20 April 2015 - face off

Though princes meet and talk against me,
your servant meditates on your statutes.

Jesus, our words allow us to have peace in difficult times. Your words have the power to be our delight even when it feels like the whole world is debating us and the way we follow. Even when we feel alone before the Sanhedrin, if we meditate on your deeds and set your ordinances before us we can face these situations with a face like that of an angel.

Accusations are laid before us. People misinterpret and misrepresent us. And though we may face them alone we are not alone because your decrees themselves are our counselors. They are our counselors because they are animated by the Counselor, the Holy Spirit whom the Father sends to remind us of all of your words, Jesus (cf. Joh. 14:26)

We don't often experience peace that is so unshakable. We don't often experience the peace of God which surpasses all understanding. But this peace is meant to guard our hearts and minds in you, LORD (cf. Phi. 4:7). The trouble is we often follow you for the same reason as the crowds who "ate the loaves and were filled." But what happens when we get hungry again? Do we stop looking for you when the food which perishes runs out. Because this food will perish. It is not the food that endures for eternal life. But you want to give us the food which will endure for eternal life. You fill our stomachs to reveal your love to us at a base level. But you give us signs to help lift our eyes from this food to the food that endures. You want us to recognize the seal that the Father sets on you. It isn't some crazy work you ask of us, but simply to believe in you with our whole hearts.

Stephen recognizes the seal the Father places upon you. He can see you so clearly that the barrier between heaven and earth grows thin and porous as we will read tomorrow. Even when people are trying to tell him what he said and it is something other than what he said his composure is not shaken. He doesn't get wrapped in a disingenuous discussion. His face remains angelic because he believes in you, Jesus, the one whom the Father has sent. He is not filled with food with perishes. He is filled with grace and power because he understands who you are. This grace and power reaches its apex as he surrenders his life into your hands in complete trust.

Let us choose your ordinances LORD. Let us follow the way of truth. Raise our hearts from the things which perish to those which endure so that we can follow you without wavering. Let us experience the blessings that come from following you with our whole hearts.