Christmas Devotion • January 5
Today's Scripture
Deuteronomy 8:1–3
This entire commandment that I command you today you must diligently observe, so that you may live and increase, and go in and occupy the land that the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors. Remember the long way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, in order to humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commandments. He humbled you by letting you hunger, then by feeding you with manna, with which neither you nor your ancestors were acquainted, in order to make you understand that one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. (NRSV)
Reflection
Deuteronomy tells us that we “do not live by bread alone.” However, Exodus tells us that God “would rain down bread from heaven” so that the Israelites wandering in the Sinai after escaping Pharaoh would not starve. Which is it?
The solution to this apparent conundrum lies in the difference between “living” and “surviving.” Living as opposed to surviving implies fullness and completion. Living is much more than taking one breath after another. God’s children are most fully alive when we are imbued with the sense that we are in tune with our creation, what we are meant for. As renowned theologian and author Francis A. Schaeffer asks in the title of his seminal work How Should We Then Live? Schaeffer’s answer basically quotes Deuteronomy: “Live by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
Now we move to the hard part. How can we discern God’s will for us?
If all else fails, read the instructions. The instructions to live my life to the fullest start with God’s word found in the Scriptures. Like most people, I need help interpreting and understanding that word. So, I turn to my faith community with the sermons, Bible study, and classes found there.
Next, I turn to evaluate what works. Does whatever I am contemplating fit with my specific talents and inclinations? As Paul tells us, there are many talents within our community. Some are good at one thing and other folks are good at another. All of our respective talents are necessary for our combined mission to prosper.
Together, we all contribute to the ballet that is God’s Beloved Kingdom in this world.
Prayer
Dear Lord, I pray that your love guides me to do the good that is mine to do. Amen.
Written by Blake Anderson, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church
Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church
Devotion index by date | I’d like to receive daily devotions by email
YouTube
Podcasts
/fourthchurch
#fourthchurch
@fourthchicago