Good Tuesday dear friends.
A dear friend of mine sends out some very thoughtful and very powerful prayers each morning. I tease him on those mornings when they arrive late and he always has a nice reply. Today's prayer was thanking God for those stores and radio stations that during this time of year play those songs, even if motivated for profit, that share the Gospel message. His prayer today centered on our need to "come let us adore Him." And I said, "That's right!" So many stores and some radio stations, even dedicated channels on cable and satellite TV and radio dedicate themselves as "Holiday Music." But what we should realize is many of the songs are indeed Holy music.
Think about that as you turn to Soft Rock Favorites all the time playing your favorites as they have switched to 24/7 "holiday music" and listen to the Gospel, that's Good News to you and me, being "preached" over the airways. And speaking of airways, today's Upper Room biblical text is from Ephesians 2:1-10:
"You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God -- not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life."
Let "our way of life" be a joyous one, rejoicing in the fact that that little "song" being sung on our radio or TV, is about this very One who came to give us fullness of life.
PRAYER: Gracious God, we praise you and thank you for all you share. Keep us singing as we hear the songs of the holidays. Keep us mindful that most of those songs are indeed holy for they speak of Your wondrous act of Jesus Christ. Let us be raised with Christ today above the mire and challenges of work, doubt, illness, defeat, depression. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen
Have a great day!
e.v.
