Rivertree Christian Chapel

March 24 – Do Not Lose Heart: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

The old folks used to say, “it comes in threes.” Death, that is. Or maybe it comes in fours or more. The frequency is irrelevant. The inevitability goes without saying. Here one day. Gone the next. Today’s Scripture teaches us not to lose heart when our temporary bodies begin to fade away over time. As our earthly natures waste away, we are being prepared to take on a glorious state of being beyond anything we could imagine or measure.

This scripture brings to mind my dearly departed cousin, who recently lost her battle to a complexity of illnesses. I remember the first time I met Lynda (not her real name). The day was sunny. She was sitting outside on a wooden deck while the sunlight danced on her cheek and accentuated her tranquil smile. I grew to know her well over the ensuing years. Soft-spoken, she had this humble, gentle, quiet spirit. Later, as sickness began to claim her vitality, she consistently exhibited peacefulness, as if she knew something the rest of us had yet to learn.

These days, as my own body wastes away, my memories of this remarkable woman encourage me. Taking my cues from her, I am able to look upon my own trials and frailty as a “slight momentary affliction” that is preparing me to bask in an eternal state of glory I can only imagine. So, I do not lose heart.

March 17 – Insight Before Eyesight: Mark 10:46-52

So, here is Bartimaeus, the blind man, standing face-to-face with Jesus. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. The man could have requested countless things – the possibilities are endless. But standing in front of Jesus that day, the blind man said, “Teacher, let me see again.”

Jesus didn’t touch the man physically. He didn’t put any salve on his eyes as he had done in other cases. Jesus didn’t perform any ceremonial rituals or say any special words over the man. Jesus didn’t chastise him or condemn him in any way. Instead, Jesus ordered his disciples to call the man over.

“Take heart,” the disciples instructed him.

The first thing the disciples requested of the man had nothing to do with his eyes. Rather, they asked him to change his heart. In other words, he had to have insight before eyesight. The heart would act as a filter for the man’s future discernment. They knew that what the man’s heart felt would influence what his eyes perceived.  The Apostle Paul (Ephesians 1:18) described it as seeing with the “eyes of your heart.”

This story holds relevance for us today. Having insight before eyesight makes you consider things from a fresh point of view. Jesus once said, blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8). Psalm 36:9 puts it this way: “in [God’s] light, we see light.” When you look at a thing through the eyes of your heart, a bigger picture comes into focus. You begin to see not only the problems but also the possibilities. When you see with the eyes of your heart, the God in you will begin to see the God in other people. Changing your heart might open your eyes to ways that influence justice to roll down like a mighty stream. Having God-inspired insight might prompt you to see hope and truth and peace and love once again. It all starts with a few simple words: “Teacher, let me see again.”

March 10 – A Love Note of Hope: Jeremiah 29:10-13

It was a letter to remember. A message from God. A love note of hope to a people in despair. Although God’s chosen people were to spend the next several decades in Babylonian exile, the prophet Jeremiah advised them to go ahead with their normal routines — build houses, plant gardens, raise families, and seek the community’s welfare. The prophet told them to hold on! They would get to the other side of their situation if they didn’t lose hope while they were going through. Encouraging words in a time of uncertainty.

The prophet’s advice is applicable for today. In times like these, people experience no shortage of disturbing challenges. Some of their trials have lasted so long that they have begun to feel isolated from God. They have begun to surrender to despair as the trouble intensifies. But I offer you this word of encouragement: There is a Master plan in place. So, don’t give up hope! In the midst of your routines, continue to pray fervently. Continue to seek God with your whole heart. Scripture says, when you do so, God will hear you, for God’s plan involves your shalom (peace) and not your calamity. In light of God’s benevolent thoughts and your earnest prayers, you have a reason for optimism.