Wednesday, January 28, 2026

“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119: 105, The Living Translation)

                 I know that I might be getting into my senior years when, for Christmas, my wife gave me several LARGE PRINT Sudoku puzzle books and one of my adult children and his wife gave me a new walking cane. I also know that I am getting older because I deeply appreciated both gifts. I also asked for hearing aids and have a hearing examination in February.

                My leg is still weak after the severe muscle pull, last autumn, so I am using the cane quite often, especially on slippery sidewalks and parking lots. It is nice to have the extra support and security. The cane is quite cool. It’s made of black metal and is collapsible and thereby foldable. But the best part is that there is a very bright LED flashlight in the handle of the cane. I can swivel that light in several directions. But it is meant to shine down on the ground in front of me if I am walking in the dark anywhere. Literally, it is a light for my path.

                We haven’t had a lot of light this year, so far; a lot of dull, dreary days, it seems. Even though the days are lengthening, it still gets dark early. I have had my SAD (Season Affective Disorder) light on for a period of time, every day. It helps but is not real sunlight.  

We need light in so many ways.

One source of spiritual Light is the Word of God, our Bible. The Psalmist is grateful for the inspiration that God’s Word has given him all through his life. Even when life could be difficult, he clung to God’s promises and assurances which  he found in our sacred writings.  As Paul wrote, “There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.” (2 Timothy 3: 15 -17, The Message Bible) Our Bible is the critical source for building our faith, enriching our souls and leading us on paths of goodness. Spending time with God’s Word is edifying and constructive. As the Message Bible interprets today’s verse: “By your words I can see where I’m going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path. I’ve committed myself and I’ll never turn back from living by your righteous order.”

This shining Light of God’s Word points us to an even greater light, Jesus Christ himself. “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” (John 8:12) He is our shining example of how we need to conduct ourselves each and every day. He illustrates for us in bright, unmistakable colours what brings us close to God. “And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second {commandment} is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” (Mark 12: 30-31) Jesus shows us the way to do just that.

The Light of God’s Word and the Light of Jesus Christ will have one major effect, reflecting the Light ourselves. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5: 14 -16) Jesus bids us shine, you in your small corner and I in mine.  We may become someone’s SAD light, gleaming with hope, blessing, joy, peace, encouragement, forgiveness, and of course, love. We let our good deeds shine forth, not to put the spotlight on ourselves, but to be witnesses to the true sources of our light, the Word and Jesus and therefore God. “Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I’ll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You’ll be living proof that I didn’t go to all this work for nothing.” (Philippians 2: 14 -16, The Message Bible)

Pass me my walking stick. There’s a pathway ahead.

 

Prayer:

                Shine Jesus, shine! Help us to read and understand the Word of God and know the right directions we must take. Shine, Jesus, shine! May we keep our eyes focused on Jesus as our bright example. Shine, Jesus, shine! Help us to reflect daily the Love of God through our words and actions. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too.” (Matthew 23:25 -26, New Living Translation)

             The one thing that I miss from our old house is the automatic dishwasher. We don’t have one here in our apartment. So dishes need to be washed by hand. Susan is a real trooper and does it without complaining. But she has been on the sidelines this past week or so, sick with a very bad cold and a terrible hacking cough. This has meant that I need to do the dishes. I’m sure many of you are already sarcastically thinking, “Oh, poor baby!” Fair enough.  But I detest doing dishes. I’ll clear the table of the dishes, stack the dishes, wipe dry the dishes, put away the dishes but please don’t ask me to wash the dishes.  I’ll vacuum, do the laundry, dust and sweep, but I’d rather not wash the dishes. I don’t care who does the dishes – man, woman or child or the dog can lick them clean. But I’ll pass when it comes to actually washing the dishes in the sink. Don’t really know why I have this aversion, but it’s been true my whole life.

                I would love to claim our text as supporting my position on dishwashing but that would be quite an interpretive stretch, of course.  Jesus is, once again, up against the dogmatic, religious leaders. These leaders were always looking to find fault with Jesus. They saw him as a blasphemer, a radical, a reformer, a poor example of good Judaism. These men were rigorous to a fault about obeying the Law to the finest detail and expecting everyone else to do likewise. We might call them fundamentalists, those who see their world in no uncertain terms as to what they think the Law demands.

