Month: November 2024

the joy of left hand/right hand living

Posted on by Grace Day

“But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:3-4)

Have you ever wanted to be a secret agent or an undercover spy? Both have appeal as it seems that those who do this must lead glamorous, exciting, adventurous, daring and even dangerous lives with never a dull moment. Well, I have discovered something just as exhilarating and fulfilling as being a secret agent or a spy. It is being a “left hand/right hand” liver of life. This means being an invisible do-gooder. In other words, all good deeds must be done on the “down-low” as we say here, where I live and work.

Living the “left hand/right hand” life is kind of like being a Secret Santa all year long, except without the big reveal at the end. In Secret Santa exchanges, the participants draw names, do something nice secretly for the person whose name they pick, then reveal their identity at the conclusion of the allotted time they were given in which to accomplish their good deed or gift giving on the down low. In the left hand/right hand life, there is no big reveal. That would defeat the whole purpose of doing good deeds in secret. A big reveal would blow my cover, and no secret agent or spy can continue to do their job effectively once their identity is made public and they are known to all. Anonymity is what allows the secret agent or spy to do their job successfully. Similarly, anonymity is essential if I am to live the left hand/right hand life with any degree of success and joy.

Now Jesus says in Matthew, that God, who sees what I do in secret, will reward me for my good deeds done on the down-low. I have no doubt that this is true, but I feel like I’ve already been amply rewarded way out of proportion to any small thing I did. (or did not do as I can neither confirm nor deny anything) Just doing something kind or helpful out of the public eye, with no expectation of thanks or reward, brings me such a rush of joy and satisfaction, which is a reward far greater than any gift or good deed I could ever give or do, it seems to me.

The life of a left hand/right hand undercover do-gooder is filled with intrigue, stealth, planning and execution that requires much skill and perfect timing, in order to carry out one’s mission correctly without getting caught. A left hand/right hand operative must be constantly vigilant, eyes always looking out for anyone who might be the next recipient (in the spy world referred to as the target or the mark) of one’s next top secret, undercover operation.

A left hand/right hand liver of life must be always aware of their surroundings, must engage with those in their spheres of influence, must listen well, have empathy and concern for their targets or marks, be creative in their good deed doing, be able to operate invisibly below the radar and be able to keep a secret – namely the secret of what they have done. Satisfaction is complete only when the mission is accomplished and secrecy has been maintained. Any breach of anonymity compromises the mission and nullifies the reward. How do I know this to be true? Jesus’s instructions are clear –

“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 6:1)

Well, that is definitely clear. I can have a temporary reward here, now, or I can receive an eternal reward in heaven later. Jesus gave these directions to His disciples and to you and to me –

“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.” (Matthew 6:2)

Announcing what I am doing, is the exact opposite of the undercover life that is the goal of every dedicated left hand/right hand liver. Secrecy and anonymity are the keys to living the left hand/right hand life successfully, and they must be maintained at all times. No trumpets, no big reveals. This is true for my prayer life as well, which makes sense because prayer is the foundation of the left hand/right hand life. Jesus’s instructions regarding prayer are also clear –

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:5-6)

Well, that’s it, dear readers. I have to go now. I have some door closing to do. And then some undercover ops . . . And now I have said too much! (if I said anymore, I would have to kill you) don’t take that personally, that’s just undercover secret agent talk – code for “I can’t let my left hand know what my right hand is doing.” And if I can’t even do that, I surely can’t let you know what I’m up to, now can I? Invisibility and anonymity are my secret weapons and my superpowers – actually they are the weapons/powers of all “left hand/right hand” livers. God gives us those abilities when we’re working for Him.

And in a super cool, ironic twist – although I operate on mission invisibly and anonymously, I am never, ever invisible nor anonymous to my Heavenly Father. He always “knows the way that I take”, He knows every hair on my head, He knows me by name.

