Monthly Archives: October 2018

YEARNING TO BREATHE FREE

“For I have given rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing.” (Jeremiah 31:25)

Towering above New York Harbor is the Statue of Liberty. That stately lady, with freedom’s torch held high, has beckoned millions of people who were suffering from oppression and seeking a better way of life. Drawn to what that monument symbolizes, it is without a doubt one of America’s greatest landmarks as it appears against the NYC skyline in images sent around the globe. Once referred to as “The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World” – it was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the United States. Recognized as a universal symbol of freedom and democracy, the statue was a welcoming sight to immigrants arriving from abroad being processed at nearby Ellis Island. Built in France and shipped overseas in crates – it was assembled on the finished pedestal on what was then called Bedloe’s Island, now known as Liberty Island. It was made with an exterior of copper and originally had a far shinier appearance than its green of today. The statue’s completion was marked by New York’s first ticker-tape parade and a dedication ceremony presided over by President Grover Cleveland on October 28, 1886.

Inscribed on the Statue of Liberty’s pedestal are these words by Emma Lazarus from her 1883 poem “The New Colossus”:

Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore;
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.

Lazarus was one of the first successful and publicly recognized Jewish American authors. She was born in New York City to a wealthy family. She began writing and translating poetry as a teenager and was publishing translations of German poems by the 1860s. Lazarus was moved by the fierce persecution of her people in Russia, a frequent topic of her writings, as well as their struggles to assimilate into American culture.

Paralleling the beautiful stanzas inscribed on the base of Lady Liberty are the comforting words of another, articulated many centuries before. They were spoken by Jesus who said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). When Jesus said He would give us rest – it meant we wouldn’t need to go find it, earn it or spiritually strive to develop it. It is simply a gift God gives us when we come to Him and openly receive it. This is liberty in its purest form. There is much debate in recent years as to how much automatic freedom should be granted to those who seek refuge in another country.  Some argue that such immigrants should follow a lawful process that leads to citizenship. Others feel that there should be open borders and an entitlement for all who come. Perhaps the Apostle Paul, who took advantage of his status as both a Jew and a Roman citizen to minister to both audiences, understood it best when he said – “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). For those who dare to journey with Jesus, we can access His enduring rest and experience everlasting freedom. As Christians in a fast-paced world, we too often find it difficult to relax in God’s gift of rest. Instead, we wear busyness like a badge of honor, carry loads we were never meant to bear, and for what . . . to simply get ahead. When we allow ourselves to pause and take time to be with God, we will receive His rest. In doing so we may not always be able to avail ourselves of all the earthly riches we might desire, but we will find that there is power in the act of resting. Jesus told His disciples: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” (Luke 6:20). Too often we find ourselves becoming part of the huddled masses yearning to breathe free. As you go throughout your day, let your heart find that true place of rest in His Presence.

REFLECTION:  What types of activities cause you to have feelings of “weary and burden?” As you look at these, how might you prioritize being able to find some time alone with God?  Consider reinstating some affirming thing in your life that used to bring you joy. Ask others to support you in this effort.

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., NOVEMBER  3, 2018.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

MAYBE EVEN TODAY

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come” (Mark 13:32-33)

The catchphrase “I’ll Be Back” is associated with actor Arnold Schwarzenegger. He used it in his first role as the title character in the 1984 science fiction film The Terminator.  It has been high on the rankings of famous movie quotes of all time. The Austrian-American actor once admitted that he had had difficulty pronouncing the word I’ll and would rather have said “I will” but was not permitted to do so.  This allowed for various characterizations through the years, always with a great amount of imitation placed on the “I’ll” part of the phrase.   Schwarzenegger himself used the same line, or some variant of it, in many of his later films. A similar saying was once used by General Douglas MacArthur who served as chief U.S. military advisor to the Philippines before World War II. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, MacArthur was forced to leave the islands due to a Japanese invasion. Months later, he was informed that relief of his forces trapped in there would not be forthcoming. Deeply disappointed, he issued a statement to the press in which he promised his men and the people of the Philippines, “I shall return.”

This promise would become MacArthur’s mantra during the next two and a half years, and he would often repeat it in public appearances. For his valiant defense of the Philippines, MacArthur was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor and celebrated as “America’s First Soldier.” But it was not until September, 1944, that the General was poised to launch an invasion of the Japanese-occupied Philippines. After a period of indecision about whether to invade the Philippines or Formosa, the Joint Chiefs put their support behind MacArthur’s plan. On October 20, 1944, a few hours after his troops landed, MacArthur waded ashore onto the Philippine island of Leyte. That day, he made a radio broadcast in which he declared, “People of the Philippines, I have returned!” Over the next months, Japanese forces were cut off, and the Philippine capital of Manila fell. Only one-third of the men MacArthur left behind in March 1942 survived to see his return. “I’m a little late,” he told them, “but we finally came.

