Remembering and Rethinking - Day 90 Month 3-31 Week 13-6
Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year)
Numbers 3:1-39 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%203%3A1-39&version=NASB1995
Psalm 73:15-28 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2073%3A15-28&version=NASB1995
Isaiah 63:15-64:12 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2063%3A15-64%3A12&version=NASB1995
Luke 7:18-39 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%207%3A18-39&version=NASB1995
Remembering and Rethinking
1. In Psalm 73:26 it says “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” We are reminded that God is eternal. Though our lives on earth will end at some point we have eternal life available to us with God - body, spirit and soul all intact but in perfect form and balance.
The minister that performed Sylvia’s and My wedding passed away a few days back. His name was John Rush. John walked with me through some of the most deep and painful times of my life and for many wonderful times. Several years before I met Syl, I was dealing with serious depression. I had contemplated suicide several times and felt like there was no future in sight. One Saturday evening, I went to the church where I was employed to prepare for the Sunday service. As a technical director in a mega church, there is a lot to do in preparation for a Sunday service so Saturday evening was the prime opportunity to work undisturbed. On one Saturday evening, I was preparing for the Sunday services and God met me. While I was working in my office, I had an overwhelming feeling of God’s presence. I felt I was floating (not literally but sure felt like it). God met me in a way that I had never experienced in my life before and I knew at that moment, that life would be ok and He still had a plan that included me. Well I started singing worship songs at the top of my lungs and between tears of joy and incredible gratitude, I suddenly heard a trumpet! Not a heavenly trumpet, but a trumpet being played well in the main auditorium. My office was at the back of the balcony with a window to the auditorium. I looked out and there was John Rush playing a trumpet! John could have been a musician but he chose to be a pastor. John knew the mindset I’d been in and had been there for me. I mustered as serious a voice as I could and I called to John, “John I need to talk to you about something very serious!” John suddenly switched from Trumpet player to counselor and came my way. I met him about halfway on the stairs between the balcony and main floor, still trying to keep my serious face and voice on. I said “I have something to say to you”… I, with a big smile on my face said, “God loves Me and God loves You and I love you and thank you for not giving up on me!” I then hugged him. Over the next hour we prayed and praised God together. a time I will never forget. As the first paragraph states, “God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” John is with Jesus now. God is John’s strength and portion forever!
2. One of the lines in the Isaiah reading is, “We have become like those over whom You have never ruled, like those who were not called by Your name.” This is part of an emotional prophet lamenting on behalf of a distressed, and disobedient Israel. It also applies to much of the church who claim to represent Jesus. The Christian Church in many ways has become like those whom God never ruled. We often hear of moral breakdown within the church and also putting itself in the place of God by involving itself where it ought not to be - like politics as an example. It’s time to get back to the basics, to start embracing others rather than judging them. By embracing (loving) others, we are in turn loving Jesus.
3. One last thought for this morning. In my youth, my family didn’t smoke, drink, dance and didn’t go to movies. In these days with marijuana being legal in Canada, we would have had to add that to the list too. Only the heathens do that, according to my father. One day I actually heard my dad on the phone talking to someone that was not a Jesus follower. Dad said, “We don’t smoke, we don’t drink and we don’t dance.” Our phone was right by the kitchen table and I was sitting at the table. As I heard my dad talk to this person, I could only think, “Wow, are we ever boring!” I know better now. The thing is, I don’t smoke anything because it’s unhealthy and I wish I was a better dancer. We read in Luke 7:33-34 “For John the Baptist has come, eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, “He has a demon!” The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, “Behold a gluttonous man and a drunkard…” My fellow Jesus followers and I need to avoid falling in the trap that the religious leaders of Jesus day did. It’s pretty simple. Don’t judge others!
Have a great day!
Steve
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