Devotion for December 21

For a child has been born for us, a son given to us… Isaiah 9:6

My granddaughter, Beatrix, called me the other day. We are going to visit them after Christmas and stay over New Year’s Day. She called to tell me that we were going to have a challenge, a contest, of building marshmallow bridges. Now, I am not a huge fan of marshmallows – let alone building bridges constructed with them and toothpicks. And I am not sure what it means when a nearly four-year-old granddaughter feels confident in challenging her grandfather.

On the other hand, if that’s what I need to do to spend time with her – I’m certainly up for it. In fact, I’m willing to travel half-way across the United States, suffer the indignity of current airport security measures, and face humiliation when I demonstrate my marshmallow bridge building inadequacies, if it means I can spend time with Beatrix. (I can’t help but remember the joyous laughter of my other three grandchildren when I attempted to compete with them on their Wii.) But, after all, love will go to any lengths to touch and be near the loved one.

I think that’s what Christmas is all about. God was willing to do all that it took to be with humankind – with you and me. The King of Heaven was willing to suffer the humiliation of birth in a stable and, eventually, the road to the Cross, just to love us.

I fully recognize that in the grandeur of Christian Theology and the doctrine of the Incarnation, this is a bit simplistic. But isn’t the birth of a baby boy, wrapped in bands of swaddling cloth and lying in straw unsophisticated? Maybe cattle and sheep and a donkey or two isn’t too much a stretch of the imagination from marshmallow bridges and Wii gyrations. I don’t think so.

Merry Christmas!

Devotion for May 5

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” John 19:26-27

The last act of Jesus on the Cross was to provide for his mother. As the eldest son, this would have been his responsibility. Of all of his family, scripture records that only his mother followed Jesus. The conversion of our Lord’s brother, James, would happen only after Jesus resurrection. Apparently, the conversion of the rest of his family would occur later.

This is a profoundly tender moment. That loving moment when Jesus looked at his mother, Mary, and then on his disciple, John, breaks up the macabre and gruesome spectacle of the crucifixion. His human suffering gives way, for just a brief moment, to his love for his mother. He will make a place for her. She will not be bereft for long, because Easter morning was just around the corner. But Jesus did not know that… he trusted the promise of God but did not know how or when God would fulfill those promises for him. So, he provides for his mother.

This weekend we celebrate Mother’s Day. We do not do so naively, as if every mother (or father for that matter) was a paragon of familial love. We do it so that our habit of taking mothers for granted might be, for just a moment, set aside for a bit of tenderness and gratitude. So, we will, in the spirit of our Savior, take time in worship to honor and give thanks for mothers. And, for many of us, we will not ask them to cook or clean or carry whatever responsibilities they usually shoulder. I think this is good and right.

This brings the gift of thanks to mothers and a good dose of humility to the rest of us… and the world is a better place for it.  Amen

Devotion for March 24

Today’s e-devotion was written by Patrick Garland, the Director of Children & Family Ministries.

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“Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah.  Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”  Genesis 22:2

So many years Abraham had waited for God to give him a son, and one joyful day, God delivered.  Then after years of raising him, God commanded Abraham to kill his beloved son.  Unfailing in faith, early the next morning, Abraham left home with Isaac for the place God had told him.  

The Bible does not tell us what emotions Abraham went through prior to raising the knife.  My own son, Kevin, is almost 2 years old.  When I read this Bible story, I think of the immense love and devotion I have to my son, and how unimaginable it would be for me to lose him – let alone, to have to end his life myself.

What is worse for Abraham is that his son was old enough to ask questions.  As they walked along, the innocent Isaac asked his father why they brought no lamb to sacrifice.  Abraham simply told him that God would provide. 

Then Abraham bound Isaac to the altar.  What did Abraham tell his son at that point?  Did Isaac plead with his dad or beg him to stop?

Although most of these emotional details are left out of this story, we know that God wanted to see if Abraham still loved God more than Isaac.  Abraham passed this inconceivably difficult test, and it strengthened his character and his relationship with God.

I thank God that this test will never be placed upon my shoulders because in my heart, I know I would fail.  God provided Jesus for us so that none of us would never have to live through that test, just as he provided the ram for Abraham to sacrifice instead of Isaac.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the sacrifice of your Son Jesus, and for your abundant blessings of love and mercy.  Even in the most difficult times, help me to trust in You and grow deeper in my faith each day.  Amen!