You Will Not See Me Until...

Daily Reading:  Matthew 23

For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ (Matthew 23.39)

Devotional Thought: Amy has perfected the use of "time out" in her mothering skills.  When Grayson forgets how to interact with respect and calmness she sends him to "time out" to help him remember.  Once in "time out", he can't see her (or anyone else) until he is able to say why it is he ended up there.

In Matthew 23, Jesus told the religious leaders that they were in "time out."  Until they could say, "Blessed is he who come in the name of the Lord," they would not be able to see him.

It’s easy to read this passage and think how terrible those religious leaders were - that God had to send them to time out".  But, can we read this story as an indication of how we can see God, what we must do in order for him to reveal himself in power and glory?

"You will not see me until…"  Until what?  Until you say, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."  Would I really bless God for coming to me?  Do I really want the awesome presence of God?  Could I stand up under the “terrible” holiness and spotless purity of his gaze?  Would my heart rejoice in the penetrating, probing operations of his Spirit? It is frightening to think of.  I want to answer yes to those questions, but honesty compels me to look deeply into my soul. 

Do you want to see the Lord reveal himself in your life and in your family and in your church?  May we search for and satisfy the conditions indicated by the words of this prayer...

Prayer: O, God, I want to see you.  Help me to have a heart and Spirit that welcomes you, saying, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 91:1-8

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.