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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion February 3, 2006 “The Sabbath was made for humankind, |
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Frontline Devotion for Friday, February 3, 2006 by Mike Martine
One of the gifts of God’s wisdom is the Sabbath. The opportunity to rest, reenergize, and focus on what’s important: i.e., friends, family, and God.
Sabbath is supposed to be a gift—but as often happens with gifts from God, humankind has misunderstood it and, like the Pharisees in this passage, made it into something else. Something that’s anything but a gift.
Why are we so blind to God’s gifts? God has given us so much: a beautiful planet, the wonder of the seasons, the richness of the arts, the joy of play, jokes, laughter, food, clothing…
But half the time, we miss it. We take our gifts for granted and wish that, somehow, our lives could be “really special.” But come on—even with the pain and suffering that also comes with life—isn’t this all pretty special?
If you rose out of your chair this morning, straight up, and went 13 miles you’d be out of our atmosphere. If you kept going, how far would you have to go to find life? Who knows? We still haven’t found it—that’s how special this place is in the enormity of the universe.
And what about that coffee you’re sipping? Where did that come from? Think about how it grew from the rich earth of a hillside in South America, was harvested, dried, carried here, roasted and brewed. Sure, it happens everyday, but isn’t that fairly remarkable?
Everyday we have is remarkable in that we have the chance to enjoy this earth, commune with one another, and revel in the world God has created for us. But too often we miss all that because we are focused on “important” things.
An aunt of mine passed away recently after a long bout with cancer. As is often true with cancer patients, she really lived every day to the fullest, soaking in all that this remarkable world God has given us has to offer.
She was, among other things, quite a golfer. A club champion 12 times as of August 2005. It was then, amid sessions of chemotherapy, that some of her friends encouraged her to join in the annual championship tournament. Just for fun, of course.
She wasn’t feeling that well and was out of practice. She hesitated but consented. Then, to everyone’s amazement, the old magic returned. After two days, she was leading the tournament.
But on day three, several holes from the end, disaster struck. She became violently ill. Her panicked friends rang the clubhouse on their cell phones for assistance. The staff of the pro shop sped to the scene on their carts, bringing anything they thought might help. And finally, when she could get back on her feet, they said, “Come on Jane, we’ve got to get you home.”
There wasn’t any pause to the response: “Like hell you do, I’ve got a great round going!
And, yeah…she won. Make that 13 championships.
No matter how bad it seems God has given us incredible gifts. And God never stops giving them. Remember as you consider the gift of the Sabbath that God gives us these gifts because God loves us and want us to enfold us in that love.
Let the love of God enfold you. Revel in the gifts. And let your light shine.
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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