Heaven forbid, if one used a dirty dish. There were rules about washing, mostly about one’s hands.  But since a cup was frequently used as part of the tradition, it was essential that the cup be properly cleansed as well. Thus, perhaps, the phrase, cleanliness is next to Godliness. But Jesus seems to be saying that religion which only touches the surface and is it all show and looks shiny, but bears no results, is an empty dish indeed, no matter how clean it might be.

There are several other instances in scripture where we ere reminded that the practice of our faith is more than ritual obedience, more than ceremonial performance, more than saying the right words  or practicing performance-based faith. My favourite is from Micah:

        Should we offer him thousands of rams    
            and ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
        Should we sacrifice our firstborn children
            to pay for our sins?
        No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,
        and this is what he requires of you:
        to do what is right, to love mercy,
        and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:7 – 8)

Our best religious practice is more than going to church, saying our prayers, giving our offering, memorizing scripture, serving on some church board or committee. That  is an important part of it, of course. But our religion should inspire us to do as Jesus once said: “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.” (John 14:12)

                Not that washing dishes can’t be holy work. A very long tome ago, l was being interviewed for a pastoral position. One of the questions I faced was about how I would get those who loved working in the kitchen, i.e. washing dishes, to step up their religious game and be more fervent in joining bible studies, prayer meetings and the like. The search committee joined the pharisees by looking down their noses at those who were serving the Lord in practical, helpful ways but not according to their high standards. I knew right away that this church wasn’t for me. Not surprisingly, perhaps, this church no longer exists.

James wrote that faith without works is dead. “Do I hear you professing to believe in the one and only God, but then observe you complacently sitting back as if you had done something wonderful? That’s just great. Demons do that, but what good does it do them? Use your heads! Do you suppose for a minute that you can cut faith and works in two and not end up with a corpse on your hands?” (James 2:20, The Message Bible)

So, no, Jesus is not letting me off the hook for washing dishes. Rather he is demanding that you and I bear fruit because of the faith we practice. Jesus washed feet, for goodness’s sake, a menial job but it spoke volumes about the breadth and depth of what it truly means to be a follower of Jesus Christ.

Somebody, pass the dish rag, please.

 Prayer

Our forbearing God, forgive us when it is easier to say the words than live the words. May our expressions of faith in you be more than superlatives about our superiority. Help us to see how we may fill  our  cups with kindness, love, compassion, forgiveness and servanthood. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” (Philippians 1:6, New Living Translation)

            Have you already broken your New Year’s resolutions? Do you feel that you have already fallen back into the same old routines and ruts? Do you feel unmotivated as winter wears on? Maybe, you are a little bored with what you are doing, seeing, hearing. Is there any part of you that just wants to say “the heck with it?”

As I was mulling over an idea for today’s writing, I came across an article by Lauren Fraser on the CBC website which seemed to fit my thoughts and questions. It was about how to keep resolutions.  Apparently, most people give up on their goals and targets after about four months. Be it the local gym membership, reading a long-put-off book, spending more time out doors, less time on our computers or phones, people give up and go back to their old ways and habits.

Case in point, myself. Physio therapy has  really helped my right leg which had become a major problem. It took away the severe pain. But the leg has remained weak and I was given a series of home exercises to help strengthen it and my supportive back muscles. They took only about 15 minutes, twice a day.  I didn’t even reach the four months. I was religiously faithful both mornings and nights for about 6 to 8 weeks. Then, it became once a day. Then every other day.  Then occasionally. Now if I don’t feel like doing them, I don’t do any at all.  It will probably stay that way until I am in pain once again.  Don’t tell Susan.

The article described how important motivation is as the trigger in keeping up the good habits which we are trying to sustain. Stating the obvious, “a major predictor of success is whether you actually enjoy the goal you’ve set.” We are supposed to make it enjoyable. “But if you want something to stick, don’t be a martyr.” Find a challenge and celebrate the rewards. Replace old habits with new ones.  Look at each day as a fresh start.  Look for the right opportunities to engage in healthy habits without it becoming a chore, a duty, a slog, a nag or a guilt trip.