“And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:30-31)

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1)

The left hand/right hand life is a life of joy, excitement and fulfillment. It is deeply satisfying. Thank You, Lord, for allowing me to be one of Your secret agents. I am ready for my next assignment. And I promise to keep it to myself.

sincerely, Grace Day

dandelion wars

Posted on by Grace Day

Yes, I am still battling the dandelions in my yard and they are winning! By this time of year, I would have thought the weather would have joined the battle on my behalf and simply killed all the dandelions with cold temperatures. But we have had mild weather so far this fall, so my grass is still green and my dandelions are thriving. (my front porch flowers are still alive also!) I am happy about the latter but not so thrilled about the former.

My battle strategy of late has been both unconventional and utterly unsuccessful. Perhaps it is time to rethink my current methods of dandelion combat. Of course initially, in the spring I employed the services of a lawn care company. They kill the dandelions with their magic weed killing formula applied strategically and liberally. Although, in retrospect, I did have to request additional treatments this past spring/summer, because the dandelions in my yard staged a comeback or they resurrected from the dead? (whichever seems more plausible) Maybe it’s true that “you can’t keep a good dandelion down”?

Now, if you remember from previous posts, the dandelions’ unexpected return to my front lawn resulted in me receiving very legal sounding letters from my HOA. This caused concern and the need for additional anti-dandelion treatments this summer. So you can imagine my surprise at having to deal with dandelions in my front yard once again, during the months of October and now November. The dandelions have staged yet another comeback or possibly a successful coup! And they appear to be multiplying!

I don’t see the dandelions initially when they are bright yellow because they are low to the ground and hidden by the grass. But then, as if by magic, my lawn is filled with silver spheres of fluff atop long, slender stems. They are actually kind of beautiful against the backdrop of the still green grass. However, I know what those perfect silver balls of fluff represent – seeds that will turn into more dandelions – hundreds of them. Dandelions are definitely dedicated to God’s command to “be fruitful and multiply!”

So my plan of late has been to pick these stems with the silver fluff spheres full of seeds while the spheres of seeds are still intact. Then I carefully deposit said silver seed spheres into the trash. My reasoning is that if I get them before the wind has a chance to blow the fluff balls apart, thus scattering the seeds everywhere, I can prevent the seeds from falling to the ground, germinating and producing exponentially more dandelions.

Every day I execute this battle plan to perfection. I pick and dispose of all visible dandelion silver fluff balls, taking great care not to set loose into the air any of the seeds. This is ironic because as a child one of my favorite activities was blowing apart the dandelion fluff, so I could watch it float away, carried on the wind. Doing this was strangely magical and satisfying simultaneously, because just like birthday candles, one always makes a wish before attempting to blow all the fluff (aka seeds) off the dandelion stem.

While others were wishing upon stars, I was wishing with dandelion fluff and in so doing, I was aiding and abetting the dandelions in their mission to multiply, cover the earth and subdue it. Little did I know that years later, I would find myself fighting against dandelion multiplication, in an effort not to arouse the ire of my HOA. To this end, I persevere in picking dandelions from my lawn before they have a chance to disperse their seeds.

At present, however, this is not a successful strategy. Every day when I arrive home from work, I notice my front lawn again adorned with multiple stems topped with silver spheres of fuzz, even though just the day before I had removed every single one. Not only this, but their numbers seem to be increasing each day, despite my vigilance and persistence. I am losing the dandelion wars big time.

Why isn’t my battle strategy working? Maybe because, as is inevitable, some of the dandelion fluff is blown away before I get the chance to remove the dandelions from my yard. I can’t keep watch twenty-four/seven, so some seeds will succeed in floating away and taking new territory. Realizing I need to be more proactive, I also pick any yellow dandelions I see, so they don’t even have the chance to turn into seed filled fluff. But somehow, there are still plenty of silver fluff balls that appear as if by magic, even though I thought I had picked off all the yellow dandelions before they could go to seed.

Clearly, I am not getting to the root of the problem. (pun intended) My battle strategy to date has not included digging up the roots of the flowers (or weeds as they are more commonly called). Digging up dandelions by their roots is hard work and takes much more time than simply plucking the tops off of the plants. I would have to get down on my knees. I would have to be willing to get my hands dirty. I would need to put in the time and the effort needed to win this dandelion war. Clearly, I am not that committed.

