Thursday, December 2: Luke 2- Pondered and marveled.

What must it have been like to be Mary and Joseph? I have heard people refer to their lives as a rollercoaster ride. Mary and Joseph’s “ride” was filled with twists, turns, corkscrews, steep climbs and nerve wracking descents. God was taking them on a journey they could never have anticipated. Never.

Two lines and two verbs struck me as I read this morning. Verse 19: But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. And verse 33: The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Somehow amidst the ride of their lives Joseph and Mary were able to slow down long enough to treasure the things they saw, heard and experienced and to marvel at the words spoken about their son Jesus.

Marvel and treasure; treasure and marvel… fantastic words for this time of year as we near the celebration of Jesus’ birthday.

As I am thinking these thoughts and writing these words, the Spirit reminds me I, too, can treasure and marvel the things of Jesus if I will slow down and create space for them.

Marvel at the many events I have read about in just the last two mornings… angelic visitations; prophecies; barren wombs given children; faithful servants struck speechless and then after a faithful response, speech is restored all that in chapter 1. Then we have angelic choirs, outcast shepherds, and old saints speaking blessings. And I am only 2 chapters into Jesus’ story. I can marvel at the great lengths to which God went to announce the coming of the  incarnate Jesus, His son, into our world! Marvel … yes, that is a correct word… marvel at all God had done.

Treasure, that pushes the equations further. Treasure implies savoring with personal joy and even personal affirmation. I marvel when I sit at an airport watching those huge planes take off and land. I marvel when I watch a professional wood-turner take a chunk of wood, place it on a lathe and turn a delicate wooden bowl. I marveled when I saw Michelangelo’s Pieta many years ago, even though I was only a young kid, I was amazed by its beauty and lifelike appearance. It was as if the stone breathed. But really I have no skin in any of these games, no personal investment.

For me to ‘treasure’ something is to bring it into my life, to make it personal. Maybe I am splitting hairs with words but in my musings, I see a difference. I marveled at the birth of my kids, I treasure them as I invest in their lives and help them grow…

Anyway, God is inviting me to both marvel at all He has done and to treasure it, to bring it into my life where He can make a difference in how I live.

To marvel and treasure I must slow down and invest time in my relationship with my Lord.

Lord God, I seek to slow portions of my day to give you space to enter in, to show me what You have done and what You are doing in life, even in my life. And, Lord, I offer you this time and space so that I might marvel at who You are and what You do. I offer You space and time in my life so that I might treasure the gift I have through faith in Jesus… in whose name I pray. Amen.

 

Wednesday, December 1: Luke 1- Questions and investigation lead to Jesus.

With all that happens in this chapter; the prophetic words, angel visitations and miracles, it was the opening sentences that set my mind into action. Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Luke investigates, Luke questions, Luke documents, and Luke believes.  He then shares what he knows with his friend, Theophilus, so that he may be assured of what he has been taught.

Absolutely, the Christian Faith requires faith and believing.  However, the Christian Faith is not built on a foundation of jello. It is built on truth and historical events.  It not only withstands but thrives on honest study and investigation. Questions are not bad.  Honest questions and investigations have led many to a saving knowledge of Jesus.

Lee Strobels’ A Case for Christ chronicles his investigations of the claims of Christianity, which ultimately led him to believing Jesus. Josh MeDowell’s Evidence That Demands A Verdict is a compilation of evidence that points to the truth of scripture and the teachings therein. Even the highly popular ‘Alpha Course’ deals with the historical accuracy of the scriptures. As Christians we never shun honest investigation of the facts.  They will always build a strong foundation.

There does, however, come a time when a person must decide if they will put their faith in Jesus or not. Luke came to that place of belief. Theolophis came to that place of belief and their investigation of the claims of the faith made their foundation all the more sure!

Study, Paul writes, to show yourself approved (KJV: 2Tim 2:15:Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. NIV: Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.)… Ask questions, investigate the faith… but don’t forget to believe, too. By faith you have been saved… (read Ephesians 2:1-8).

Lord God, thank You for the studied presentation that Luke gives us and thank You for the truth of Your word! May Your truth lead me to a deeper faith in You! In and through Jesus I pray. Amen.

 

Tuesday, November 30: Song of Solomon 8- Love your spouse

One phrase repeated a few times in this letter reappears here in the closing chapter. Verse 4 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.

Warning, be careful, love is a strong emotion. Don’t arouse it till you are ready. Marital love, runs deep and shouldn’t be trifled with, one must be ready…

A few verses later we read the beloved explaining what she means by love, Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned (6-7).

Love, explained here, means we give ourselves wholly to another. It is not whimsical, or fleeting or mere lust… it is life long and forever.

As I mull this over, part of me thinks, ‘Wow, how could I ever know, especially at those early stages, if the ‘love’ I’m feeling for another is ‘love?’ Thinking back, I don’t know if a person can know.

On the flip side, for this ‘love’ to fully blossom, I must give myself to it without reservation and work at it with diligence and commitment. Love like this doesn’t happen over night, it is earned and cultivated. I’m no expert.

I pause once more, considering my own situation… God’s whisper to me is to do everything I humanly can, and then go beyond that to use every bit of strength that the Lord gives me, to cultivate a relationship with my wife that she experiences this depth of love… that she is fully secure and wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

Lord Jesus, help me to be a husband, lover and friend worthy of bearing Your name. Amen.

