Write down the vision

"Then the LORD answered me and said:
Write down the vision;
Make it plain upon tablets,
so that the one who reads it may run.
For the vision is a witness for the appointed time,
a testimony to the end; it will not disappoint.
If it delays, wait for it,
it will surely come, it will not be late."  (Habakkuk 2: 2-3)

The Prophet Habakkuk questioned God about his governance and providence in the world.  My understanding today of God's answer to Habakkuk is paraphrased thus:

• I have a plan, a good plan.  Trust in the plan.

Considering that God's ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts, I am prepared to accept His word and trust Him.

The man who trusts in the Lord fears no bad news

"It is good for the man gracious in lending,
who conducts his affairs with justice.
For he shall never be shaken;
the righteous shall be remembered forever.
He shall not fear an ill report;
his heart is steadfast, trusting the LORD.
His heart is tranquil, without fear,
till at last he looks down on his foes."  (Psalm 112: 5 - 8)

The man who is gracious and lends to those in need, who conducts his business with justice shall fear no bad news.  God promises that would not fear:

• Doctor's bad report
• Stock market implosion
• Family upheavals
•  and more..

There is no end to the list of things that can instill fears into the heart of the man who places his trust in anything but God.  Trusting in God means trusting in His perfect love for you.  Awareness of this perfect love drives out fears.  You realize that nothing can separate you from this love.  Trust is the antidote to fear.

Create in me a pure and clean heart

"A clean heart create for me, God;
renew within me a steadfast spirit."  (Psalm 51: 12 NABR)

Unless the Lord builds the house, we labor in vain if we build it. (Psalm 127:1)  Unless the Lord creates for us and in us a pure and clean heart, we labor in vain to create it.

A steadfast and persevering spirit is also a great gift of God.  Without it, we cannot be saved.  In the kingdom, if you start a house, you must finish it.  If you start a race, you must complete it.

I have loved you with an everlasting love

"I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you." (Jeremiah 31: 3 NIV)

Father, I delight in your statement of everlasting love and mercy for me.  This is sweet music to my ears.  Help me to remember this always.  Help me also to respond to love with love.  I ask for this in the name of Jesus your Son.  Amen.

But when he saw how strong the wind was he became afraid

"He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.
But when he saw how [strong] the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!"  (Matthew 14: 29 - 30)

But when Peter how strong the wind was he became frightened.
Consider things that tend to frighten us and diminish our faith:

But when he saw the doctor's report he became frightened.
But when he saw the bank statement...
But when he saw the weather report...
But when he saw the poll numbers...
But when he saw the pink slip...
But when he saw the statistics...

Peter took his eyes off Jesus.  Whenever this happens in our lives, we begin to sink into fear.  Peter wisely and providentially applies the antidote to fear which is prayer.  "Lord, save me."

"Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 4: 6 - 7)

I will test them to see if they will follow my instructions

"Then the LORD said to Moses: I am going to rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather their daily portion; thus will I test them, to see whether they follow my instructions or not."  (Exodus 16: 4)

Depending on God and trusting in Him to supply our daily bread one day at a time is a great test of faith.  Yet, the ultimate proof that God is able and willing to do this is the Eucharist itself.  The Eucharist is the Bread of life.  It is the Flesh and Blood of Jesus Christ provided daily for our consumption.  It is the fulfillment of the Covenant of peace and mercy that Jesus Christ instituted the night before He died.

• The Eucharist is a profound mystery.
• It is the medicine of immortality.
• The Eucharist is the antidote for death.
• It is the pledge and sign of the great hope of our resurrection.

If God can give us freely the Eucharist, what else can He not provide for us?  He who did not spare His Son to prove His love for us cannot deny us anything that is good for us.

Man does not live by bread alone

"He said in reply, “It is written:
‘One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.’”

Bread alone cannot satisfy the hunger of man for more life.
God who created man in His image and likeness knows what man needs to satisfy this hunger.  The answer for man's hunger for more is the Eucharist.  It is not more money or more family or more health or more job or more food or more length of days on earth.

The Eucharist is a profound mystery.
It is the medicine of immortality.
The Eucharist is the antidote for death.
It is the pledge and sign of the great hope of our resurrection.