Daily Devotional for Saturday, April 11
by Bill Jolitz
Quote: “The Creator-Logos has implanted in each created thing a characteristic ‘thought’ which is God’s presence in and intention for it and which draws it to God. By virtue of this indwelling [thought] each created thing is not just an object but a personal word addresses to us by the Creator.” --Maximus the Confessor
Reflection: The early Celtic Christian church knew something that has been largely forgotten. The Bible is actually God’s second book. God’s first book is creation itself. Paul testified to this in his letter to the Romans, verses 1:19-20. Do we have the eyes to see it as Jesus and Isaiah remind us?
Notice that Maximus says ‘each created thing’ and not being. Everything we can see with the naked or aided eye is a message from God. Can we read it? Notice also ‘intention for.’ Everything has a role to play. Rocks do rock-ing perfectly. Trees do tree-ing perfectly. Dogs do dog-ing perfectly. Only human beings refuse to perfectly be what God intended.
That brings up the question, what is my characteristic thought, my destiny? Do I know, even imperfectly? Do I put it into action? Can other people read God in me?
Paul (2 Corinthians 4:7) reminds us we are vessels of clay containing great treasure. That great treasure is Trinity itself, living deep down inside us. It calls us to meet in love. It calls us into transformation that comes from Love Itself. Are we going there? What do we hear in the silence that is God’s love language.
What a long and scary set of observations and questions! What hope have we? Two!
The Celtic saint Ninian reminds us that the fruit of all study is ‘… to perceive the eternal word of God reflected in every plant and insect, every bird and animal and every man and woman.’ Stop looking and start seeing.
What we can do next is to sit in silence and allow God to speak to us in silence and with love. Stop the internal monologue. Forget about all the musts, shoulds, oughts maybes, demanding phones, demanding people, demanding deadlines. Just be. Explore maybe unknown territory.
I AM.
You ARE, so
Just BE.
Prayer: Father, Christ and Holy Spirit, pull me in close to a place of intimacy. Teach me the word that dwells in me that I may grow into You and clearly show You to others who might not otherwise understand. Amen.
Bio: Bill Jolitz and his wife Susan served as mission pastors to churches in a country closed and hostile to Christianity for over a decade. He is currently diving deeply into Contemplative/Mystical Christianity.
by Bill Jolitz
Quote: “The Creator-Logos has implanted in each created thing a characteristic ‘thought’ which is God’s presence in and intention for it and which draws it to God. By virtue of this indwelling [thought] each created thing is not just an object but a personal word addresses to us by the Creator.” --Maximus the Confessor
Reflection: The early Celtic Christian church knew something that has been largely forgotten. The Bible is actually God’s second book. God’s first book is creation itself. Paul testified to this in his letter to the Romans, verses 1:19-20. Do we have the eyes to see it as Jesus and Isaiah remind us?
Notice that Maximus says ‘each created thing’ and not being. Everything we can see with the naked or aided eye is a message from God. Can we read it? Notice also ‘intention for.’ Everything has a role to play. Rocks do rock-ing perfectly. Trees do tree-ing perfectly. Dogs do dog-ing perfectly. Only human beings refuse to perfectly be what God intended.
That brings up the question, what is my characteristic thought, my destiny? Do I know, even imperfectly? Do I put it into action? Can other people read God in me?
Paul (2 Corinthians 4:7) reminds us we are vessels of clay containing great treasure. That great treasure is Trinity itself, living deep down inside us. It calls us to meet in love. It calls us into transformation that comes from Love Itself. Are we going there? What do we hear in the silence that is God’s love language.
What a long and scary set of observations and questions! What hope have we? Two!
The Celtic saint Ninian reminds us that the fruit of all study is ‘… to perceive the eternal word of God reflected in every plant and insect, every bird and animal and every man and woman.’ Stop looking and start seeing.
What we can do next is to sit in silence and allow God to speak to us in silence and with love. Stop the internal monologue. Forget about all the musts, shoulds, oughts maybes, demanding phones, demanding people, demanding deadlines. Just be. Explore maybe unknown territory.
I AM.
You ARE, so
Just BE.
Prayer: Father, Christ and Holy Spirit, pull me in close to a place of intimacy. Teach me the word that dwells in me that I may grow into You and clearly show You to others who might not otherwise understand. Amen.
Bio: Bill Jolitz and his wife Susan served as mission pastors to churches in a country closed and hostile to Christianity for over a decade. He is currently diving deeply into Contemplative/Mystical Christianity.
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