Day 48 - Issue 23
Luke 1:16 NLT
And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God.
One of the discoveries I made in caring for Katey was that once the muscle tone wasted, her body was exceptionally heavy. This was important, for many times I needed to move her so that she might sit or lie comfortably. While Katey made every effort to cooperate, there literally was no capacity within her limbs to lift, so it was like moving a dead weight. So we discovered turning was indeed a challenge.
The angel prophesies that John will turn the hearts of Israel towards God. Turning involves moving something to a different position. The people of Israel were to be challenged by John to closely consider their surroundings and move from their current position to view the kingdom of God from an entirely fresh perspective.
Advent provides a timely season for such consideration. What are my life’s circumstances, and what position or stand have I adopted? I know I slipped so easily into self-pity while caring for Katey. I entertained a sense of entitlement arising out of my suffering. Such surroundings squeezed the life of God from my mortal frame, and my focus narrowed, becoming completely consumed with self. Like Herod, I only had an eye to my own welfare. I grew selfish and self-absorbed, if not obsessed. It took effort to lift my eyes and commit to a hazardous journey towards an unknown destination, dictated by a star, much like the Magi. I had to let go of my surroundings and change my position.
As we make our way once again to stable and crib, to bow the knee before Messiah, we must consider our approach. It’s all too easy to clumsily crash into this sacred event and tumble into a new calendar year without pausing to reflect and respond to God’s call. This Advent offers each of us the opportunity to reflect upon where we find ourselves and consider the extent to which we both know and engage with God’s purpose for us. Accepting the path of pain that Katey and I were invited to walk was overwhelmingly difficult, yet within it we found Christ.
QUESTION: What do you think God’s purpose and calling on your life is?
PRAYER: Lord, show me your paths that I may walk in them.
