Generosity

This morning's reading from one of my daily devotionals focused on God's generosity. The first passage read in light of this theme was Psalm 36. Consider this verse: How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. (Psalm 36:7-9 ESV) 

I had written a note in the margin from a previous study that expanded my understanding of the phrase, in your light do we see light. Read that same phrase as "in your light do we experience life". 

Is that true? Do I view my life through the lens of the light - the presence - of God? To follow the theme of my devotional, do I view my life and all I have as a result of the generosity of God? As I sat with that thought this morning, I reflected on all that I have been blessed with, both material things and the intangible things. We in this country have so much and what we don't have is easily accessible. If we can't get to a certain store in a matter of a few minutes, we can shop for anything and everything from the comforts of home via the internet. 

My husband and I are working towards downsizing and the cleaning-out that has to precede that eventual move. What a herculean task it seems to be! I can think of one attic and break out in a cold sweat. How is it that we have accumulated all this STUFF, so much of which will be donated to Goodwill or sold at a yard sale or on Craig's List? That really is ridiculous! How can I fully appreciate the generosity of God when I have so much that's disposable?

The past few years have resulted in a readjustment of my attitude toward this issue, the heart of which is God's presence, purpose and provision in my life. These years have been a time of refiner's fire and it has most definitely NOT been comfortable or easy. What I've come to see is the great goodness of God, the amazing and surprising ways he has answered YEARS of prayers and his sustaining hand on me as I tried to weather some horrendous storms. As a result, I've come to see God's generosity in astonishing ways. His gifts of life and salvation, the gift of those near and dear to me who were Jesus "with skin on", and the gift of new beginnings that I never expected. When I take the time to sit and reflect on all of these things, it truly feels like I've been experiencing the outpouring of God's fountain of life, drinking from the river of your delights, and feasting on the abundance of your house.  The Lord has opened my eyes wider to see and KNOW more of his nature: his love, goodness, protection, provision, steadfast love and faithfulness. These are the true THINGS that matter most in this life - not that attic full of stuff that seemed so important and necessary when they were first purchased. The true value is in the life I live as a result of having been purchased by Christ, the grace to live and experience life in the light of God's presence. Lately, in my prayer times, I've found myself carried away in praise, worshiping the holy God I serve, even reflecting on the many ways his creation brings glory to its Creator - from the tiniest seed or blade of grass to the amazing beauty of the mountains and the oceans.

How gracious and generous is our God! 

Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O LORD. 

How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart!

(Psalm 36:5-10 ESV)

Following

I invite you to read Mark 10:32-52. It begins with Jesus leading his disciples and followers on the road to Jerusalem. He is walking purposefully and determinedly towards the last week of his life. Mark describes the emotions of those walking behind him in this way: And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. (Mark 10:32 ESV)

I can imagine the scene and in my imagination I can see myself in the crowd, looking at Jesus walking ahead. I can easily translate this image into the present and my own walk with the Lord. Sometimes I'm amazed and sometimes I'm afraid. Thinking of those following Jesus on that dusty road to Jerusalem, they must have had the same questions we all have at some point in our Christian journey. "Where is he taking us?" "What will happen when we get there?" "What if....?"

Along the way, two interesting events are recounted. First, James and John say to Jesus, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” (Mark 10:35, ESV) Pause for a minute and remember their purpose on this journey and the feelings Mark describes. Isn't it interesting that James and John have shifted the focus to their own needs? Can you, like me, see yourself in this situation? How many times have I taken my eyes off Jesus' direction for my life and looked at my own narrow view and wanted the Lord to do whatever I ask of him. It's so hard to see the big picture when we feel that we're watching Jesus' back lead us to who-knows-where. Trusting in his ultimate purposes and plans is an act of faith and will. Standing firm on the promises of God when our eyes can't see is what faith looks like; which leads me to the second event in this passage - the encounter with the blind beggar, Bartimaeus.

What I love about this story is Bartimaeus' determination to get the attention of Jesus in spite of those around him. He keeps crying out and interestingly, Mark tells us that Jesus' response is to tell the people to "call him". The one who was calling out is answered with a call and the ones who were rebuking him and telling him to be silent are the ones who are now saying, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” The blind man's response is immediate. And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 

Can you see yourself in this story? How would you answer Jesus when he asks, "What do you want me to do for you?" The answer seems obvious but perhaps there's more to the question that we know. When we cry out to the Lord from our own need, is there more to our request than even we realize? Jesus said that the faith of Bartimaeus healed him. When we exercise our faith by persevering in our prayers, is that in itself a healing act? How are we transformed during the periods of crying out to the Lord no matter what other people say we should do? How is our sight recovered when we seek the presence of Jesus? The result of Bartimaeus' healing was that he followed Jesus. We end up where we started - following Jesus on that dusty road as he walks out his divine purposes. Isn't that the best place to be?