A Sunday Thought to Start the Week Off Right

It's Sunday. We rest. The cares of the world - the work we must do to provide food and shelter for our families - should recede a bit. Recede for today at least, because they never go away. We know that. But it's Sunday, the Lord's Day. The Lord has given us this day as an oasis of respite from our work and all that presses in on us during the week.

If we accept the Lord's Day as He has given it to us and find ourselves with some respite, some rest, we may decide to use this time of respite to step back and take a look around - a good long look. If you're like me, during a busy week I'm mostly focused on my work, as well as personal matters that need attention and/or action. That pretty much fills up most days. I'm lucky if I can squeeze in some time with reading or music - two sources of mental, emotional, and spiritual nourishment. 

But on a good Sunday, I'm not so pressed. With some exceptions, my time provides some space to fill in. Recently, I happened to read Psalm 23. Today, with no urgent meeting or appointment tugging at my attention, the words of this Psalm - which I've read probably a dozen or more times - penetrated my thick skull as never before:

23:1 The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof: * the world, and all they that dwell therein.

23:2 For he hath founded it upon the seas; * and hath prepared it upon the rivers.

23:3 Who shall ascend into the mountain of the Lord: * or who shall stand in his holy place?

23:4 The innocent in hands, and clean of heart, * who hath not taken his soul in vain, nor sworn deceitfully to his neighbour.

23:5 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, * and mercy from God his Saviour.

23:6 This is the generation of them that seek him, * of them that seek the face of the God of Jacob.

23:7 Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates: * and the King of Glory shall enter in.

23:8 Who is this King of Glory? * the Lord who is strong and mighty: the Lord mighty in battle.

23:9 Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates: * and the King of Glory shall enter in.

23:10 Who is this King of Glory? * the Lord of hosts, he is the King of Glory.

Thanks to having the time for a more attentive reading of Psalm 23, I got a better sense of the world and my place in it.

We can take the world for granted. But the fact is God created everything and everyone. It's all His handiwork. The world wasn't slapped together. It's more than just background scenery. 

Each of us was created by God. We're not the product of some random clash or molecules that blindly evolved over eons. 

Knowing that God created the world, we know too that He dwells here amongst us. God is everywhere. Knowing this, it only makes sense to seek Him in this world. To find Him, we need to be properly disposed: innocent in hands, clean of heart, taking our spiritual lives seriously, loving our neighbor. If we seek and find Him in this state, He will bless us and show us His mercy.

Such understanding of Our Lord as Creator of the world and everything in the world reveals God as King of Glory. That recognition, duly instilled in our souls, lifts up the world and all who dwell in it.

When we lift up our hearts, our minds, our souls to our King, we gaze upon One Who is strong and mighty. Being lifted up to Him, we open our hearts and minds and souls to Him. If we do, He will enter. 

With God, strong and mighty, dwelling within each of us, we face our daily struggle against sin and temptation. How much better for us to have this King of Glory strengthen us that struggle.

See what a little Sunday respite can do? You can see the world in a way that you might not when you must attend to the pressing matters of other days of the week. Accept this day of rest as a gift from our King of Glory. You will gain wisdom and strength to better attend to the cares of this world this coming week.

Happy Easter!