The Perfect Getaway

Ps. 27:4-5  I'm asking God for one thing, only one thing: To live in His house my whole life long.  I'll contemplate His beauty; I'll study at His feet.  That's the only quiet, secure place in a noisy world.  The perfect getaway, far from the buzz of traffic. (MSG)

What would be your perfect getaway?  A secluded cabin in the mountains?  A sunny beach on a tropical island?  Generally speaking, it's a place we would visit for a day or maybe a week to rest and relax.  To escape the stress, the noise and the distractions of our usual daily lives.

David, in these verses, describes his perfect getaway.  Living (dwelling) in the house of the Lord every day of his life.  That is to say, having constant communion with Him.  Notice that David doesn't want to just visit God's house, he wants to live there.  It is so much the desire of his heart that he explains it as the one and only thing he asks of God.  He longs for the opportunity to just enjoy and consider fully and deeply God's beauty, loveliness, splendor and grace.  He seeks God's instruction.

Mary found that same perfect getaway.  That same "one thing" David talks about.  Jesus describes it as "the one thing needful" (Lk. 10:42).  She, not being distracted as was her sister Martha, sat at His feet and heard His word.  There she was, contemplating His beauty and studying at His feet.  She was experiencing the perfect getaway!

What we truly desire is what we will diligently seek.  Do our hearts truly desire the "one thing"?  Do we look and long for opportunities to spend time with Him enjoying His beauty and to be taught by Him?  Do we desire a place of His presence and a communion with Him above all else both now (here on earth) and forever (in heaven)?  Not only can we visit such a place, we can live there!  David found it.  Mary found it.  We can find it, too.  The perfect getaway.


Sock Monkey Snippet:  What we truly desire is what we will diligently seek.

Amazing Idiots

Acts 4:13  Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled.  And they realized that they had been with Jesus.

Peter and John were brought before the rulers, elders and scribes (and a few others) to explain by what name, by what power or authority they were able to heal a lame man.  The scribes were educated men who would easily be able to dispute or disprove a flawed explanation.  The rulers and elders were powerful men who, should the scribes fail, would easily be able to use their influence to dissuade others.  Certainly, Peter and John would be no match for them.

But what they got from Peter and John was totally unexpected.  They understood that these two were uneducated and untrained.  One translation says unlearned (illiterate) and ignorant men (literally, idiots).  Another simply describes them as ordinary men.  And yet everyone saw their boldness.  They had assurance, confidence, clarity and spoke (filled with the Holy Spirit) convincingly while providing irrefutable evidence.  The rulers, elders and scribes were left speechless (v.14).  In fact, they marveled.  These were two amazing idiots!

Then they all remembered that these were two of the guys who had been with Jesus.  They communed with Him.  They learned from Him.  And now Peter and John were able to stand boldly before the most educated and powerful men who stood against Him.

At times in our lives, we will also be given opportunities to explain by what name, by what power or authority we say what we say and do what we do.  And when that happens, I pray others will see the same Holy Spirit boldness in us and realize that we have a communion, a relationship with Jesus.  We don't need to be highly educated or highly ranked.  God puts extraordinary boldness in ordinary people.  We can be some pretty amazing idiots!


Sock Monkey Snippet:  God puts extraordinary boldness in ordinary people.

Our Shining Faces

2 Cor. 3:18  But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments, we are told (Exod. 34:30) that his face shone.  It literally shot out rays (horns) of light like the sun.  The Israelites realized that Moses had been in communion with God Himself.  Moses was being transformed into God's image just by being in His presence and his very countenance displayed God's glory.

After Moses spoke to the people, he veiled his face.  The glory of God visible on him may have been more than they could bear.  The Bible says the people were afraid, in awe perhaps being convicted by their own sin, making the veil necessary.  Or maybe he veiled his face concealing the decreasing brightness of it since we are not told it was of constant intensity.  The fading light was foreshadowing the old covenant of the law passing away (2 Cor. 3:13).

The veil created separation and it concealed.

Nevertheless, when we turn to the Lord, in repentance and faith, the veil is taken away (2 Cor. 3:14, 16).  Jesus Christ has taken away the veil of separation between God and us that our sin necessitated and that the law, the Ten Commandments, confirmed.  He took away the veil, revealing a new and everlasting covenant of mercy and grace.

Now having restored communion with God, we are being transformed, transfigured (2 Cor. 3:18) into His image, just as Moses was.  The glory of God, increasing in brightness, is being displayed (unveiled) in us for all to see our shining faces.  Let our light shine before men (Mt. 5:16)!

Sock Monkey Snippet:  Jesus took away the veil.

Making Excuses

Lk. 14:16, 18  Then He said to him, "A certain man gave a great supper and invited many..."  But they all with one accord began to make excuses.

At one time or another, we've all made excuses why we can't accept an invitation to go somewhere or do something.  When it comes right down to it, they are usually borne out of our own selfishness, pride, laziness or indifference.  Sometimes, as a result, we even miss out on opportunities because of them.

If we're not careful, we can make excuses to God.  And whether we know it or not, many times we can even use His very blessings as those excuses.  Our jobs, material possessions and even our families, all blessings from God, are often given priority over spending time with Him.  We're just too busy.  Not that we should ignore these responsibilities, but we should also realize the importance of His open, personal invitation to us and the opportunities for communion (fellowship) with Him that we are given each and every day.  Draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you. (Jas. 4:8).  Accept His invitation.

When God invites, don't make excuses.  Don't be so busy with your blessings that they keep you from Him.  Don't let your blessings become your excuses.


Sock Monkey Snippet:  Don't let your blessings become your excuses.