This little guy gave me a shock early one morning last week. I was in my office and at my desk early that morning. It was still quiet in the building as I was getting my day started.
As I w
as focused on sermon preparation, I heard a loud bump on my window followed by another. I knew what had happened – a bird had flown into the glass. So I got up to inspect the area outside my window expecting to find a bird laying dazed on the roof. Instead, what I found was a bird sitting nonchalantly on my window sill as if it was a normal day in its little life. It seemed fine but it caused me to wonder why the bird had flown into my window – not once but twice.
As I inspected the situation, I realized that at that time of day with the sun’s position, the window gives a reflection of the palm trees and the bay. So the bird mistakenly thought it was flying toward the water.
As I have considered this interruption to my morning, I have seen an application to the church. How often have people been turned away from the church because when they look at the church, they see a reflection of the world?
Jesus teaches us that we are to be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48). We are to be set apart. We are to strive to live in a way that honors God – which means we are not going to look like the rest of the world.
But I wonder. Could it be that – sometimes, just sometimes – in our humanness we look more like the world than our Father in heaven?
We must stay diligent to live in the world but not be of the world. We must stay focused on living to serve God and honor him. This does not mean to live antagonistically toward the world, but rather to live a humble existence of love and service allowing God’s love to shine through us.
Our hearts and actions should reflect our Father and his love.
God in heaven, shine through us today so that those around us don’t see a reflection of the world but instead, see only you!
Amen
Yesterday was Resurrection Sunday. We celebrated an empty tomb. We praised God because Jesus is alive! We reflected on the new life that is made available to us through Jesus giving up his and being raised three days later. I pray you celebrated in grand fashion with your church family. Around here, we pulled out all the stops and had an amazing time of worship.
Jesus used this time as yet another teaching moment. He knew what was coming and he wanted his followers to be ready. He explained that the life of a follower is a life of humble service. There is no place for wanting to be first in God’s Kingdom. He demonstrated this important lesson by going to each disciple and washing his feet. The point he was making was that even he came to serve and not be served. As the path led out of that room, into a garden and then on into a mock trial and crucifixion, the lesson became even more clear. He came to serve all of humanity with the ultimate sacrifice.
d’s grace on our own.
We now begin one of the most – if not THE most – special weeks of the year. Holy Week shows us God’s plan spelled out.
l of gravity, it will. If there is the slightest vulnerability in a roof, water will capitalize on it.
Clay in the Hands 