In the Father; In Christ

Good morning. It is Wednesday, April 1, 2015. FIVE more days until Opening Day!!

Today’s Word of the Day, appropriately, is plisky. Plisky can be a noun, adverb, or adjective, most commonly meaning, “A mischievous trick; a frolic,” or, “An awkward or distressing situation; a predicament.” As an adverb, “Falsely, deceitfully,” and, as an adjective, “Mischievous; full of tricks; sly or underhand.” Why, you ask, is this an appropriate word for today? If you were to ask that, I would remind you what day it is.

Today is Sourdough Bread Day. I love sourdough bread! I would love it even more if someone would bring some to me!

Last night’s Huddle gathering was pretty good. We had some great conversation, the details of which I will not go into, for time reasons, but suffice to say that we discussed the Trinity (always a fun topic), and we also got into some things about Genesis and pre-fall conditions. It was great fun. I didn’t have time for much else, since it was Huddle night, and, we had so much fun discussing stuff, that I didn’t get home until after 9:00 PM, so I pretty much went straight to bed.

It was a decent work day, and I have continued to maintain a much better attitude. I’m still struggling to keep the Gospel at a central point in my thinking and attitude, though.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.
Psalm 25:14

(From Solid Joys)

Today’s reading is “Two of Our Deepest Needs.”

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
2 Thessalonians 1:1

As a church, Paul describes us as being “in” the Father, and “in” the Lord. What does this mean to us?

The word “Father” implies “care and sustaining and protection and provision and discipline.” So if we are “in” the Father, we are under his protection and in his care.

The other statement is that we are “in” the Lord Jesus Christ. “Lord” implies “authority and leadership and ownership.” So if we are “in” the Lord, we are under his authority, in his possession, and in his charge.

Paul greets this church in Thessalonica in such a way as to remind them that they are a family (in the care of a Father) and servants (under the authority of a Lord). This seemingly trivial greeting speaks to two of our deepest needs. These two needs that everyone has (whether we realize it or not) are “the need for rescue and help and the need for purpose and meaning.”

1. “We need a heavenly Father to pity us and rescue us from sin and misery. We need his help at every step of the way because we are so weak and vulnerable.”
2. “But we also need a heavenly Lord to guide us in life and tell us what is wise and give us a great and meaningful charge to fulfill. We don’t just want to be safe in the care of a Father. We want a glorious cause to live for.”

We desire this merciful Father to be our Protector and Provider, and we desire this “omnipotent Lord” to be Champion, Commander, and Leader. So from half of Paul’s greeting we get rest and help, and from the other half we get courage and meaning.

Father, I thank you that I am both in you and in the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank you for the comfort that I get from having you as my Father, knowing that you care for me and provide for me. I also thank you for the purpose that I get from being in Christ as Lord. I don’t often consider the Champion and Commander aspect of Christ, as we tend to look more toward him as being our loving Savior. But he is truly, also, our Champion, and he is most definitely our Commander, as he has given us commands by which to live our lives. Furthermore, I see Jesus Christ as being the only “cause” worth giving my life for. As noted in yesterday’s reading, all of the world’s “moral causes” are too small to be considered. Yet, it seems that many well-meaning Christians give much energy to them. I find the cause of Christ to be the only one worthy my energy. Thank you for giving my life meaning. Thank you for providing for me and my family. Thank you for calling me and enabling me to be involved in your work on this earth.

I pray for this day, that we would have safe passage to work and home. I pray that Christi’s day would be less stressful today, and that she would be able to get accomplished whatever needs to be done. May she remember your presence with her throughout this day. I pray that Stephanie will know your love and remember the Gospel and the meaning it has in her life. I pray also, that I will remember the Gospel throughout this day, and that it will be fuel for my day, for my life. I pray for my parents, that you would give them peace and comfort as they rest in you. Keep them safe in their home. I pray for Rachel and Justin, that you would provide for them their deepest need on this day. Help Rachel find her path; open doors for her to achieve her dreams.

I pray for my Huddle brothers. May their day be full of your grace and mercy, and may they know your constant presence in their lives.

Your grace is sufficient.

As believers, we are both in the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ. Take comfort in this and the meaning that it has for us.

Grace and peace, friends.