Daily Readings: Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; 2 Samuel 7:18-22; Galatians 4:1-7

King David went in, took his place before God, and prayed: “Who am I, my Master God, and what is my family, that you have brought me to this place in life? But that’s nothing compared to what’s coming, for you’ve also spoken of my family far into the future, given me a glimpse into tomorrow, my Master God? What can I possibly say in the face of all this? You know me, Master God, just as I am. You’ve done all this not because of who I am but because of who you are – out of your very heart! – but you’ve let me in on it. This is what makes you so great, Master God! There is none like you, nothing to compare with what we’ve heard with our own ears. 2 Sam. 7:18-22, The Message

David understood a fundamental truth: God acts to save because of who God is, not because of who we are. We don’t need to be perfect or particularly worthy of praise because God’s love is given, not earned. No wonder David asked: Who am I, my Master God, and what is my family, that you have brought me to this place in life?

What we do with our years doesn’t earn us God’s love – that’s already a given. Our strengths and weaknesses don’t determine or explain why God chose to be God-With-Us in Jesus. But perhaps, in response to being God’s beloved, how we love ourselves and others in our years can offer a glimpse of such divine love.

Thom Nordquist returned to God’s embrace, leaving behind his beautiful art.

Daily Readings: Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Isaiah 4:2-6; Acts 1:12-17, 21-26

They nominated two: Joseph Barsabbas, nicknamed Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed, “You, O God, know every one of us inside and out. Make plain which of these two men you choose to take the place in this ministry and leadership that Judas threw away in order to go his own way.” They then drew straws. Matthias won and was counted in with the eleven apostles.

Acts 1:23-26, The Message

They got it down to two, then they drew straws to decide who would be the apostle to replace Judas. Shouldn’t there have been another round of interviews, perhaps some quiet time to reflect on this rather important decision? Why leave something so important up to chance?

For many years, I thought it was because they didn’t want to be responsible for making the final decision – better for Justus and Matthias to see it as the luck of the draw rather than a judgement on their abilities and souls.

As I’ve gotten older, I think it might have been something different. Matthias and Justus were both deemed capable and worthy. Had the draw gone to Justus, the path would have been different – not better or worse, just different.

Aren’t there times when we face that same thing – a fork in the road with both directions looking equal in worth? Perhaps, at that point, we should just flip a coin and fully embrace the outcome…and trust that the Spirit will bless the road we take.