DEvotional thought of the Day…or was it yesterday…?

A small sanctuary, really a room that doubles as a classroom, a meeting room, a reception area, a thousand and one other things.

Not the largest group I have preached too, in fact, perhaps one of the smallest, fourteen people, with two guests, of which I was one.

Two musicians, struggling to learn to play together – very different in styling – yet the voices soared in praise of God.  It was…… how do I find the words.

the word?  Home.

Thousands of miles away – miles I will travel tomorrow…to once again hold my wife, to hug my son.

Yet this odd feeling of being home… in a land I can’t remember coming to…. relationships seemingly forged in 3 days?

A few hours later, I sit in a hotel room – trying to stay awake to greet my family as they wake up…. thinking about the service 5 hours ago… still somewhat in awe…

That is what being part of God’s family is like – being able to be home – to truly neverbe away from our family….for we find ourselves united in Christ Jesus.  It could only be the Lord of all that could make such a time happen, only he could do that which is describable….yet undescribable.

Would we realize that every worship service is this…. incarnational, this relational, this incredible.  They are… for He has promised to be there.. where He gathers, convicts, heals, blesses, reconciles, loves…grants peace.

TOo often, no matter the style, our worship can seem like work, the humdrum daily grind….  Regarding “work” a priest once wrote:

Jesus, our Lord and Model, growing up and living as one of us, reveals to us that human existence—your life—and its humdrum, ordinary business, have a meaning which is divine, which belongs to eternity. (1)

If God can take doing the dishes, or filing paperwork or baking bread and give it a divine meaning… how much more that time where He calls and gathers us together – to reveal again His love… to bless and pour out Himself….

And if moments like this… are so… transcendent… how much more will it be… when we see Home… our eternal Home?

(1)Escriva, Josemaria (2011-01-31). The Forge (Kindle Locations 2525-2526). Scepter Publishers. Kindle Edition.