WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL May 4 - May 8, 2 0 1 5 Weekl Devotional
MONDAY John 8:12; Psalm 19:1-4 Beauty captivates people s eyes and imagination. A truly beautiful object or scene causes you to pause in awe and rouses powerful, deep yearning within. If you ve ever visited Notre Dame, you know you are in the presence of a truly beautiful scene. You d admire how its beautiful gothic architecture also coexists harmoniously with another more illusive architecture of light. The interior lighting is ever-so-supportive, never forceful. It seems subservient to the sunlight that filters through the strategically-placed windows. This dual-dimensional architecture of light and the material building carves out different corners throughout the building, so as to invite you to find your corner of silent reflection and renewal. You find a place to sit down and continue to admire from your new vantage point. Your eyes continue to be guided by what the light illuminates. There is so much space, but with the help of selective lighting, you can only see clearly certain accented sceneries. You look up and begin to study some of the stained glass windows. The art is spectacular because a light source illuminates on it. Your eyes can see their details because light (both sunlight and manmade sources) goes through them. In darkness, its beauty does not display. As you see the colorful interplay between glass windows and the light, you can almost sense the light s movement. It is active, and it dances across space and time. It is as if the light is pulsating, having a creative life of its own. The life stories of these individuals featured in glass windows come alive. They become vivid to you because the light shines through them. When God s light shines through you, do you see it reveal your various shades of color, or just the most brilliant at the moment? One of the center pieces of Notre Dame is the South Rose Window. In it, you see Jesus is at the center of the art. He is surrounded by the other panels that highlight the life stories of saints. Jesus is the light of the world. His story is the anchor of all other life stories.
TUESDAY Psalm 121:1; Hebrews 12:2 Notre Dame de Paris South Rose Window is a masterpiece that towers almost 20 meters (including its bay), reaching 13 meters in diameter. Its construction began in 1260. Because of its age and the settling masonry, it has undergone major restoration in 1543 and 1725, and it was completely rebuilt in 1861 after the French revolution. Over the centuries, the rose window has been the instrument for people s learning about God and His redemption acts throughout human history. Before the printing press was invented in 1455, the Bible was transcribed by hand. Even with the advent of different translations and limited availability of the Bible, only a small portion of society had access to the written Word of God. The Rose Window has 84 panes divided into four concentric circles. It includes the twelve apostles, saints and martyrs, and angels. The outer circles depict scenes from the Old and New Testaments. Finally at the edges, the two corner pieces represent the death and resurrection of Christ. As a worshipper enters the cathedral, he/she is immediately drawn to the windows high above. You lift up your head and study their details. In meditation, you look up, as if looking into eternity, being transported back in time through the scenes and saints portrayed by the window art. The walls within the cathedral must have heard countless whispers among worshippers, between a child and his/her parents, whispers that pass on the Christian faith through inspired art and verbal story-telling. Inside the cathedral, you stand in awe. The silence draws you into contemplation. You are reminded by the contrast between the grand structure and a small individual. The windows and the stories they tell cause you to examine your own journey, and to reach out to God. The South Rose Window portrays a triumphant Christ, reigning over heaven and earth.
WEDNESDAY Ephesians 2:10; John 15:5-8 Under the circular rosettes, the heavenly court is represented by the stain glasses depicting 16 prophets. The middle panels are dedicated to the great prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. These four are seen carrying the four New Testament evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, on their shoulders. As the 13th century bishop Bertrand would remind the faithful, we are all dwarves standing on the shoulders of giants. The reason we can see more than they do is because we are lifted up by the saints who came before us. As beautiful and grand as the South Rose Window is, this masterpiece is comprised of many small bits of colorful glass. Do you see yourself as a part of a larger master plan of God on earth? However insignificant you might feel about your contribution, God has chosen to express His intention to mankind through the Church, and you are a member of that expression. The Body of Christ, despite its imperfect and odd-shaped parts, is supposed to represent the beauty and character of its designer. The Kingdom of God is advancing. We pray the prayer to let Your will be done, in heaven as it is on earth. As followers of Jesus, we hold true to our loyalty to Christ and the mission of the Church. We depend on supernatural strength to overcome adversity, clinging to the hope that God s ways are higher than ours, and that by simply abiding in Him, we will naturally produce fruit that brings glory to Him. Sometimes we struggle to love the Body of Christ as Jesus loves her. We are called to love the whole Church. Amidst strife among Christendom, divided by practices and doctrinal differences, we Christians can sometimes put up a fight to distance ourselves from each other. Can we play nice, and love our brothers and sisters in Christ, even when they act like enemies? Despite theological differences, can we find enough reason to extend grace to other believers simply because it pleases God? Jesus sees the Church as His Bride. Now, which bridegroom would go around telling everyone how ugly his bride is? The South Rose Window reminds us of the extravagant love that God lavishes on humanity. Throughout history, His followers have kept the faith, often in extreme hardship and persecution. But the saints who came before us did not quit, because they understood that their God never quit on them. As we behold the image of O.T. prophets carrying N.T. evangelists on their shoulders, we are reminded of God s consistent promise to His people, spanning the two testaments and beyond.
