Revelation 1:8 (The Message)
The Master declares, “I’m A to Z. I’m The God Who Is, The God Who Was, and The God About to Arrive. I’m the Sovereign-Strong.”
Our Almighty is King of the Universe, powerful, mighty, yet....he cares for us as individuals! What an immense concept, especially when you gaze out at a clear winter sky, sparkling with stars, and witness the depth and breadth of our universe. And think....I am a part of this! God wants ME as a part of all this! Wow!
Brent McDougal, this week's d365.org author, applies the analogy of playing 'second fiddle' to God. I really liked how he put it: "Leonard Bernstein, the celebrated conductor, was once asked, "What is the hardest instrument to play?" Without hesitation he replied, "Second fiddle. I can get plenty of first violinists. But to find one who plays second violin with as much enthusiasm…or second flute, now that's a problem! And yet if no one plays second, we have no harmony." Ponder today how you can live in harmony with the Alpha and the Omega of the universe."
How can we join the orchestra? What part is God calling us to play? Can we come with humility to the job, always acknowledging the Sovereignty of our Conductor?
Who plays first violin
In the orchestra of the universe?
First violin. First flute. First oboe. All.
That's the power and magnitude of our Conductor God.
Perfection. Alpha and Omega.
Yet, there can be no harmony on earth
Without the 'second fiddles'.
Without those whom the conductor calls
To humbly take their place and play along.
To fashion the notes that weave in and around
the melody of God.
There are plenty of instruments, plenty of jobs,
All necessary to create the music of the Kingdom of Heaven.
The conductor is calling....
Are we ready to play second fiddle to the King
In the Universal Orchestra?
Another poem from this morning....
A to Z,
Alpha and Omega.
Beginning and End.
God of the Universe.
King of all Creation.
That's our God - unimaginable.
Except not entirely.
He came to us simply -
As a baby.
So we could imagine.
So we could understand.
And know our King.
Individually. Personally.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Come, King of the Universe.
May your Kingdom reign.
FRIDAY, November 30 " A Kingdom of Priests"
Revelation 1:5b-6 (Good News Translation)
He loves us, and by his sacrificial death he has freed us from our sins and made us a kingdom of priests to serve his God and Father. To Jesus Christ be the glory and power forever and ever!
I am a priest?
Part of an entire kingdom of priests?I haven't been to seminary!
I'm not ordained!
What does this mean?
Priests are very holy people.
I'm not that 'good'.
I make mistakes!
Priests know everything about God and the Bible.
My wisdom isn't that great.
How can I possibly be a priest?
Because of Christ. Because of his life and death.
For me. For you.
We are now all a part of the Kingdom of God.
Great holiness and wisdom aren't prerequisites.
We ALL suffer sin and doubt.
But we are priests called to serve.
To serve our Lord and God the Father through service to each other.
With priesthood comes responsibility.
Service can be a full-time commitment.
Glory to God!
May I get on with the job!
THURSDAY, November 29 "Advent Prayers"
Psalm 25:8-9, 11, 16-17 (NIV)
"Good and upright is the Lord... He leads the humble in what is right.
For your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt for it is great.
Turn to me and be gracious to me...Relieve the troubles of my heart."
(NOTE: Today was a travel day and I didn't have access to my computer or d365.org. So I used a These Days devotional booklet as my source. Thanks, Mom! I found it by your chair at 5:30am this morning!)
WEDNESDAY, November 28 "Truth"
John 18:37 (The Message)
Then Pilate said, “So, are you a king or not?”
Jesus answered, “You tell me. Because I am King, I was born and entered the world so that I could witness to the truth. Everyone who cares for truth, who has any feeling for the truth, recognizes my voice.”
Two kings.
Two kingdoms.
Two questions from Pilate:
Who are you?
Why did you come?
Two responses from Christ:
I am God's truth.
God is love and forgiveness.
One TRUTH.
Accept the king and the kingdom,
Recognize the voice,
And that truth can be yours.
Mine.
Our Kingdom of God.
Am I listening? Aware?
Will I recognize the voice
Of my King?
Two kings.
Two kingdoms.
One TRUTH.
May truth reign over all.
