Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
May 5, 2023
Isaiah 55:8-11
8 My plans aren’t your plans, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. 9 Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my plans than your plans. 10 Just as the rain and the snow come down from the sky and don’t return there without watering the earth, making it conceive and yield plants and providing seed to the sower and food to the eater, 11 so is my word that comes from my mouth; it does not return to me empty. Instead, it does what I want, and accomplishes what I intend.
Good Morning, Jesus calls us by name!
God’s plans are beyond our imagination! When we consider how our people have advanced technologically, we are amazed. Just think of those born in the early 1900s. In their lifetime, people invented cars, planes, and rockets. We moved from sounds being transmitted over radio waves across long distances to the Internet and the World Wide Web. For our ancestors, cooking dinner was an all-day event, and now we have instant meals that cook in a few minutes in the microwave. Of course, this is nothing that you didn’t know, but I wanted us to transport ourselves into a mindset of something being unimaginable.
I have spent the last two quarters examining and studying the early church and the development of our theology. Currently, I am looking at the Protestant Reformations. I purposely have an “s” on Reformation because reforms were happening simultaneously around Europe among all Christians. We often tend to think of Martin Luther as the central person in this movement, but while Luther was at work in Germany, others were leading similar actions in every country. There were no phones, social media, or tweets, so much of what was happening in one area was unknown to the other regions. What I find fascinating is how many similarities exist within these groups.
These reform leaders' primary goals were to return to the Word of God, make the Word accessible to the common man, and make decisions based upon Scripture. I believe God inspired these leaders, and their intentions were well-founded. Without their efforts, organized religion might be in a different place today.
The general problem with these leaders and us is that we see and think as humans. We are born with the mindset of earthly limitations. As humans, we cannot fathom God’s ways or God’s plans. I am in awe when I consider the stories in Scripture when ordinary people are called to do extraordinary things. How could a hardworking but timid, quiet man confront the Pharoah and lead the Israelites out of Egypt? Can you believe that a young, unknown girl could be chosen to be the mother of the Messiah? Unimaginable but true.
If we could take our best understanding of God’s power and increase it as much as possible within human comprehension, we would not even be close. God shares glimpses of power and glory as we are ready to see and understand. For now, we are like Dorothy in dull black and white Kansas, but one day we will be transformed and see and exist beyond the colors of the rainbow.
I recently drove home on a morning with some light rain and clouds. I was longing for some sunshine to brighten the day. For some reason, I thought seeing a rainbow would encourage me to focus on the better days ahead. Suddenly, there was a beautiful rainbow in front of the mountains. It was there for only a moment, but it gave me a glimpse of God's glory and promise.
Blessed God, We thank you for Your blessings. We try to imagine eternal life but aren’t quite ready to understand. You will lead us when our time comes. Thank You! In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: God’s way is the best way.
Open yourself to God’s way! Pastor Liz
Comments