Monday, April 12, 2021
No Matter How Dark
Our Horizons Seem
God’s Blessings Abound for Us
Jeremiah 33:9
This city shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them; they shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it.
Luke 2:29-32
‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’
Words of Grace For Today
God’s blessings …
God’s blessings are named by us humans in many and various ways.
God’s blessings often are equated with prosperity and power, independence and might, progress and children.
Except for the children, all this seems to be a complete misapprehension of God’s way of providing for God’s people.
God, rather (as so often made clear in Jesus’ story and people’s reaction to him and his story) blesses us with salvation, which God prepares in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to God’s people.
This salvation rarely looks like worldly prosperity.
It is a life coloured first with gratitude, humility, service, and grace … oh, and the wisdom to recognize God’s blessings as salvation, i.e. forgiveness (freedom from the bondage to sin) and sanctification (making us holy, set apart, to be the presence of God for all people … as the people of light who exercise God’s Grace and love for all people.)
God’s creation has a greatness in it, and we as part of creation share in that grand wonder: that God provides this as a way, place, time for us to exist and be awestruck.
God provides.
We get to receive and share …
and hope that also tomorrow will bring opportunities to be bedazzled by God’s love.
God’s Glory
Strikes Awe
into All Who See