TUESDAY, November 27 "Two Kingdoms"
John 18:33-36 (The Message)
Pilate went back into the palace and called for Jesus. He said, “Are you the ‘King of the Jews’?”
Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own, or did others tell you this about me?”
Pilate said, “Do I look like a Jew? Your people and your high priests turned you over to me. What did you do?”
“My kingdom,” said Jesus, “doesn’t consist of what you see around you. If it did, my followers would fight so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But I’m not that kind of king, not the world’s kind of king.”
Two kings.
Two kingdoms.
Served or Servant.
Visible or invisible.
Bondage or Sacrifice.
Condemnation or Forgiveness
Material or Ethereal.
Today or Eternity.
Hatred or Love.
Two kingdoms.
Two kings.
Which crown do I serve?
Which king reigns in me?
MONDAY, November 26 "Recognizing the King"
2 Samuel 23:1-4 (Good News Translation)
David son of Jesse was the man whom God made great....
These are David's last words:
The spirit of the Lord speaks through me;
his message is on my lips....
“The king who rules with justice,
who rules in obedience to God,
is like the sun shining on a cloudless dawn,
the sun that makes the grass sparkle after rain.”
Ruler God, King of all creation,
That includes me.
Come, enter, and reign in my heart.
Do I wait to hear your voice in the clap of thunder?
The raging fires of destruction?
A violent upheaval splitting the earth?
Death-defying resurrection?
Or am I listening, with eyes wide open
to see the sunlight dancing on the waves,
to witness the sparkle of morning dew,
to sense a gentle breeze in the still of forest,
to recognize your image in all I see
to hear your words in the voice of a friend,
to acknowledge miracle, not luck, in daily circumstance,
And KNOW, without a doubt, that you are my KING
Of all creation, of me.
You reign with justice and compassion.
With your rule,
I am part of the Kingdom
And able to extend your love to all I encounter.
Come,King Jesus, enter, and reign in my heart.
SUNDAY, November 25
d365.org PAUSE! (Brent McDougal)
Obsession. That is a very strong word which describes the way someone or something can dominate a person's life. To be obsessed is to have almost no control over your feelings. The reign of Christ is not that way. It is an invitation accepted to a way of life, not something that is forced upon us. You are invited now to find your way into Christ's reign. Accept the invitation gladly!
Psalm 93 (The Message)
God is King, robed and ruling,
God is robed and surging with strength.
God is robed and surging with strength.
And yes, the world is firm, immovable,
Your throne ever firm—you’re Eternal!
Your throne ever firm—you’re Eternal!
Sea storms are up, God,
Sea storms wild and roaring,
Sea storms with thunderous breakers.
Sea storms with thunderous breakers.
Stronger than wild sea storms,
Mightier than sea-storm breakers,
Mighty God rules from High Heaven.
Mightier than sea-storm breakers,
Mighty God rules from High Heaven.
What you say goes—it always has.
“Beauty” and “Holy” mark your palace rule,
God, to the very end of time.
God, to the very end of time.
Today is 'Christ the King' Sunday. It is the end of the Christian 'year'. Next week we start all over again with Advent. This final Sunday celebrates the reign of God, through Christ, in our lives, in our hearts. Psalm 93 celebrates the kingship of our Creator God over all. When we treat the natural earth in terms of a personal part of God, perhaps we will reconsider before we abuse it. It is a failure to praise God when we destroy or waste elements of the natural, created world.
But especially this week as I have listened to the constant roar of the ocean waves and watched the steady, unceasing roll of the breakers crash, do I appreciate the words of Psalm 93. God is stronger that the wildest sea storms (and we had a wild one this past week), mightier than those huge frothy breakers, and eternal....to the end of time. The God of the ocean is a powerful God, with a might that almost seems out of reach.
What is our first image when someone says God? Up in the sky? Thrones and palaces? Distant? Scary? Flowing robes? Anger? The Sistine Chapel God? Angels? That Ocean God? ......Or do you picture Smiles? Compassion? Friends? Love? If God is to reign in our life, we need to picture the God who came in the form of Christ to walk beside us, to walk with us, to walk in us, to reign in us. Not the frightening untouchable, God set apart from us, but the loving God who wants nothing more but to reign in our hearts. Where does Christ the King reign in your life? In mine?
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