A Life Worthy

One-a-Day Monday, 4/27/15

Posted on April 27, 2015 by michaelApril 26, 2015

…and he separated the light from the darkness (Genesis 1:4).

He seems to do a lot of that.

Separating light from darkness.

Light from darkness. Wheat from tares—which are weeds, by the way. Sheep from goats. It’s a common theme in Scripture.

Did you ever notice that there’s no in-between? I mean, God doesn’t separate light from darkness from twilight. He doesn’t separate wheat from weeds from cabbages. Or sheep from goats from poodles.

Just two choices—light and darkness.

Right and wrong.

Good and evil.

So, why does the world always want to paint things grey?

Why do you think, Beloved?

One-a-Day Friday, 4/24/15

Posted on April 24, 2015 by michaelApril 24, 2015

God saw that the light was good… (Genesis 1:4).

Light is good.

Have you ever been in complete darkness? I mean, where it’s so dark that you literally can’t see your hand in front of your face?

It’s disturbing.

When I was nineteen, I lived in a little cabin in the woods.

No, really.

One night, I left a friend’s house to return home. It was night, and I didn’t have a flashlight because I hadn’t planned to stay so late and because I was new to the woods and unfamiliar with real darkness and because I was nineteen and living on my own for the first time and my mom wasn’t there to tell me to take a flashlight. My cabin was about 100 yards through the trees. With light, maybe two minutes. In the dark, fifteen of the most harrowing minutes of my life.

Confusion

Lonliness

Wrong Turns

Fear

Bad Choices

Despair

I felt it all as I stumbled through the darkness, looking for home.

I didn’t appreciate the spiritual metaphor at the time, because, well, I thought I was about to be eaten. But I’m sure you get it.

The smallest checkout-counter keychain flashlight would have transformed that darkness…

Hey, whaddaya say we all hold hands and sing, “This Little Light of Mine?”

OK, well, maybe next time.

Happy Friday, Beloved.

One-a-Day Thursday, 4/23/15

Posted on April 23, 2015 by michaelApril 23, 2015

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light (Genesis 1:3).

He spoke, and it was.

I like that.

God didn’t go tinker around in his celestial workshop and figure out light.

God didn’t get out his Big Book of Useful Elements and look up the formula for light.

God didn’t google light.

He said, “Hey, Light…Be”

Or something like that.

Here’s something to chew on, just to keep your Thursday interesting. Jesus is the Word of God, ya?

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1).

Jesus also calls himself the light of the world in John 8:12.

So…one aspect of Christ called forth another aspect of Christ into the universe

and into our lives

and eventually into our hearts.

I think my brain just exploded. But in a good way.

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

One-a-Day Wednesday, 4/22/15

Posted on April 21, 2015 by michaelApril 22, 2015

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters (Genesis 1:2).

As he formed this world, Beloved,

So he formed you.

When you were formless

and empty,

and shrouded in darkness,

the Spirit of God was there.

He hovered over you, and he spoke into the darkness.

What did he say, Beloved?

Oh, you know what he said.

One-a-Day Tuesday, 4/21/15

Posted on April 21, 2015 by michaelApril 21, 2015

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1).

The heavens

The earth

That pretty much covers everything.

So, whaddya think, Beloved? Can God handle your job situation, your broken heart, your insecurities?

That’s like asking if a master electrician is capable of plugging in a lamp.

Or if a neurosurgeon is qualified to deal with your ingrown toenail.

Or if a Navy Seal is up for traversing the kiddie pool.

Or… if God can handle your difficulties.

The answer is Yes, Beloved.

Yes and yes again.

Happy Tuesday.

One-a-Day Monday, 4/20/15

Posted on April 20, 2015 by michaelApril 20, 2015

In the beginning, God… (Genesis 1:1).

The best opening line.

Ever.

I mean, I’ve always been partial to, “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times,” but this one has it beat.

At the very start of all things, God was already here. He has no beginning—he is the beginning.

You know, I forget that on occasion. I forget that it all starts with God. Sometimes I get my little plan going, organize the chess pieces, then invite God along for the ride.

He doesn’t work that way.

Which, you know, is a very good thing.

From the beginning of time, Beloved.

In the beginning of your week.

God.

One-a-Day Friday, 4/17/15

Posted on April 17, 2015 by michaelApril 17, 2015

…neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39).

Of course there’s nothing in the physical world that can separate us from God. Outer space or ocean floor, you can’t get beyond his reach. You already knew that.

But what about the emotional world?

What about when life is fantastic, and I get so caught up in my own amazingosity that I forget God?

What about when “I make my bed in the depths,” so depressed and beaten down that I can’t muster the strength to lift my head to Heaven?

Emotions are within his sphere too, Beloved.

All Creation is under his sway, and he has promised us, right here, that none of it can separate us from the love of Christ.

There is only one uncreated being in all the cosmos, only one who would be capable of erasing God’s love from your life, and he’s the one making the promise.

So I think we’re safe.

You are safe.

Take that into your weekend, Beloved.

One-a-Day Thursday, 4/16/15

Posted on April 16, 2015 by michaelApril 16, 2015

…neither the present nor the future… (Romans 8:38c).

Neither the present…

when I’m distracted and frazzled and busy and sad and lonely and frightened and desperate and insecure and so completely overwhelmed that I barely have time to read this silly little devotional

nor the future…

when I have no idea what will happen

…though God does

or what mistakes I will make

…though God does

or what sins I will commit

…though God does

or who will hurt me

…though God does

and I can only cling to his Word and trust and pray and hope that he really is all he promises to be.

Yes, that’s about it.

How about this: I’ll cling and trust and pray and hope for you today, and you do the same for me. Whaddaya say?

Thanks, Beloved.

One-a-Day Wednesday, 4/15/15

Posted on April 15, 2015 by michaelApril 15, 2015

…neither angels nor demons… (Romans 8:38b)

I would love to see into the spiritual world. When I read of Daniel’s visions, or those of John the Apostle, I get hungry, wondering what it will really be like to see into that world. I know that it’s there, and filled with unimaginable power, but I can only perceive the tiniest fraction of it.

And yet, interesting as it may be, ultimately the world of angels and demons has little effect on our eternity. My life—your life—is hidden with Christ in God. It’s done.

I don’t really know why or how an angel might want to separate me from God. That’s beyond the scope of this brain to comprehend. I can understand why a demon might—and what tactics may be involved. I’m sure that I have even experienced the attempt, though I may not have realized it at the time.

Doesn’t matter.

You may stand at the center of a spiritual melee, but you are secure.

You may swim in a whirlpool of spiritual attack, but you will not be pulled down.

God’s got you, and nothing can take you from him.

It’s Wednesday—go get ‘em, Beloved.

One-a-Day Tuesday, 4/14/15

Posted on April 14, 2015 by michaelApril 14, 2015

For I am convinced that neither death nor life… (Romans 8:38a)

If I get squished by a narcoleptic cement truck driver on my way to work, I will still belong to God. In fact, I will immediately be ushered into his presence, to spend eternity in his glory. I get that.

You know…sorta.

But the “life” part, that’s something to chew on. Life can’t separate me from God, either. Because frankly, that’s the far more likely scenario of the two. There are so many things out there that are designed to separate us from God’s love. Everywhere you turn, there is darkness reaching for you. If it were up to you, your strength, you would be swept away.

But, of course, it’s not.

God is strong enough to hold you, even when sin and fear and insecurity and doubt and laziness and despair try to tear you out of his grasp.

I wouldn’t suggest that you go out of your way to test that promise, Beloved, but you can trust it.

You can trust him.