanding, ignorant and hard-hearted (Eph 4:18).  We loved the dark, hid ourselves and our actions in its covering (Jn 3:19, Lk 8:17).

This would still be our reality if not for Christ… ‘In Him was the life, and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’ (Jn 1:4-5)  Now ‘…if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.’ (1 Jn 1:7).

Out of darkness and isolation, and into union and communion with God and one another.  In a small reflective way, this is what happens every week as we gather with the people of God.  We step into the light of the gathered Church to be reminded that we are people who carry Light into a dark world.  That we are the light of the world (Matt 5:14).

‘O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD.’ Isaiah 2:5

Jesus, You are God with us - thank You!  Help us walk with You as You walk with us.  Bring us out of darkness into the Light of Your holiness.  We desire to be people who have fellowship with You and one another more than the darkness.  In Your name, amen.

Walking,

AB

November 12: Tuesday Refocus

‘If I obey Christ in the seemingly random circumstances of life, they become pinholes through which I see the face of God.’ – Oswald Chambers

To be honest, I prefer a life full of big gestures.  Visible and obvious.  A life that is not so much concerned about the inside as the outside.  God on the other hand, prefers the opposite.  The quiet and humble.  Subtle and stable, because ‘…to obey is better than sacrifice.’ (1 Sam 15:22)

But it is not in my over-the-top and inconsistent displays, but in the walk of daily-death, being yoked to Christ that I see Him clearly (Matt 10:28, 11:29).  These are pinholes of glory.

In the moments of daily obedience, I see that He is completely trustworthy.  That there is joy ahead in this eternal weight of glory and I am steadied from sprinting into this long walk of obedience in the same direction (Heb 12:2, 2 Cor 4:17).

‘He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?’ – Micah 6:8

God, thank You that You faithfully walk with us, even when we wander off, run ahead, and attempt blaze our own trail.  Forgive us, help us to walk humbly with You.  In Christ’s name, amen.

To walk humbly,

AB