Saturday, December 13, 2003

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, and to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins.

By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Luke 1: 76-79

We end the week with a caution for all doers, and you know I count myself a doer. We are saved by grace, not by deeds. It is God's mighty work that will bring the dawn from on high to break upon us, not our efforts.

While I take this as a caution, it is also a comfort. How blessed it is to know that it is not our will but God's that determines the fate of this tiny universe we inhabit. Were it left to us we should tremble and quake, for failure would be certain.

We are called to strive and to struggle, but we may exert ourselves serenely, knowing that "behind the dim Unknown, standeth God within the Shadows, keeping watch above His own."

Serenity in struggle is a great gift. Those blessed with it stand apart, whatever their endeavor, for their soul is calm in the middle of the storm. That calm informs and instructs all the efforts of the gifted, so that much is achieved where otherwise all would be lost.

And that is the point of this Scripture. We may all be calm in the midst of our struggles, for God is God and will determine our course. Let us stand upon God's grace; all other ground is sinking sand.

And so let our feet be guided into the way of peace; though we are blind and cannot see our path, God sees all and will lead us onward.

Mark Bromley

All contents copyright 2003 by the Wisconsin Chapter of the Methodist Federation for Social Action. Permission is granted to United Methodist congregations, individuals and groups to reproduce and distribute this devotional without charge. All other use requires the advance permission of the editor.