Christian Counseling Service -- Devotions

But a very little while

Friday, December 7, 2018

From Isaiah 29
On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see. The lowly will ever find joy and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

Because we turn away from God, in our world it is always the blind leading the blind. I look back on journals from weeks of hitchhiking and I marvel that I'm still alive. I was careless with everything, except perhaps the words I used to describe my carelessness. And most of the folks around me seemed to be just like me. Who's driving this car, anyway?

Isaiah goes on to say, "When his children see the work of my hands in his midst, they shall keep my name holy. And those who err in spirit shall acquire understanding. Those who find fault shall receive instruction."

A few mystics see God more often through the mist, but for most of us it's a once-or-twice-in-a-lifetime experience. The intimacy I crave with God goes the way of all flesh, and I mostly choose to eat, drink and be merry. Not that God is a stick-in-the-mud who disdains celebration, because he isn't. Jesus loved his parties. Jesus loved to surprise people and announce he was coming for dinner, coming for the party!

But something seems different for me. Looking back or looking forward, I wonder why I am so careless with my worship. "When you see the work of my hands in your midst, you will keep my name holy." YES! I have seen the work of his hands. "When you err in spirit, you will acquire understanding."

OK. Thank you. I am growing. Day by day, I love thee more dearly. For that I fall down and thank you.

But I fall short. Follow thee more nearly? I am continually tempted to eat from the haunting, omnipresent Eden tree, so sure I know the difference between good and evil on my own. I'm careless with what you show me, and then I extrapolate, until I think I'm just so much smarter than I am. Soon I am judging others, and almost as soon I realize that I have judged myself (Romans 2:1-2).

Despair calls me to its side. Come and taste the bitter stony soup. No!

"When you find fault, you shall receive instruction." Hope rises. Teach me your way, O Lord. Lead me in a straight path. Let me dwell in your house all the days of my life.

I remain confident in this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. I will wait for you, Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for you.

Devotions Archive

But a very little while

Friday, December 7, 2018