Mirror Image Pursuit

“But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away…and we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory…”—2 Corinthians 3:16, 18

Not one of the Bible's promises has ever failed. Such great news. And since Jesus promised He would return to gather His kids with Him forever and ever, the Master’s alert of “Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming” may be one of the most important approaches we can take to the start of each new day. Especially in these days of turmoil and evil on every side, and in just about every corner of the world.

But what? Quit your job and go on retreat until That Day?

Better to be found faithful where He has planted us, reflecting Him until the very end.

Because one of the most thunderous statements of the New Testament parables is this:

 “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

Right where we are, in the midst of 9-5. Or after-hours. Or weekends.

So, a better self-probing question to ask at the start of each day "in the midst" might be: "What have you been reflecting lately?" This is not a trick quiz. We know the answer. We just need an every-five-minutes reminder to change the channel to:

"Whatever is true

Whatever is honorable

Whatever is just

Whatever is pure

Whatever is lovely

Whatever is commendable,

If there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise,

Think about these things."

And whatever isn’t, don’t.

Even if these aren’t the very last of the last days, the clarion call to faithfulness remains. And the call is a reminder that whenever we step out "in the midst," our face reflects that which we’ve been gazing at and thinking about—and that dwelling on the goodness and love of God and His Word will transform us (whether we realize it or not) so that our face can become the gate through which our mouth has a reason to speak to someone along our path of the Hope that's within and for all.

Life in Small Bites

“Stay with what you heard from the beginning, the original message. Let it sink into your life. If what you heard from the beginning lives deeply in you, you will live deeply in both Son and Father…. I’ve written to warn you about those who are trying to deceive you. But they’re no match for what is embedded deeply within you—Christ’s anointing teaches you the truth on everything you need to know about yourself and him, uncontaminated by a single lie. Live deeply in what you were taught.”—1 John 2:24-27, The Message

With a piece of toast in hand, and the clock pleading to get going before the traffic builds up, two little phrases jump out from a larger story as your Bible opens to 1 Corinthians 4:

“Do not go beyond what is written.” (vs. 6)…and a reminder to your hurried soul that the Gospel is enough, and that though many authors and teachers may shed a flashlight on its gems, they are not the Light. And perhaps more important for these times, a much-needed first alert to stay the course while a variety of voices and influences compete for your attention, and a cultural tsunami dares you not to watch this, think about that, or go there.

“I am sending to you Timothy…who is faithful in the Lord.” (vs. 17)…and a reminder to your hurried self that no matter what is on your plate for this or any day to come, let this be your one aspiration, and what remains when all is said and done—not as an achievement to check off but as an expression of Love that overflows...somehow, some way, somewhere.

And you are the most surprised person in the world to realize that, at the end of the week, these two little phrases gleaned while trying to get out the door are sticking to your ribs. How does that work?

Not that we should settle for a habit of worship-lite, but it's good to know God is not confined by our own preconceived ideas of what an ideal “quiet time” or “daily devotional” should look like. Instead, He is more into having His kids keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking —to learn to build and nurture the relationship as you go, to “stay with what you heard…and let it sink into your life.”

Perhaps especially on those days of "toast in hand and the clock pleading."

Speak Volumes

Praise the Lord from the earth,
    you creatures of the ocean depths,
fire and hail, snow and clouds,
    wind and weather that obey him,

mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars,
wild animals and all livestock,
    small scurrying animals and birds,
kings of the earth and all people,
    rulers and judges of the earth,
young men and young women,
    old men and children.

Let them all praise the name of the Lord.
    For his name is very great.--Psalm 148:7-13

These words may lay silent on the page, but plug in the sound effects and see what happens... 

The volume becomes deafening beyond anything we’ve ever experienced. Not obnoxiously loud, but a joyous surround-sound so symphonic and full that, instead of wanting to plug your ears and run for cover, you just can’t contain yourself--even if you feel you can't carry a tune or handle words very well. It is the sound of every created thing shouting "Glory!," and though you can't explain how or why, you just know you were born to add your voice....

Lord, somewhere underneath yet another snowy sky this morning, the sun has come up and a new day is dawning. And today is the day that You have made to make Your glory known yet again, and for Your kids to rejoice in an unshakeable Hope when all around seems to be shaken and uncertain.  Help us to remember, yet again, that praise to You isn't praise unless it's expressed.

Even the snowflakes dance.

Making a Statement

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves." –John 14:8-11

At one time or another, we've probably felt dazed and confused like Philip, or Thomas who spoke before him, in the presence of the living God:

 “Yes, but how can I know for sure?”

 “I’m trying to grasp this, God, but my head is spinning—nothing You’re saying seems to make sense at the moment.”

We can picture ourselves so clearly in their shoes, it can be uncomfortable to read what comes next.

Not surprising, then, that it’s easy to zoom right past Jesus’ response and think we heard Him say: “C’mon, man, don’t you get it yet?!,” instead of what He is really and lovingly saying, even today: “C'mon, have I ever steered you wrong? Won't you trust Me?" Instead of a full-on rebuke, there is encouragement in the correction—a timeless understanding by our Father that every one of us is prone to get spun dizzy by a world gone mad and think, “Gosh, I don’t know what I believe anymore.”

And this is why, whether in the early morning stillness of the kitchen, before the pounding surf at ocean's edge, or gathered as one voice with the saints, our worship regularly needs to make a statement. For all of our Philip and Thomas moments (and there are lots of them), we need something at the ready, deep from within, that we can assertively nail to the wall with an emphatic, “There!”

We need a creed. A chiseled-in-stone statement of faith that "believes on the evidence" of things both seen and experienced, and that rests on the fact that it is enough that God has said it. So be it, Lord.

An Apostle’s Creed.

A Nicene Creed.

A singing creed.

Better still, even one of our own making, in our own words from His Words that shout "This I believe!" in the face of sometimes un-believable-I-don't-get-it circumstances. A creed is a stout reminder that ours is a fantastic walk of believing faith, far removed from being blind because it is led by the only One who has never misstepped. Ever.

Nail your creed to the wall, read it, read it aloud especially, sing it, eat it. Do it again and again. For your own soul, and especially so that you'll...

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.—1 Peter 3:15