It’s difficult at times to place logical timeframes on when it might be possible to see someone again. After Jesus ascended into heaven, the angels declared to the apostles, “‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven’” (Acts 1:11). Today followers of Jesus still await His return, this time not as a suffering servant but rather as the conquering King with the armies of heaven at His side. Modern Christians are often so captivated with the Second Coming that they overlook the ways Jesus comes to us each and every day.  When the tragedies around us, the suffering of people we love, and even the stresses of daily life all seem bigger than the fixes on the horizon – we fail to see that Jesus meets people in the midst of these critical events. We discover that God is still at work in the messes of society, and we suddenly receive a reality check that the story isn’t always about us. Sometimes it’s about God’s plan to give time to others who don’t yet know His Son. As the words of Peter remind us: “But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” (2 Peter 3:8-9). Our attachment to this world often keeps us from living in anticipation of Jesus’ return as we should. In an increasingly chaotic world, what a hopeful thought that this could be the day or the year Jesus returns. More comforting still is the anticipation that all who trust Him for salvation will be gathered together, relieved from this world’s suffering, sorrow, and fear. Our prayer should be that we will always be mindful of His inevitable return. Meanwhile, we should help to equip others with the knowledge that this world is not all we have and affirm that a blessed eternity awaits all who know Him personally as their savior. Regardless of whether we pray for Jesus’ coming or we expect him to come soon, one thing is sure: He will return . . . maybe even today!

REFLECTION: Do you eagerly await Christ’s return or are you more concerned with storing up earthly treasures? What would you do differently if you knew Jesus was returning today? Would you be motivated and excited or frightened and alarmed? Consider these things in prayer and ask the Lord to make you eagerly await His return.

 

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT. OCTOBER 27, 2018.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

A SPIRITUAL CORNERSTONE

“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” (Psalm 118:22)

The establishment of the United States capital on the banks of the Potomac River was the result of political compromise between the Federalist and the Republican factions of the early republic. The states of Maryland and Virginia relinquished land to form the District of Columbia with work on the new city beginning in 1791.  One year later, plans were made for a neoclassical presidential home on Pennsylvania Avenue. On October 13, 1792, the cornerstone of the building which would later become known as the White House was laid during a Masonic ceremony overseen by member George Washington who had selected the site. Supposedly the cornerstone went missing the following day, and no one has seen it since. Many attempts have been made to find it. In the 1940’s, then President Harry Truman renovated the building. The rooms were completely dismantled and rebuilt, and a new internal load-bearing steel frame was constructed inside the walls. During this time, a letter was found which uncovered the fact that the first stone was actually laid in the southwest corner of the building. One theory is that the cornerstone might have ended up between two stone walls in the Rose Garden, but so far, nothing has been found there. Its location remains an unsolved American mystery.

The cornerstone is one of a building’s most important pieces, since it is the first stone to be set and also determines the position of all the pieces to be laid afterwards. Cornerstones have been part of building structures for centuries. In the case of the White House cornerstone, it can be assumed that the piece was quite large in size and very heavy, since it was made out of Aquia sandstone from Virginia. Some imagine that the stone was inscribed by the founding fathers, while others believe there was a plate on top with the date it was established. Over time, cornerstones have often taken on the purpose of a ceremonial masonry stone. Usually set in a prominent location on the outside of a building –  these stones often contain inscriptions indicating the construction dates of the building, sometimes including the names of significant individuals.  In years past, a piece of the cornerstone would be hollowed out to act as a type of time capsule to contain artifacts from the era in which a particular building was built. In biblical times, a cornerstone was used as the foundation and standard upon which a building was constructed. Once in place, the rest of the building would conform to the angles and size of the cornerstone. In addition, if removed, the entire structure could collapse.

