(For September 9, 2012 midweek church email devotion)

Dear Saints,

I’d like to share a quote with you by R. Kent Hughes in his book, Disciplines of a Godly Man:  “We are to be totally absorbed with Jesus.  He is to fill our skies like the morning sunrise.  He is to be our high noon and our sunset.”

These words make me think about what my children have been doing each morning all this week — waiting to watch the sun rise.  They’re having lots of fun, and love to describe the effects that the sun has in bringing color first to the mountains and clouds before finally lighting up the whole sky so bright you have to look away from it; but then you can get going with your day.  

Have you ever noticed that each sunrise has its own unique look to it?  Each one is worth getting up for to watch.  And always, Joy commeth in the morning (Psalm 30:5).

We should look at Jesus like we wait for a sunrise — or on a sunset.  Hear Him like that.  Worship Him like that.  Pray to Him like that.  Wait for Him like that, as we sing about in Psalm 130, our Psalm of the month in the evening (how fitting, although not planned).  We should be eagerly expecting Jesus to rise anew in us and rise for good in the end like they who watch for the morning light.  Hoping in the day star Who has dawned and is rising in our hearts (2 Peter 1:19); for the Sun who will arise with healing in His wings (Malachi 4:2) one day and return for us riding on the clouds (Revelation 1:7).

This quote above by Pastor Hughes is in a chapter called, “Discipline of Perseverance”.  They way to persevere in this life is to gaze on Jesus all the way into the next life.

We saw two weeks ago that John said in Revelation 1:9 that we are companions in the tribulation, the kingdom, and the patience, “of Jesus Christ”.  And we were all ministered to by James MacDonald’s message last Wednesday night on James 1:1-8, in which he explained the Greek word for patience (vs. 3) essentially means “under-remain”; he gave some moving examples from his own difficult providences at that time.  Some of you have been asking how to get a copy of Dr. MacDonald’s message.  Here’s a link for anyone else that may be interested. 

Beloved, we can indeed persevere in the Messiah’s marathon for us by “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).  He kept His eyes on the joy set before Him to get through His cross for us.  We keep our eyes on Him, and He gets us through ours crosses He will have us remain under for Him.

May you be totally absorbed with Jesus, beloved.  May He fill your skies like the morning sunrise.  May He be your high noon and your sunset.  Life is lived so much more gloriously different from this most beautiful perspective — a true, celestial one, where the air is clean and clear and best to breathe. 

Get some more Son in your eyes.  Read Revelation 1:10-18 to see Jesus as you should always see Him now.  Let it prepare you for worship this Lord’s Day.  It will be glorious.  For He radiates heavenly light.

Semper Reformanda,

Pastor Grant