THURSDAY James 1:17 Numerous Scriptures invoke the analogy of God as light. Many believers associate the light to God s role as a judge. He shines the light to expel darkness and reveals those areas of sin and rebellion in believers lives. While light does confront darkness, light is also uplifting. Light brings warmth to a cold room. To the returning prodigal son, his father s leaving the porch light on gives him hope to return. A boat approaching a harbor at night relies on the beacon of light from the lighthouse for direction. Today s Scripture refers to God as the Father of the heavenly lights. He is the source of every good and perfect gift, and He does not waver. In this Scripture, we are reminded of God s nature to give His children good and perfect gifts. His giving is constant. He does not ration His goodness according to our deeds or when He feels like it. Our God is deeply committed to loving us and providing for us. He is not capable of loving partially. One of the insecurities of a believer is that God will love him/her more tomorrow only because of something he/she brings to God. Be assured that God cannot possibly love you more tomorrow or anytime in the future, because He is already loving you maximally at 100% today and in times past. There is nothing you can do that will earn God s approval and love. The Rose Windows reflect the splendor of the sun. Thank You, Father, for Your heavenly light, shining through what may seem like imperfect and clouded glass. Thank You that we can shine on others with warmth, grace, and blessing. Remind us that even when it seems dark, a small flickering candle can illuminate Your work in us.
FRIDAY 1 John 1:5; Hebrews 12:1 When you behold the stain glass windows, you are a witness to the history of saints and martyrs from ages past. As you recall their life stories, you recognize God s fingerprints all over human history. The Creator and Master of the universe, our God, actively pursues mankind. He gathers a people unto Himself, and establishes conditions where they interact with Him through a loving covenant. If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear and I will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14) When Jesus walked the earth and became our redemption through His sacrificial death and resurrection, His followers received a new mandate to walk the earth and continue God s work of reconciling the world back to a relationship with their Maker. The Church is the representation of Jesus in all His fullness: grace, healing, mercy, wisdom. Throughout history, we see this cloud of witnesses forming. It consists of individuals who have set an example of unwavering faith in the presence of persecution and adversity. They are fiercely loyal to their God, and they are remembered for representing Jesus well. Through their lives, we are inspired to live obediently to our God. We are encouraged to give God permission to express His calling in our lives. The great men and women of faith have one thing in common. They conduct their lives for an audience of one: God. They persevere because they live for that day when they will stand face to face before their Maker. They consider all sacrifices worthwhile, in anticipation of hearing that familiar voice saying, Well done, my good and faithful servant.
Standing at the foot of this enormous Rose Window, you look up and admire its beautiful artistry. In silence, you are reminded of the courage and strength that carried the lives of this cloud of witnesses. Their lives testimony gives you hope as you face your own trials. God has been faithful, and He is faithful to you. Can you hear the cloud of witnesses cheering for you to run your race and follow the footsteps of Jesus? People are like stained glass windows; they sparkle and shine when the sun is out; but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within. ~~ Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
QUESTIONS & PRAYERS 1. In addition to Scripture, worship, and prayer, God also reveals Himself and His heart for you through inspiration. Do you live an inspired life with space that God can fill it with wonder and awe? 2. When God s light shines through you, do you see it reveal your various shades of color, or just the most brilliant at the moment? 3. Do you sometimes sense the pleasure of God for those areas of your life that you consider ordinary? 4. Have you experienced grief because of the judgmental/ self-righteous deeds from another believer? How has that changed the way you see the Body of Christ and its mission to represent Jesus? 5. You are the light of the world. Recall a recent incident when you have to abide in Jesus for strength in order that you may be steadfast in shining your light in the environment God has placed you. Monday: Pray that you d see how tenderly God has gathered broken pieces and shaped them into beauty and grace you could not have imagined. Tuesday: Pray for God to open up, create space, and allow times of stillness in your life in order for Him to speak the truth to the center of your soul. Wednesday: Pray that your life would be like the Rose Window, helping others gaze into eternity and telling the story of a triumphant Christ. Thursday: Pray that visitors who behold the Rose Window in Notre Dame today would be deeply impacted by its spiritual meaning. Friday: Pray for people who grew up as Christians but have given up fellowshipping with believers. Pray for their return to a vibrant faith journey with their God. 1700 East Palopinto Ave. Glendora, CA 91741 (626) 914-4833 www.glenkirkchurch.org