WATCHWORD:
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8
But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:48
Meditation:
We Are Perfect…
Recently, my family had a birthday celebration and as part of the festivities we gathered at the Indianapolis Museum of Art and there we experienced the van Gogh Immersion exhibit. If you have never had this experience and you have the opportunity, don’t miss it!
I did not know what to expect. I kind of thought it was like any other art exhibit, but no. We stepped into this large room and there on one of the walls was a giant display of one of van Gogh’s masterpieces, and it was moving! Fascinated, we move further into the room and realized his masterpieces were being displayed on all the walls, and, watch where you step, on the floor and on the ceiling as well. Each one moving, Starry Night, Field of Sunflowers, sketches, all van Gogh’s work. It was amazing! We spent an hour and a half immersed in the immersion of masterpieces. What an experience! What a gift!
Van Gogh was hardly a perfect person. He had many flaws in his interaction with others, in his war with himself, and his own declaration that he was a failure. But he was not a failure, he was, in fact, perfect for God’s purpose of his life. God had created this man and this man created masterpieces that we admire, and get immersed in, and it is a spiritual experience.
We, too, are perfect. We have been fashioned out of dust, been made in the perfect image for God’s purpose for our life. Each one of us is different. It goes far beyond fingerprints, gender, race, temperament, intelligence through a long a long list of differences, and yet each one of us is perfect for the purpose for which God has created us.
What is that purpose? Have you discovered yours? In fact, you may be the perfect example of practicing that purpose without actually knowing that this is the purpose for which God has created you. We know about the gifts that God has given us from the reading the Bible, but the mere fact that you are there, where you are placed, is part of that purpose.
I suppose it’s possible to go through a long life, as many of us have already done, and we have followed God’s lead as we move through one purpose after another. Who can know the mind of our Creator?
At age 81, I started writing a little essay for my church, that, two years later, that essay turned into a book. My book! Amazing! And I keep writing because the Lord keeps leading me. These devotionals, another book, more essays, all faith-based, and, I believe, the product of God’s Purpose.
There is a love song by John Legend that contains the phrase “perfect imperfections”. I like that phrase because it applies to us. We are made perfect for God’s purpose in our lives, but like van Gogh, we have imperfections in our day-to-day lives. We need to keep our focus on the purpose for which God has created us. So be it.
Today’s Lenten Passage to Ponder:
John 20:11-18: 11 By that time Mary had returned to the tomb and was standing outside crying. And as she wept, she stooped and looked in 12 and saw two white-robed angels sitting at the head and foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. 13 “Why are you crying?” the angels asked her. “Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 She glanced over her shoulder and saw someone standing behind her. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him! 15 “Why are you crying?” he asked her. “Whom are you looking for?” She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.” 16 “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned toward him. “Master!” she exclaimed. 17 “Don’t touch me,” he cautioned, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them that I ascend to my Father and your Father, my God and your God.” 18 Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message.
Lenten Prayer:
Jesus, your resurrection power is more mighty than we could ever imagine. I am so thankful that resurrection changes everything about the world around me–you are with us now and forevermore. Amen.
A Smile for April Fools Day:
Adam said to Eve, “I wear the plants in the family.”
