I turn 80 this year. It seems I’ve entered into a place where the things around me – things past, present, and future – are being seen from a different perspective, taking on a different shape and hue.
One thing that has triggered this is in fulfilling a request of a daughter-in-law to send one of her sons a daily text message with a daily devotional reading from his grandpa. I agreed and have been at this endeavor now since mid-June, ‘23. The approach taken has been to follow the wise advice of JR Miller, a highly regarded 19th century pastor saying, “Nothing is more helpful and practical in Christian living — than the habit of getting a verse or phrase of Scripture into the mind and heart in the morning.”
“The habit of treasuring up a text of Scripture in the morning, to be meditated upon while engaged in the things of this world throughout the day — is both profitable and delightful. It is as a refreshing spring to a weary traveler! Its influence stays through the day, weaving itself into all the day’s thoughts and words and experiences.” – JRM
Aside from the fact that it is quite a challenge for me to confine myself to just one verse and a short “text sized” comment, it has unearthed many a planted seed that have taken root over the years within my collective thoughts and memories. I’ve enjoyed the journey, wondering where all this may lead, and how long I can keep this up before the barrel empties. I’m reminded of a Flannery O’Connor quote, “that we really don’t know what we truly think until we write it down.”
I’ve been referencing and cherry-picking favorite source material, but of late I’ve started collecting and organizing favorite “go-to” verses in my memory log to share along the way. But one verse of note (actually two) I want to share with you today, the reader, and what I sent for my grandson’s consideration is as follows:
Sent – 1/22/2024
“Therefore, we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” 2Cor. 4:16
I’ve been in a somewhat contemplative mood of late. You may not be able to relate to this verse, but I’ve been thinking on it a lot lately. Another verse along this line is Psa. 90:12 – “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
Each day is a gift, and ought not to be wasted in missed opportunities to renew and build-up the inward man. I came across this quote today that set me thinking: “Man does not have a soul. He is a soul. He has a body.” ~C. S. Lewis. The body perishes, but the inward man, the soul, is eternal. Therefore, wisdom is that we fix our hearts rightly on eternal things rather than that which will only return to dust. – Selah
I’m disheartened of late to see where our culture has landed. We hear a lot about “our reality” or “my truth.” It seems the world is up-side down where individuals see themselves as the center of “their reality” to which all else is required to conform, instead of seeing life as that which transcends in the eternal I AM. As I’ve been going through this little daily exercise with my grandson, I am being reminded along the way of another “go-to” scripture that keeps me centered:
“…the righteousness which comes from God [is] through faith. I long to know Christ and the power which is in His resurrection, and to share in His sufferings and die even as He died; in the hope that I may attain to the resurrection from among the dead. I do not say that I have already won the race or have already reached perfection. But I am pressing on, striving to lay hold of the prize for which also Christ has laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not imagine that I have yet laid hold of it. But this one thing I do—forgetting everything which is past and stretching forward to what lies in front of me, with my eyes fixed on the goal I push on to secure the prize of God’s heavenward call in Christ Jesus. Therefore, let all of us who are mature believers cherish these thoughts; and if in any respect you think differently, that also God will make clear to you. But whatever be the point that we have already reached, let us persevere in the same course.” Phil 3:9-16 (Weymouth Translation)
These daily text messages to my grandson have been a joy, a challenge, and a journey of discovery which I’ve come to treasure and appreciate. To this as I wish say “thank you” to my beloved daughter-in-law. May the inexorable blessings of Christ be upon you and flow like a river of joy today, and every day in the Lord.