At this point it occurs to me that getting to know my adversary better, would enable me to form a more effective battle strategy. To this end, I have studied my enemy and in the process, have learned some fun facts about dandelions.

Dandelions have really good roots. This is why they survive and even multiply in less than ideal, even adverse conditions that kill other plants. This explains why the dandelions in my yard thrive even while my grass withers in the summer heat. I think dandelions have better, sturdier, stronger roots. And my research proved me correct. Sonya Query, master gardener, says this about dandelions – “They can grow in almost any condition and can regenerate from a little piece of root left behind when weeding.”

Resilient – that’s what dandelions are. Query also says dandelions have long tap roots which are hard to pull out in their entirety. This is why dandelions are so hard to eliminate permanently. Because of how quickly their seeds can spread and how deep their roots can grow, defeating dandelions is definitely a daunting task. It is precisely their deep root that makes them so hard to get rid of. And each dandelion plant can produce up to 20,000 viable seeds which are dispersed by wind over long distances. Dandelions are definitely a formidable foe! No wonder I am losing the war.

BUT – now that I have studied my enemy, the dandelion, I kind of admire and respect my adversary. Why? Well, besides being beautiful (I love their sunny yellow color and their mystical silver fluff ball beauty) they are also strong, tenacious, resilient and adaptable to multiple circumstances and conditions. Dandelions are survivors. Dandelions are tenacious. Just when you think you have them beat, they stage a comeback. Dandelion’s are overcomers.

I want to be more like the dandelions adorning my yard. Just as their roots run deep, I want my faith roots to run deep, deep enough to survive all of life’s storms and changes in circumstance – just as the dandelions survive their constantly changing weather environment. They not only survive, they thrive and multiply because of their deep roots.

How ironic that after learning more about my adversary, the dandelion, I want to be more like my foe. I want my roots to run deep, so deep that I will be steadfast in adversity – so deep that I will remain faithful and even flourish when I find myself in the hostile environments of governments and of cultures and of historical times. I will be like the trees described in Jeremiah –

“But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

Being deep rooted like the dandelions is necessary for the survival of my faith.

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” (Colossians 2:6-7)

Rooted in Christ, the solid Rock, (now there’s a paradox for roots) – I can withstand life’s storms and furnaces, of which there have been and will be many. Remember, the dandelion will grow back if even a little of its root is left in the soil. So will my faith be preserved through every flood, furnace and tornado of life as long as even a mustard seed remains. And like the dandelions, who Query says “can grow in almost any condition”, my faith can flourish no matter my circumstances. In fact, Paul says –

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11-13)

Having the roots of my faith in Jesus Christ, that’s the key – just as the dandelions’ deep roots are the key to their survival. It’s like Paul told the Ephesians –

“that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17-19)

“being rooted in love” – God’s infinite, lavish, undeserved, undying, compassionate, merciful, eternal love – love, that’s good soil, the kind of soil in which my roots can run deep like the roots of the dandelions that have taken up residence in my yard, the kind of soil in which my faith can grow strong and produce fruit – just like the dandelions! (who are no longer my adversaries but possibly my new role models)

I guess the dandelion wars are over . . .

sincerely, Grace Day

pursuing peace

Posted on by Grace Day

“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, . . . It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows His blessing, even life forevermore.” (Psalm 133:1-3)

Peace seems to be more elusive than ever these days. Peace is highly sought after but hard to find. It is definitely desirable, so much so that I am told in Hebrews –

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14)

and Romans gives me further instructions about how I can pursue the peace that I long to experience –

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath,” (Romans 12:18-19)

Peace – what everyone wants, yet what no one seems to possess. Anxiety is at an all-time high, while peace seems only an elusive dream. Jesus said –

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9)

Jesus also told His disciples –

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Jesus is called the “Prince of Peace” in Isaiah. The peace Jesus brings to me and to you, dear readers, is not what the world offers, if indeed the world offers anything at all that remotely resembles peace? I don’t think so. The world may define peace as simply the absence of conflict, in which case peace would be impossible to find or to experience for any length of time at all. Currently, conflict seems to be the norm in our lives on every level, from interpersonal to international.

