Remember the Clock is Ticking
Good Morning Friends,
We do so like to base our belief in God and His timing of events according to what seems right to us. But this voice is not always God’s voice. Today’s Psalm and scripture from Corinthians is designed to comfort and reassure us that God’s timing and way is perfect in all the small events of our lives and not just the big ones. Here we see that God carefully controls not just time, but your time and my time. God acts in the fullness of time that He formed in each of us. He uses it all…especially that which is broken. That is why we need to trust, but we also need to choose. We need to take and eat. Hopefully today’s wisdom literature with the backdrop of the Eucharist will help us to wisely choose the indulgences in impulses that draw us closer to God as we Remember the Clock is Ticking.
Scripture: Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye wastes away from grief, my soul and body also. For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my misery, and my bones waste away. I am the scorn of all my adversaries, a horror to my neighbors, an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me. I have passed out of mind like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel. For I hear the whispering of many— terror all around!—as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life. But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors. Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.
Psalm 31:9-16 (NRSV)
My child, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of life and abundant welfare they will give you. Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them round your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and of people. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be a healing for your flesh and a refreshment for your body.
Proverbs 3:1-8 (NRSV)
Jesus said, “Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.”
1 Corinthians 11:24 (KJV)
Message: We all probably agree that when the times of our life do not make sense we need to place our trust in God. We probably agree that when we cannot see what lies ahead, God wants us to trust Him because He sees what is ahead. But how do we know that we are trusting in God and not something else? We trust in many people and many things. We often trust our families and friends. We trust our government in all sorts of ways and the common element among family, friends and the federal government is that sometimes they fail our trust. Confidences are shattered, tears are shed, and feelings are hurt. It is difficult to trust because it is against our human nature. Our inner voice tells us we need to satisfy our human needs but does not always tell us when to stop eating. To trust means that we recognize that we are not in control. To trust means that we cannot lean on our own understanding. Trusting means we grapple with the raw emotions and tough questions of why. Here we must confess that God understands when we do not understand. When we only see an uncertain future we have to trust in something. The proof in retrospect that we have been trusting in God is that He has provided a straight path where our resources and His combine. That means the timing was right.
Pray that we accept that we do not understand it all. Pray that we hold on to our faith. Pray that we never go our own way alone. Pray we believe God will get us through difficult times. Pray that He correct our focus so that we are neither far sighted nor nearsighted but right sighted. Pray that God bring His perfect will for our lives. Pray we commit our resources…our talents, our treasures and our time even when we do not understand. Pray we do not become bitter because the clock is ticking. Pray we worship a God who keeps on ticking in a mystery beyond time. Pray we take and eat. Pray we trust and remember. Pray His Story is reflected in our history. Pray we have hope of a future in glory with God.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 