Shining and saving

Today: Psalm 115-118

Tomorrow begins one of my favorite events of the year: the women's conference at my home church. This year's theme as "Shine." I'm sure there will be lots of sparkles and lights around (it is a girly-girl kind of event, after all!). I'm also sure that the speakers will talk about what it means to shine. It's interesting to me that today's passage shed some light (no pun intended!) on the topic as well:

God is higher than anything and anyone,

outshining everything you can see in the skies.

Who can compare with God, our God,

so majestically enthroned,

Surveying his magnificent

heavens and earth?

He picks up the poor from out of the dirt,

rescues the wretched who've been thrown out with the trash,

Seats them among the honored guests,

a place of honor among the brightest and best.

He gives childless couples a family,

gives them joy as the parents of children.

Hallelujah!

But you, Israel: put your trust in God!

—trust your Helper! trust your Ruler!

At Christian conferences for women and men, there's often talk like, "God's called you to be a king!" or "You're one of God's princesses." There's definitely truth in those statements--in the Bible, there are references to people like Esther placed "in a royal position" and God refers to His people as "heirs" called to "rule and reign" with Christ.

That said, I don't think being a king or queen in God's Kingdom is just about sparkles, power and fanfare. On the contrary, I think Jesus was a king with callouses--or a knight in strong armor whose heart bled (in His case, literally) for people. Women like Esther were queens who took major risks for the unloved and underprivileged. The female heroes of the Bible were not pristine princesses in high towers, present only in polished cliques--I picture them as princesses with patches on their knees and dirt on their fingernails. They helped real people.

Because what good is shine if it doesn't reach the darkness? And what good is strength if it lies sedentary?

I love the fact that God is a ruler who also helps.

I love that I know plenty of amazing princesses with patches--women beautiful inside and out who do things like building orphanages for children in South Africa affected by AIDS, giving their time to read to underprivileged kids in our city, donating money to help reach people with the Gospel...and so many other things.

I also love that I know a few good kings with callouses--guys who aren't too proud to spend a Saturday picking weeds in a disabled woman's yard, who live everyday as good dads and husbands, and who give time out of their busy schedules to volunteer at their churches.

Thank you all for shining and serving--for your strength and for your hearts. You will never know (well, until heaven anyway!) what you've done to impact me and so many others. Shining and saving isn't easy, but you're following God's example and that's just priceless.

Tomorrow: Psalm 119:1-88

The Rescuer

Today: Exodus 10-12

If I described someone as a "rescuer," what would you picture?

Would you envision a firefighter? Chuck Norris? A knight in shining armor? A military officer? A soup kitchen volunteer? A drug rehab therapist? A couple of mice from a cartoon who attempt to help a young orphan girl escape dangerously mining for a diamond (I'm totally dating myself here!)?

Have you ever been rescued?

One interesting thing about rescuers is that many times, they're underappreciated. Their efforts are often unnoticed, unrewarded and unaccepted. And there are some people who ultimately choose not to be rescued even when rescuers are willing to help them.

In today's passage, we read about a few people who chose that path (like Pharaoah and many of his Egyptian leaders). They rejected God's rescue plan for His people...which ultimately, cost them a lot. God gave them opportunities (at least 10, to be exact)...but they chose not to follow His direction--I think largely because of pride. To be rescued, you must first recognize that you need some help, that you don't have all the answers. That takes some humility.

Let's take a look at a portion of God's rescue plan for His people:

Moses assembled all the elders of Israel.

He said, "Select a lamb for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb.

Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the bowl of blood

and smear it on the lintel and on the two doorposts.

No one is to leave the house until morning.

God will pass through to strike Egypt down.

When he sees the blood on the lintel and the two doorposts,

God will pass over the doorway;

he won't let the destroyer enter your house to strike you down with ruin.
"Keep this word.

It's the law for you and your children, forever.

When you enter the land which God will give you as he promised,

keep doing this.

And when your children say to you, 'Why are we doing this?'

tell them:

'It's the Passover-sacrifice to God

who passed over the homes of the Israelites in Egypt

when he hit Egypt with death

but rescued us.'"

God's rescue plan here is very interesting. He could have chosen to just save the Israelites--I mean, He knew who they were without the blood on their doorways, right? But He required them to take a few little steps of faith--to follow His very specific instructions. They had to first believe they needed to be rescued and accept His plan in order to be spared by a sheer act of grace.

Tomorrow: Exodus 13-15