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May 22, 2010 Read: Is anything too hard for God? Genesis 18:14 Think About: I remember one of Bill's sermons when he talked about the questions he and all other Methodist candidates must answer during ordination. The questions rocked me. The first was, "Are you going on to perfection?" Are you kidding me? Any remote thoughts of going to seminary immediately dissipated. I thought there is no way, no how, no time that is happening in my lifetime. No one is perfect and to even assume the potential of heading in that direction is absurd. Still, I thought, after years of study, I am betting they all said yes. Who would want to throw all of that study, all of that sacrifice out the window? While I was still mulling over that one, Bill announced the next one, "Do you expect to be made perfect in love in this life?" Ah, there you go. See, that's why they went to seminary. Not only are they far deeper than I, they get it. Under our own steam, we can never hope for perfection, but under God's grace, guidance, and love we can be surely headed in that direction. Ortberg gets it too. Perfection is not just a process; it's a preparation. Imagine a craftsman, laboring over the work table, day after day, cutting, smoothing, and polishing to create a thing of beauty. Is all of that labor for something merely to be displayed up high and out of reach? I have a cut crystal bowl in my china cabinet. It belonged to my grandmother, then my mother and now me. That bowl has an honored spot, but that's not the reason I treasure it. For three generations, it has been the celery bowl. No matter how formal the dinner, stuffed celery is served in that bowl. Cream cheese with chives and/or peanut butter fill crisp green stalks for the family and guests to enjoy. Its importance comes with the memories. My mother, I, my daughters and now my granddaughters look for the bowl that holds the celery. Its value comes with its use. Like that celery bowl, you are carefully created, designed, crafted, and gifted to be the best you, you can be, to be used. Unlike the bowl, you are a partner in the process. Through understanding who you are and whose you are, discovering your strengths, staying positive, making good choices, holding on to relationships, and seeing purpose in work, God is at work in you and with you to perfect you in love. For what? To put you in the china cabinet to be admired? I seriously doubt it. I have a sign in my home that reads, "Every person you meet, every experience you have is preparation for a future that only God can see." I believe it. Something is happening here. Pray this Prayer: Lord your version and your vision of me is more than I can grasp. I am moving on to be made perfect in your love because that is the only way it will ever be possible. Help me to see the me you want me to be and by your grace become it. Amen. You are invited and encouraged to share your thoughts, feelings and experiences with the spiritual practices at the Easter Devotional Blog. We are on this journey together and your words may help another along the way. Having problems viewing this page? Click here to view it online. Click here to be removed from the Daily Devotions © 2010 St. Luke's United Methodist Church at Windermere |
