"No one lights a lamp to cover it with a bowl or to put it under a bed." (Luke 8: 16)
How does the Lord light up the lamp that is us?
The lamp is lighted to be put on the table to give light to the whole room. That room is our ministry field. This could be:
Lord, lead us, guide us and use us.
"Yahweh roused the spirit of Cyrus King of Persia to issue a proclamation and to have it publicly displayed throughout his kingdom." (Ezra 1: 1)
Through the agency of Cyrus, God fulfilled His promise to end the exile of His people and send them home. God is the Lord of history. He is all powerful and all sovereign. Whatever He wants, He accomplishes. Nobody can stand in His way. It gives tremendous comfort to worship such a God. Through the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, we are confident to call such a God, our Father. Almighty God, I delight to call you Father.
"You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just." (From Matthew 20: 1 – 16)
There is no unemployment in the kingdom. Even for the worker who came to search for work very late in the day, there is work to be done. There is work for everybody at all times. I have found that this truth has helped me so much. God is the source of all inspiration and power. Jesus Christ is our Boss who says - "You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just." (Matthew 20: 7) If we look up to Him with trust, He will provide work even in very lean times. That work may be study time or volunteer work that helps to prepare us for paid employment.
"As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts." (Isaiah 55: 6 – 9)
God is all powerful, all wise and all sovereign. Is it surprising therefore to learn that we cannot grasp His thoughts nor wrap our mind around His providential designs? "Fear is useless; what is needed is trust." (Luke 8:50). Doubt is useless, what is needed is trust. Disputations, rationalizations are useless; what is needed is trust. Acceptance of this truth makes us receive with calmness all that happens in our life.
"Father, guide us as you guide creation according to your law of love. May we love one another and come to perfection in the eternal life prepared for use….." (Liturgical Prayer 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time)
God guides creation with love. What about the hurricanes, natural disasters, wars, hunger, poverty, disease, crimes? There is the finger of God in all these. The providential design of God expressly ordains or permits everything that happens in the world. God is in control of His world. God is almighty, all wise and completely sovereign. Not a hair falls from our head without His knowing and permitting it.
Father, I delight to call you Father. I am confident of your promise of protection, provision, peace, power, purpose and pardon. Watch over me like the apple of your eye.