Image from a photo taken by Eradio Valverde
Being Light for Those in Darkness
From Psalm 112:1 Praise the Lord! Happy are those who fear the Lord, who greatly delight in his commandments. 2Their descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever. 4 They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright; they are gracious, merciful, and righteous. 5 It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their affairs with justice. 6 For the righteous will never be moved; they will be remembered forever. 7 They are not afraid of evil tidings; their hearts are firm, secure in the Lord. 8 Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. 9 They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor; their righteousness endures forever; their horn is exalted in honor.
"Why would I be afraid of the Lord?" I would ask as a child in Sunday school. Of course I never voiced it out loud, I was afraid more of the Sunday school teacher's embarrassment of a pupil who did not know all the answers! I was a youth before I had the courage to ask one of my pastors. His answer blessed me, "Fear of the Lord is the deep awe and respect you have for God, not that you're afraid of Him." That made me happy; I had been fearing God for a long time!
David understood that fear and associated it with worship and praise, study and prayer. He also understood the blessings and consequences that came of that deep awe and respect, and love, we should have for our Creator. He believed if one carried that from childhood to parenthood, the children of one would be blessed. They would have all they needed for their understanding, attitude and gratitude would bless them in the deeper knowledge of that which God provides that escapes rust and theft. They, like their parent(s), would be light for both whose who already knew the Lord and those that would come to know the Lord because of our living and sharing. The one who loves the Lord is a person who seeks to share graciousness, mercy, and righteousness. Theirs is a life filled with blessing in their sharing with one another and especially with those who lack. They will long be remembered and appreciated. Even when people might speak badly about them, they know the One who has the last word will speak a word of blessing on their lives. Fear of anything is the last thing in their hearts, for their hearts are filled with the peace and power of the Lord. They will overcome all things and everyone that may come against them and their work for God. Blessed will be their home.
PRAYER: Loving God, may the above be part of our morning prayer. We seek You and we seek to live our lives with awe, respect and love for You. And may that bless us as we seek to bless You and Yours. In Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name we pray, amen!
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Prayer Request: Many are traveling and many will gather today in San Antonio for the called session of the annual conference. May we pray that God's will be done in our midst and that as we begin a new conference that we do it with fear of the Lord.
