Introduction: The ways people
pursue God, or even pray, can be as different as the very people who pursue
God. Spiritual writers and mentors have long appreciated these varieties of
pathways that pilgrims have followed in their prayer journey. For example, many
are led to deep devotion through such things as music, contemplation or
activism, but others have found that it’s the beauty and mystery of the
natural, created world that leads them to a humbling encounter of praise and
prayer with their Creator God. Of course, the pathways mix to varying degrees
according to our personalities and interests.
Those who find
nature an important spiritual pathway can see their own faith story unfold in
the creation story of Genesis 1 and 2 in the Christian and Jewish Bible. Being
mindful not to worship creation but only the Creator, a consideration of the
natural world not only helps them do that, but also guides them in their
stewardship of what God has created. Each day this week we will look to the
‘seven day’ creation story from these first two chapters of the Bible’s very
first book. All references are from the Bible’s New Revised Standard Version.
Day 1: “Enlightened” -- Then God said, “Let there be light…” (Genesis
1:3)
Read: Genesis 1:1-5, John 1:1-5 and Acts 9:1-9
Reflect: In the most dramatic act in the history of
everything, God created the heavens and the earth. At a time when all was
formless and empty, God created light, light for us. That was only natural,
because God is light (1 John 1:5).
Prior to this,
the scriptures say that “…a wind from God
swept over…” the pre-creation formlessness. The Hebrew word for ‘swept
over’ can also be rendered ‘hovered’ or ‘brooded.’ What does it mean to brood?
Well, to brood can be to think about something, for good or ill, and to brood
can be, literally, to incubate, as do birds upon their nests. God did both of
these before creating the most basic of all necessities, light.
How we need
light! In Acts 9, we are given the account of Saul’s encounter with God on the
Damascus Road before he became a follower of Jesus Christ. Verse 3 says, “…suddenly a light…” Knocked to the
ground by a blinding brilliance, he heard a voice. And in a single, momentary,
dazzling flash, the entire prior direction of Saul’s life was revealed to him
as a complete and utter mistake. Can you imagine? I can.
It was light that
made the difference, for the Holy Spirit had been brooding over Saul as well.
And by the time the experience was over several days later, Saul himself would
have some brooding to do before the light fully came.
Often, to pray
well is to brood well, bringing our circumstances completely before the Lord. You
and I often find ourselves in unexpected places, places we never planned to be,
places we perhaps never wanted to be. In
critical times like these we must do as Saul did, allow the light to penetrate,
illuminate and guide us. Like him, we will find in the process that Jesus Christ
is all the Light we’ll ever need (John 1:5). For God broods over us, too.
Observe: Go to the darkest closet or cupboard in
your home and open the door or spread back the curtain. What happens? Does the
darkness come creeping into the room in which you stand? No, the opposite
holds. Light prevails over darkness. Always has, always will. Thank God for this.
Pray: Lord, I need your light. From the bottom of my heart, I thank
you for creating it, not only the light by which I see but also the spiritual
light by which I can understand. Help me to walk always in the light of Jesus
Christ. Amen.
Hymn for the Day: “When
Morning Gilds the Skies”
~~ RGM, April 22, 2018
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