Look, Then Leap!

This blog is designed to give people an inner look at a devotional life. Taking time each day to spend time with the Lord. The hope is if you travel on this journey with Rev. Jacob Shaw, you may be more inclined to spend time with the Lord as well. I encourage the use of a devotional, a scripture reading and prayer, then finally a song, hymn or selection of poetry to tie it all together. 

Today's devotional is taken from: Vujicic, Nick. Limitless Devotions for a Ridiculously Good Life. Colorado Springs, CO: Waterbrook Press, 2013. pp 89-91.

Opening Thought: Look, then leap summarizes today’s post well. Vujicic speaks to a necessity to be discerning before running into things. That doesn’t mean you cannot have the ability to jump on opportunities, it just means use the brain God gave you, and take these opportunities with some seriousness. I believe we struggle between the line of impulsivity and discernment because the more thought we give to something, the more of ourselves we offer to it. Which means we can be more vulnerable to the pains and trials of being in the world.  

The devotional begins with: 
Galatians 6:7-10

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. 

Second Thought: Cause and effect is something I see the world struggling with. To dip into the political spectrum of the West: we see people on the left of the political dichotomy looking at the cause and effect of the social and historical, trying to find a rectification to the social structural issues of the past and of today. On the right, we see a focus on individual character, moving from systemic evils to the evils of the individual heart, assuming change of the system is built on the evils of the individual, they affirm the efforts of the past as genuine human progress with personal moral development cultivating in systems like democracy. The best solution probably lies within the middle, we need to have the humility of self and of community. In doing so, we then can discern from what we know and aim for a higher order of reality, an order that is in harmony with God. We need also to do this in our own lives, look to the systems that blind us, but also not rest in blame for our context, but find strength in self and in God to call us out of circumstance.       

Continual Work: It is easy to be overcome by excitement and jump into events and circumstance. I truly recommend taking a quick pause before everything you do to ask, how does this serve God, neighbor and self, and what do I have to do to make the best out of this situation?

What Rev. Jacob is Working On: I took about two weeks off from the devotional, mostly due to a teething baby and our return to in-house church services, and in person programming strapped all my mental strength. Now that the change of course has smoothed out I needed to come back to this. I do not think I would have if I hadn’t taken time to discern the value of this blog for myself and those who read and share in it. Discerning offers not only insight, but a deeper understanding and appreciation for the things you’ve choose in life.  I hope to be mindful of this in everything I do.

Scripture time: Luke 14:28

"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?” (NIV)

I often find people leaning into heart or head, people who are head oriented seem to see heart orientations as frivolous and emotional, and heart-based individuals often see head orientated people are clinical and cold. As I mentioned politics before, I often see people leaning to one side or the other, and condemning others for being different. I think God gave this contrast to be in tension with each other to propel society, rather then in conflict with each other. We in turn must have the heart to build the tower but the mind to make sure it is a possibility.  

Closing Words: I hope you enjoyed and were lifted by this devotional time; it is truly important to take time for God each day. By doing so, you welcome God into your life, and in turn you will be able to better see the world through the eyes of God, rather than God through the world's eyes.

Artistic Close: I was trying to find a poetic quote or verse to talk about the balance we need in discernment, both heart and mind, liberal and conservative, but I found no such luck. Most of the postings I found that sounded like they were supporting both were merely backhanded compliments to really cast down one over the other. So, I will leave you with the cover of one of the best books in history, which teaches we need mind, heart, and will to be complete.