Prayer:
Gracious Lord, plant deep within us the knowledge of your love, so that no matter what happens to our physical being, the world around us, or to time itself, we will know you as our Savior. Amen.
Bible Reading:
2 Corinthians 4:1-12
Silence:
One to two minutes
Reflection:
The morning ritual is pretty standard. Shower, brush teeth, deodorant, shave, comb hair, make up, clean clothes, etc. (maybe not in this order, but to be sure, most of them at some point in the ritual). Why go to all this trouble? Looks, feel good, impress others, avoid “the looks”, etc. But isn’t it true – it isn’t what’s on the outside that really matters, it’s what on the inside that really counts.”? It’s amazing to me that so much time, energy and expense is put into making the exterior a “showplace”, and yet the inside is so repeatedly neglected. Could it be that the shells that people live in are really hollow, and all this attention is a distraction so as to avoid the emptiness inside? Clearly, this is the teaching of the world – spruce up the exterior, it’s all you have. The Gospel of Jesus Christ declares, however, that there is an interior reality that changes everything – the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ, and into this earthen vessel call ourselves, this reality is poured. All things then are made new.
Action – Repentance and Creation:
Look for the light of Christ in those people that you meet today. If you don’t see it, check to see if the light is on inside you; if you do see it, don’t worry about it in yourself, your beaming just fine.