How I long for a respite from the chaos of conflict! I’m guessing you do, too? I know I crave peace, if only for a moment, in this continually contentious world. Maybe that’s why I like this promise from God’s word so much –

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!” (Isaiah 26:3)

God’s peace will keep me when I look to Him instead of expecting the culture to give me what it does not possess and so cannot give. And there’s another benefit to the peace God gives – it is a protective peace. In Philippians I am told –

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present my requests to God.”

the result of my doing this?

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

God’s peace is a peace the world cannot understand because His peace does not depend on my circumstances which continually change like the wind blowing first one way, then another. God’s peace is a gift that keeps me – it protects me, just as His word promises it will. It guards both my heart and mind. God’s peace keeps watch over both my emotions and my thoughts. God’s peace brings me rest and calm in the middle of my storms.

It’s like Peter walking across the stormy sea to Jesus. As long as Peter was focused on and looking at Jesus, he had no problem walking on the water. But when Peter turned his gaze from Jesus to his circumstances (the wind whipped water all around him) his emotions (fear) and his thoughts (now anxious and doubting) replaced the peace and hope and courage, he had momentarily experienced during the storm when his attention was solely fixed on Jesus.

Having received God’s gift of peace, I want to practice peace in my daily life. I will actively pursue peace. In fact, this is a command found in Psalms –

“Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” (Psalm 34:14)

To this end, I will keep my mind “stayed upon Him” and “with thanksgiving make my requests to Him” – knowing He has promised it is His peace that will guard me if I do these things. As I “make every effort to live in peace with all men” I will remember –

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1)

I will practice peace by watching my words. If I desire peace, I must actively pursue it and practice it “as far as it depends on me.”

“Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” (2 Thessalonians 3:16)

sincerely, Grace Day

a solitary sentry

Posted on by Grace Day

“Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint from hunger at the head of every street.” (Lamentations 2:19)

When my children were young, these words seemed ever before me as a constant imperative. Actually, as I write this I am convicted and reminded that this kind of prayer is a necessity no matter the age of my children. Have I grown weary in the carrying out of my sentry duties? Now these words come to mind –

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)

I am definitely feeling weary and discouraged, but I don’t want these feelings to cause me to abandon my post, to forsake my sacred calling as a sentry. Like Habakkuk –

“I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what He will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint.” (Habakkuk 2:1)

A sentry is defined as “a guard or watchman whose job is to stand and keep watch to protect a place.” So I am to do two things as a sentry – stand and keep watch. Both of these actions, standing and watching, are more challenging than you might initially think. Both require much perseverance and endurance. In 1 Corinthians I am given these instructions –

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men (women) of courage; be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13)

In Ephesians I am instructed with these words –

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then . . . And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:13 & 18)

Standing and praying, waiting and watching, guarding and protecting – the work of a sentry is the carrying out of a sacred assignment. In Matthew I read this –

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.” (Matthew 24:42-44)

“Stand firm,” “keep watch,” “always keep on praying,” – this is my assignment as a sentry. I am waiting and watching always, ever vigilant at my post. Shepherds were the sentries of their day. They would stand at their posts, watching, guarding, protecting their sheep continuously. If they left their post at any time, a predator, such as a mountain lion, could enter in to steal, kill and destroy the sheep under their care.

Shepherds kept watch during the long nights in order to guard what God had entrusted to them from any enemy attack. They were solitary sentries, alone at their post, although there were other solitary sentries watching over other flocks on other hillsides. But the work of a sentry is done in solitude.

Today I am a solitary sentry – standing firm, watching expectantly, praying fervently – waiting for my Lord’s return. Shepherds, being the sentries of their day, were witness to the announcement of Jesus’s first appearance.

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ ” (Luke 2:8-12)

This monumental announcement came to the sentries, those at their posts, waiting and watching faithfully, through many years of long, cold, dark nights. The reward of these faithful sentries?

