THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY

THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY!

1 Cor 13:11-12

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

It is believed that mirrors made of metal-backed glass was first produced in Lebanon in the first century AD. The Romans also made crude mirrors from blown glass with lead backings but the grinding and silvering of glass are modern inventions. Some believe that Paul is not referring to a mirror at all but rather a crude telescope by which one might see beyond the normal range of human vision. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a telescope that could not only our vision of things far away but of things in the future?

In the strictest sense, Paul was talking about the infancy of revealed truth. The Bible, as we now know it, was incomplete and quite scattered among many smaller writings. Scholars had not yet assembled them and sorted them for accuracy and inspiration. There was no Canon! Paul’s understanding was like looking through a distorted glass. Oh, what Paul wouldn’t have given for a copy of one of our Bibles!

We are approaching the ending of one year and the beginning of another. We see things without clarity. Our view is distorted by the influence of others. Truth, as it is reported, seems to be a matter of interpretation and opinion. Often we must choose sides. We see through the glass darkly. The word “darkly” is the Greek words  en ‎‎ainigmati‎ which means "In a riddle."

Eccl 10:14

14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

Dear Lord, our eyes fail and we see distorted images of truth twisted by circumstance and the influence of others who would change truth into something else. Our future is clouded but hopeful because we have a sure Shepherd who knows the way. AMEN

THE GIVING IN THANKSGIVING

THE GIVING IN THANKSGIVING?

Ps 4:5 KJV

5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.

What can I give to a God who owns everything? The verse above suggests two very lovely gifts for any occasion.

1. THE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS!

The Hebrew for “righteousness” is tsedeq and means that which is morally and legally right. This is not the righteousness we get FROM God but the morally and legally righteousness we give TO God. It means that God wants me to make right decisions, have right attitudes and that my heart should be right as well.

The Psalmist recognizes “doing right” to be a sacrifice, literally “a slaughter.” It indicates that doing right is not natural for fallen man. It requires something from man and limits at least his freedom to do wrong.

The whole idea is to slaughter my “right” to self expression and self motivation and to do those things that are well pleasing to God. It may require extra effort on my part or it may require me to actually lose something of value but I willing sacrifice those things as part of my gift to God.

2. THE GIFT OF TRUST!

The word batach which is the basis for “put your trust in the Lord” is not as easily understood. It means to confide in, to flee for refuge, and to rest without suspecting danger. It means to rely so fully in the Lord’s guardianship that I can sleep through a storm. It is, after all, the same kind of trust Jesus placed in the Father.

Mark 4:37-40

37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

Dear Lord, on this Thanksgiving Day, I offer you two gifts that are not easy for me to give up. First I offer the gift of doing right. Next I offer my complete trust and confidence in you no matter the storm that may rage around me. AMEN

HE KNOWS MY PATH

HE KNOWS MY PATH!

Ps 139:2-3

2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

John 10:27-28

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

           The Great Shepherd knows His sheep! As an “under-shepherd” the idea of knowing the sheep in my care is a constant thing with me. In morning’s quiet hours I think of them. Most are relatively safe in the cyclical day-to-day life of sheep. Some are sick. Some are grieving. One or two have isolated themselves from the flock while blaming the flock for moving away from them. Each one is on a path that will lead to a destination.

           My path determines my destination. As simple as that sounds, it is true. The shepherd involves himself in the lives of the sheep so that he may guide in the choice of a right path. The sheep do not always understand or appreciate the shepherd’s intrusion into their business. Isaiah said “all we, like sheep, have gone astray.” That describes the condition pretty well.

           Sometimes all that is needed is to provide a light (Palm 119:105). A lamp for the feet and a light for the path reveals whether it is a good path or not. Even sheep, when the path is well lit, can make better choices – unless they are rebels.

Prov 4:26-27

26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

Dear Shepherd, guide us with Thy light and make our path straight! AMEN