The word “continue” shows up frequently enough in scripture that we should take heed. For one thing, we are assured of God’s continued Love and Grace each and every day. “For the Lord is good.    His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.” (Psalm 100:5) But this promise and hope carry a call for commitment on our behalf that we, too, will continue in faithfulness, trust, obedience and worship.

A healthy spiritualty, a Christian lifestyle, doesn’t happen by chance.  “But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News.” (Colossian 1:23) We have to continually practice what Jesus preaches.  We must cultivate, shape, nurture, exercise our Christian faith, each and every day. Paul described it as like training for the Olympics. “I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.”  (1 Corinthians 9: 27)

In the letter to the Hebrews, the writer is alarmed at the sloppy habits of some of the people. “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:23) He reminds them of how strong they started out in their faith journey. “Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering.” (10: 32) He warns but also encourages. “Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.” (10: 36)

 So don’t give up on your faith. You can increase its benefits with each and every day that you live by the principles of Jesus Christ. “But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off big-time, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God. So don’t sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it!” (Hebrew 12: 11 -13, The Message Bible)

 
Prayer:
            Our Creator God, we thank you for your continued Love and Grace. We also thank you for your encouragement as we endeavour, each and day, to live lives worthy of that Love. Grant us the willingness, the strength and the resolve to love you with all our hearts, minds, bodies and souls and to love our neighbours as ourselves. May we be fit for your kingdom work. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5: 16 -18, New Living Translation)

            Happy New Year.

            I am not big on New Year’s Resolutions.  I may have the best of intentions but sooner or later I am most likely to break them. But I am making a resolution this year that I intend fully to keep.

             A little back ground first. Over the last few years, I have been a frequent contributor to the daily devotionals that our church, Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, produces on-line. One must be a subscriber - easily done, at no cost, through their website. I have been told that they have readers from around the world. I love writing, so it has been a joy. Then, this past December, as staff changes began to happen, the Rev. Paula Willis asked me to become a regular contributor, twice a month, the first and fourth Tuesdays of the month and the fifth Tuesday if there is one. All the daily readings are from the lectionary which makes it an interesting challenge. It gets me thinking and off my computer games.

            One of the aspects that go with each daily devotional is a brief prayer, just a sentence or two. As I have not done this with my own blog, I would often forget and send  the devotional  into Paula with no prayer. She would then kindly remind me and I would send her one. Now that I am a regular writer, I am doing my best to remember to pray (which is a topic for a whole other blog).

            This brings me to my resolution. Beginning with this, my first blog of the year, I am adding a brief prayer at the end of it and will continue to do so from now on. Perhaps, this is not earth-shattering news, but I am hoping that many of you will find it helpful in some small way.

            The disciples once asked Jesus to teach them to pray. He gave the Church the beautiful Lord’s Prayer. “Our Father who art in heaven.” If prayer is hard for you or you feel that you can’t find the right words, the Lord’s Prayer captures so much of our need for God’s Presence in our lives, that you can’t go wrong using this prayer as the standard. God will hear you through it. “The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord will answer my prayer.” (Psalm 6:9)

            Prayer is mentioned several hundreds of times in the Bible. It is crucial for a healthy relationship with God. “I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray.” (Psalm 17:6) The Psalms are also very helpful if ever you are stuck in finding the words to pray. They cover every human emotion from joy to sorrow, from confidence to fear from hope to despair, from peace to anger. “But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.” (Psalm 42:8)

            Many people claim that they don’t know how to pray. I have had church deacons who were very bashful about praying in front of others. Some may think that prayer needs to be done by a professional  or needs to be articulated with pious and high-minded words. They see prayer in formal and liturgical resonance. But really, prayer, at its most basic and simplest, is having a real-life conversation with God. It doesn’t have to be pretty or convoluted. It just needs to be sincere and honest, expressing yourself in the best way you know how. God will take it from there. “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.” (Romans 8: 26)

            Our text from 1 Thessalonians is a wonderful text for beginning the New Year. Worth repeating: “Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.” (The Message Bible) If only we lived this verse out all year long! Pray it be so!

Prayer

Our loving God, we thank you for listening to us even if we stumble for the right words. You call us and know us by name, so we never need fear to approach you and lay our lives before you. Help us to listen. Help us to understand who you want us to be. In Jesus’ name, Amen.