The Book of Isaiah makes many references to a coming Messiah. God prophesied through Isaiah that He would place a foundation stone in Jerusalem . . . “a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken” (Isaiah 28:16). Hundreds of years later, Jesus identified Himself as this stone: “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the LORD’s doing, and it is wonderful to see” (Matthew 21:42). It’s amazing how the Prophet Isaiah and the Apostle Peter both reference the term of building stones to complete a nice thread that flows from the writing of a heavenly promise in the Old Testament to the New Testament gospel about the One whom a disciple knew personally. Peter provides a description that all who believe in Christ are “like ­living stones . . . being built into a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5) which holds together as the one edifice of God’s people spread throughout the earth. The illustration of Jesus as the Cornerstone upon which the “household of God” was being built would have been well-understood by the early Christians. For those living in societies where people often built their own homes, using construction terminology to explain the priority of Jesus the Messiah as the cornerstone of the household of God provided a clear connecting point that would have made absolute sense. Just as the cornerstone is laid as a guide to line up the rest of the structure, we need to be sure that our life is in alignment with Christ and His teachings. Unlike the one at the White House, the Cornerstone of Jesus Christ will never disappear and is one we can be certain to safely build upon.

REFLECTION: Consider your preferences, experiences, traditions and values. Do they align your life to establish a cornerstone for your faith?  If not, how might you hit the reset button to readjust the substance of your journey with the teachings of Christ? In what ways can you better set an example for others to be “fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:19-20)?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT. OCTOBER 20, 2018.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

SAFE SPACE

 “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1)

Recently our family decided to take shelter in our basement after we became aware of a tornado watch for our area. The warning from the National Weather Service forecasted potential strong, damaging winds accompanied by torrential rainfall. With some blankets and few battery-operated devices including a cellphone – we knew that in the underground part of the house we would have better protection from the elements as well as the ability to enjoy TV and have access to a supply of food if the power did not go out. Somehow, it just made sense.  Since the alert was time-limited, a few hours later we came back up the stairs to discover nothing outside had occurred. However, the thought crossed in the back of our minds that it could have. Better to have been safe than sorry. Sometimes the storms of our lives are meteorological; at times they are man-made. On October 6, 1961, President John F. Kennedy advised American families to build bomb shelters to protect them from atomic fallout in the event of a nuclear exchange with the Soviet Union. Only one year later, true to Kennedy’s fears, the world hovered on the brink of full-scale nuclear war when the Cuban Missile Crisis erupted over the USSR’s placement of nuclear missiles in Cuba. During the tense 13-day crisis, some Americans prepared for nuclear war by buying up canned goods and completing last-minute work on their backyard bomb shelters.

How to save yourself and others from potential adversity has become an obsession of many over time. The doomsday philosophers have created an upswing in interest about how to properly prepare a safe space for almost any crisis such as power grid failures, nuclear disasters, tsunamis, earthquakes, terrorist attacks or economic collapse. Start-to-finish guides for elaborate bunkers sometimes include cinemas, underground gardens, swimming pools, spas, wine vaults and whatever other ‘necessities’ you might deem important in order to find comfort during your anticipated apocalypse. Some claim that this frenzy has occurred as we find ourselves in an age of ‘secular humanism’ where those without the security of religion believe their hope lies in working on ways to survive for as long as possible. Predictions about the end of the world have come and gone many times. Jesus warned that someday this world as we know it will come to an end—not because of a war or natural disaster, but because God will intervene at an established time only He knows. Jesus said, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority” (Acts 1:7). Meanwhile He warned of false prophecies and of Satan’s influence in the world situation – “This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:2-4). Our greatest adversary is alive and well.

As Believers, we soon come to realize that wherever we seek safety – it is God’s presence with us in that place that provides the strength and protection we really need. As he hid in a cave from an enemy who would kill him, David understood that feeling: “Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed” (Psalm 57:1). As humans, we sometimes allow ourselves to view God’s protection as a magic force field that keeps us from all harm. Yet Jesus affirmed that the storms of life will always be there. In reality, we will never know how many times God has actually protected us since He works in ways simply beyond our comprehension. Sometimes God’s protection comes in the form of peace and strength in the middle of despair. Sometimes it comes in the form of an ending because He sees something more on the horizon that we cannot see. When we come to Christ, we are given new life as well as God’s shield in which absolutely nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). The assurance of a safe space like this one will provide all the security we need, regardless of any fallout from the world around us.

REFLECTION: Consider what you define to be the safe spaces in your life. Do they include a sturdy home where you seek shelter in the event of a storm or the loving arms of a loved one when you are personally attacked? Where does God fit into this picture? How do you challenge yourself and others who sometimes unnecessarily seek safe spaces in their lives when they merely need to exercise faith in God’s protection?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT. OCTOBER 13, 2018.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.