God's Word is never dull. Old passages revisited on a new day are always seen with different eyes. We are constantly learning, growing and evolving, so it is no surprise an old verse can feel fresh when revisited. He does not change but we do.
Some passages, on the right day, bring new understanding and truths revealed. His word is living, breathing and fresh with every encounter when we are seeking. I like to think of it as a treasure hunt.
Because I am a story lover, I am easily captivated by a story. I read the "Twilight Series". One of the fun and not so scary traits of her vampires was the way they sparkled when hit by sunlight. Sparkle, not disintegrate. Of course, it would have revealed their true nature, so they avoided the sun.
Do I avoid "The Son" because He will reveal my true nature? Nothing is hidden from Him, so I am only fooling myself if I put distance between us because of failures, shame or thoughts.
"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable." - Hebrews 4:13
Silly me... hide and seek is not a game to play with God. We will lose every time.
Our precious Grandpup, Penny, is the friendliest, funniest Rottweiler you will ever meet. She came from a shelter as a near senior dog. Chase and Emma have loved her well. She might be an old dog, but she occasionally has some new tricks. She plays "Hide and Seek". She is not very good at it, but she enjoys the game. Recently, we had a chance to watch her play out the adventure. They are in a new house, so Penny is still learning the new hiding spots. She runs around searching for whoever is hiding. Her joy in the seeking is full. She bounds from room to room. There is celebration when the hidden is revealed. Pure joy!
Now, in a game of Hide and Seek, there is no hidden sin. In real life, sin gets in the way of everything. We have a culture that wants to hide, soften or evolve when it comes to sin perspectives. God gave us 10 Commandments to help simplify our decision process. We still mess up. Oh, the pain and frustration of being human.
I promise you, we were born to sparkle. I love glitter (some believe glitter is evil.). I adore sparkle. Diamonds go with everything, right? But the question remains, "Who am I reflecting?"
Look at this snippet of Psalm 119:
You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands.-Psalm 119:4-6
I feel the pain of the shame. When God sent His Holy Spirit to be with us, his desire was for us to know Him better, closer, daily and with intimacy. Paul penned this in a letter to the Corinthians:
For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. -2 Corinthians 3:17-18
Satan lies. He wants us to believe life in Christ is a list of things you can and can't do. He wants us to feel bondage. Jesus died so we might live with the greatest freedom. Our desire to live chasing His heart changes the 10 Commandments from a list of rules to a way to get it right for His pleasure and our own joy.
It is kind of like when the bakers on "The Great British Baking Show" are given a basic list of ingredients. They have to figure out the process for themselves. It is painful at times, but when they get it right, the Judges are generous with their praise. The bakers love to please the judges. The judges sincerely celebrate those who shine after the work is done.
Do I feel that way when trying to please my Lord? Do we seek to reflect His glory in the things we say and do. Dear friends, I am a fellow traveler on this path and far from perfect. Let's keep trying together.
Long post... but, hopefully, a good way to kick off 2022. Remember, you were born to sparkle.
Today, I am grateful we were born to sparkle.
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