The new movie Horton Hears A Who! is not only hilarious, touching and beautifully animated, but it also presents a spiritual and ethical perspective that Dr. Seuss reportedly pondered as he created the original story. The central message is repeated several times: “A person’s a person, no matter how small.” Even a “speck” has worth and value. Belief in the “invisible” is also a thread woven throughout the tale, as critical onlookers scoff at the main characters while proclaiming, “If you can’t hear it, see it or feel it, it doesn’t exist.” Horton and the Mayor of Whoville are both roundly derided as insane. But are they? I highly recommend the movie for its pure fun and for the deeper questions it raises.
“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Timothy 1:17)
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:13-16)
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27)
“Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].” (Hebrews 11:1, Amplified)
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)
O God, creative, gracious and loving Savior, thank you that every life has value, no matter how small, and that fixing our eyes on Your unseen realities leads us into the richness of joy, hope and peace in Your presence. Amen.
Monday, March 24, 2008
He Meets Us On Monday
“The angel spoke to the women: ‘There is nothing to fear here. I know you’re looking for Jesus, the One they nailed to the cross. He is not here. He was raised, just as he said. Come and look at the place where he was placed. Now, get on your way quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He is risen from the dead. He is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there.’ That’s the message.’ The women, deep in wonder and full of joy, lost no time in leaving the tomb. They ran to tell the disciples. Then Jesus met them, stopping them in their tracks. ‘Good morning!’ he said. They fell to their knees, embraced his feet, and worshiped him. Jesus said, ‘You’re holding on to me for dear life! Don’t be frightened. Go tell my brothers that they are to go to Galilee, and that I’ll meet them there.’ ” (Matthew 28:5-10, emphasis added)
“[I]f the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11)
So, now what? Now that we’ve celebrated the incredible gift of new life, forgiveness, hope, joy and peace secured for us through the glorious resurrection of Christ, what difference will it make? How will it affect our work, our relationships, our use of the time, talent and treasure entrusted to us? Will Sunday’s stirring remembrance remain with us all week? Will we take to heart the words of Jesus to the women at the tomb, “I’ll meet them there,” and his promise to the disciples recorded a few verses later, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20)? Will we go forth from Easter trusting in the truth of Romans 8:11 that by the Holy Spirit, the Lord in fact dwells in, and breathes life into, all who believe and follow after Him?
Gracious God and risen Lord, we celebrate all that you accomplished on our behalf through the Resurrection. As we continue to praise and honor you far beyond Easter, we thank you that you are faithful to meet us where we are, to fill us with your strength, and to lead us in your way. Amen.
“[I]f the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11)
So, now what? Now that we’ve celebrated the incredible gift of new life, forgiveness, hope, joy and peace secured for us through the glorious resurrection of Christ, what difference will it make? How will it affect our work, our relationships, our use of the time, talent and treasure entrusted to us? Will Sunday’s stirring remembrance remain with us all week? Will we take to heart the words of Jesus to the women at the tomb, “I’ll meet them there,” and his promise to the disciples recorded a few verses later, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20)? Will we go forth from Easter trusting in the truth of Romans 8:11 that by the Holy Spirit, the Lord in fact dwells in, and breathes life into, all who believe and follow after Him?
Gracious God and risen Lord, we celebrate all that you accomplished on our behalf through the Resurrection. As we continue to praise and honor you far beyond Easter, we thank you that you are faithful to meet us where we are, to fill us with your strength, and to lead us in your way. Amen.
Monday, March 10, 2008
All Is Well
“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge…my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalm 18:2)
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” (Paul the apostle, in Philippians 4:12-13)
All is well? Get real. Anxiety is the order of our day. From Wall Street to Main Street, from economics to geopolitics, from the supermarket to the housing market, uncertainty has crept in like a fog. In the midst of these times that might well try our souls[1], the truth expressed in the Scriptures above is as relevant as ever. These words provide us with a timely reminder that in the Lord we have a secure Anchor for every season and storm. I know a wise man named Bob Warren who, if asked how things are going, is likely to reply: “The Lord’s on His throne and all is well.” All is well. Yes, it is. When tumult churns around us, it’s great to remember that the King of King still reigns, unchanged, undaunted. The Lord of Lords remains a Rock. The God of Gods is forever a Fortress, a Deliverer, a Stronghold, a compassionate Savior to all who would seek refuge in Him.
O God, you are our constant Hope; our Rock, Fortress, Deliverer and Shield. Thank you for offering stability in the midst of instability, peace in the midst of uncertainty, and contentment in the midst of every challenge we might face. Amen.
[1] With apologies to Thomas Paine’s Revolutionary War-era quote.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” (Paul the apostle, in Philippians 4:12-13)
All is well? Get real. Anxiety is the order of our day. From Wall Street to Main Street, from economics to geopolitics, from the supermarket to the housing market, uncertainty has crept in like a fog. In the midst of these times that might well try our souls[1], the truth expressed in the Scriptures above is as relevant as ever. These words provide us with a timely reminder that in the Lord we have a secure Anchor for every season and storm. I know a wise man named Bob Warren who, if asked how things are going, is likely to reply: “The Lord’s on His throne and all is well.” All is well. Yes, it is. When tumult churns around us, it’s great to remember that the King of King still reigns, unchanged, undaunted. The Lord of Lords remains a Rock. The God of Gods is forever a Fortress, a Deliverer, a Stronghold, a compassionate Savior to all who would seek refuge in Him.
O God, you are our constant Hope; our Rock, Fortress, Deliverer and Shield. Thank you for offering stability in the midst of instability, peace in the midst of uncertainty, and contentment in the midst of every challenge we might face. Amen.
[1] With apologies to Thomas Paine’s Revolutionary War-era quote.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Our Portion
“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’ The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” (Lamentations 3:24)
“And Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19)
‘The Lord is my portion.’ Not, the Lord gives me my portion. A step further: He is my portion. Not, Jesus points the way to a good life. A level deeper: He is the life (John 14:6). Not, he was a winsome rabbi who set a good example on earth for us to follow 2,000 years later. One better: He is the living, risen Savior (Matthew 28:6) who remains alive and active today in all who would follow Him and be led by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).
Thank you, loving God, compassionate Father, tender Savior, for today’s reminder that You are faithful…that Your mercies are new each morning…that You are our portion for life…that as we wait on You we will see Your goodness poured out in abundance. Strengthen us to go forth with grateful, hopeful hearts today, we pray. Amen.
“And Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19)
‘The Lord is my portion.’ Not, the Lord gives me my portion. A step further: He is my portion. Not, Jesus points the way to a good life. A level deeper: He is the life (John 14:6). Not, he was a winsome rabbi who set a good example on earth for us to follow 2,000 years later. One better: He is the living, risen Savior (Matthew 28:6) who remains alive and active today in all who would follow Him and be led by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).
Thank you, loving God, compassionate Father, tender Savior, for today’s reminder that You are faithful…that Your mercies are new each morning…that You are our portion for life…that as we wait on You we will see Your goodness poured out in abundance. Strengthen us to go forth with grateful, hopeful hearts today, we pray. Amen.
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