 

Monday, November 29: Song of Solomon 7- Keeping romance alive

It is not clear in the NIV, and commentators are divided, who is the speaker in the opening 9 verses of this chapter. Is it the man, the lover?  Then this chapter would be a continuation from Chapter 8. Or is it friends or others? I opt for the former understanding that the man is speaking as the chapter opened.

His words then, and hers to follow, are laden with sexual innuendo and invitation. Ok, I guess this is not surprise if they are newly married but I clearly hear God’s invitation to keep romance alive in marriage.

After my wife and I announced our engagement, we were visiting with her grandmother, a widower into her 80’s at that time. Grandma was a proper lady befitting her age and era. As we sat in her living room one afternoon - I will never forget this moment - she offered us her one and only piece of advice. I have savored her words ever since.

“Do not let the sun go down when you are angry.” Then with a sparkle in her eye that was noticeable to me, a little grin emerged on her face as she continued, “And besides, making up is fun.” I will remember those last six words as long as I live.

“Married folk,” the text says to me, “keep romance alive.”

Lord, thank You for my wife’s grandmother. Thanks for the twinkle in her eye. Thanks for her good advice, both aspects of it. And thanks for Your words to us today. Amen.

 

Friday, November 26: Song of Solomon 5- Life isn't always bliss

The chapter is one huge ‘ooops’, a misunderstanding of intentions and the inability to read the actions of the other, which explodes into a big problem. I have lived that deal many times in my life. I am guessing you have as well.

The lover stops by the beloved room for a love connection. The beloved, however, is sleeping, possibly from the hike in the fields of last chapter. She readies herself by combing hair, washing (bathing?), and perfuming.  Meanwhile, the lover apparently becomes impatient with waiting.  By the time she opens the door he is gone.

The situation spirals further downhill but my mind is already reacting. Stuff happens! We humans regularly misread situations. We jump to conclusions. And even when we do read correctly, we can become so absorbed in self that we take offence at things that we would be better off simply letting go. Such is life this side of eternity, in our broken and depraved world.

When this happens, and it will, between couples, within families, in neighborhoods and the like, we have relational problems that need to be repaired.

Every couple whose wedding I have officiated has that glaze in their eye about their partner… but the honeymoon does not last forever. Do they (do we) have the fortitude to work through the bumps in the road... bumps we cause, bumps they cause, bumps life causes?

We are left hanging.  Will the beloved and her lover repair the relational tear of chapter 5? The next few days’ readings will give us the answer.

Now to our lives.  Will we repair any tears that exist in our key relationships? That is what the Holy Spirit puts on my heart as I read and meditate this morning.

Lord, show me relational tears that I need to repair. Show me how to forgive where necessary, and show me how to graciously accept forgiveness of the others when that is necessary.

Lord, I surrender all my relationships to You, that with Your help they will grow stronger and steadier each passing year. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

 

Thursday, November 25: Song of Solomon 4- Words of love

We have stepped into their honeymoon, a most intimate picture of two newlyweds. What is apparent from the first words is Solomon’s overflowing praise for his wife, his bride. Verses 1-15 form a cascading soliloquy of love, word picture after word picture, extolling her beauty and expressing his delight and love for her.

Admittedly, I chuckled when I read verse 2, Your teeth are like a flock of sheep just shorn, coming up from the washing. Each has its twin; not one of them is alone. I got the white teeth part in the opening, but the idea that she has all her teeth - not one of them is alone- I thought “Um, not something I would say to my bride!” (J)

Back to my main thoughts… verbally expressing love. It is refreshing to listen in as Solomon infuses his wife with love through his words. Far too often we married couples allow the verbal affirmation for our partner dry up. Oh, they know we love them, we rationalize. We have all heard the joke. The crusty husband says to his wife, “I told you I loved you at our wedding if anything changes I’ll let you know!”

This chapter sings with verbal expression of love… extolling her beauty, inviting her away so they can be by themselves and be together.

My thoughts spin from text to life, from then to now.  Do I appreciate and express my appreciation and love for my wife?  Does she know she is loved? Does she hear it from my lips and see it in my heart?

Writing this devotional has not been simple.  The text’s content is marriage focused but I recognize not every reader is married, so allow me to widen my gaze. Here is a question everyone of us can ask ourselves, “Do I appreciate and express my appreciation and love for my family, friends, my…”?

Lord, help me express my love and my appreciation well to my wife and my family, that they may know without any doubt that they are loved by me… In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Saturday, November 27: Song of Solomon 6- Reaffirming love.

Given the misunderstanding of the last chapter, I was taken by the lover’s response when he sees his beloved. Would he remain angry, or bitter or upset or display passive-aggressive behaviors? What would he do? How would he act???

Wow!  He echoes the words of love spoken a few chapters ago.

Verbalizing and reaffirming our love for our wives is powerful.

Who among us after we have had a misunderstanding with someone important to us, marriage partner, friend, family member, isn’t blessed and built up when they reaffirm their love or friendship? That is precisely what our lover does…

We don’t know how much time has elapsed since last chapter. Whatever the time parameters, the lover has simmered down and the first chance he has, he drenchers his bride, his beloved, with praise. The lover again tells his beloved ‘eye-to-eye’ how much she is loved.

The Spirit’s simple nudges… “Bill,  learn to do this…”

God, teach me the power of words and how they build others up… Amen.