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.’ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ ” (Luke 2:13-15)

Did you catch that? “When the angels had left them and gone into heaven”, meaning angels came to them, delivered miraculous, wonderful news to them personally. And not just a few angels either. The text says, “a great company of the heavenly host (aka angels) appeared.” They appeared to the sentries, those who were at their posts – standing, watching, waiting – just as they had done through the watches of many a night before this particular night when the heavens opened, filled with light, angels and music.

A praying sentry watches out for the bad, waits with hope for the promised good, believes that like the shepherds, they will eventually behold the beautiful if they stand firm at their post, praying without ceasing. This is my assignment, perhaps yours, too, dear readers? Actually, we each are needed at our post of prayer and watchfulness. It is a solitary calling, each one of us at our particular post on the wall, crying out to God, standing, watching, waiting. The sentry is the first to spot danger and sound the alarm, the first to receive good news and make it known.

This is an exciting time to be a sentry. We are waiting on Jesus’s return to earth, even though we do not know the day nor the hour. Which should make us all the more vigilant as sentries. My assignment as a sentry is described by Isaiah in this way –

“I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give Him no rest till He establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.” (Isaiah 62:6-7)

I am a weary, lonely sentry in a dark world full of deaf ears BUT the One who keeps watch over me, the One who knows when a sparrow falls, is the perfect sentry over all creation, a sentry who never slumbers nor sleeps. He will enable me to stand firm at my post as I call out to Him day and night –

“Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, let Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10)

Come Lord Jesus, come quickly!

sincerely, Grace Day

grandma knows best

Posted on by Grace Day

This must be why old sayings, no matter how cliche, actually stand the test of time and still ring true today – because, as Solomon said, “there is nothing new under the sun.” So my grandma’s wise words and favorite sayings are relevant for every generation. Being a lover of books, (remember books, all you digital agers?) one of my favorite wisdom sayings is – “you can’t judge a book by its cover.” The meaning of these words may appear self-evident, nevertheless given our human natures, I and perhaps you, too, dear readers, continue to make judgements based on a book’s cover, without ever taking the time to open up the book and actually read what’s inside.

However, this old maxim actually refers to people, not books. Probably because we make the same mistake with people that we do with books, every day. We see people’s “covers”, their outward appearance, and we make judgements about them based on how they look, without ever taking the time to get to know them, which would allow us to learn what the person is like on the inside. Everyone has a story, but I can’t learn that story unless I look beyond the cover and “read” what’s inside. With people, listening is how I “read” what lies beneath the cover of their unique book – their life story.

Some say that in this age of social media, such as Facebook, all we see of other people is their “cover” – a cover that they carefully craft and present to the world via what they choose to put online. There is no way for us to open up the cover online and see what lies beneath. But this is not a new problem brought on by a digital age. How far back does this tendency to “judge a book by its cover” go? Well, consider what happened with Samuel, a prophet of God, who lived more than three-thousand years ago. God called Samuel out for this very thing – the exclusively human habit of “judging a book by its cover.” Here’s what happened –

“The Lord said to Samuel, ” . . . I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king. . . . You are to anoint for Me the one I indicate.’ Samuel did what the Lord said. . . . Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.’ But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’ ” (1 Samuel 16:1-7)

Aren’t you glad that our Creator, our Heavenly Father, doesn’t judge us by our outward appearance, but by our hearts? God doesn’t judge me by how expensive or how fashionable my clothes are, by my hairstyle, hair color, skin color, height, weight etc. Why? Because my heart is more important to God than how I look on the outside. Jesus confirms this truth when He says these words –

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.” (Matthew 23:27-28)

Calling someone a “whitewashed tomb”! That is a pretty big insult, to be sure. Jesus was saying the religious leaders of His day looked good on the outside, because they wore the appropriate robes befitting their position in the culture BUT – Jesus knew their hearts and He called them out in front of everyone, revealing that on the inside they were hypocritical and wicked, conditions of the heart that Jesus equated with the decay of death found inside a tomb. (remember Lazarus had only been dead four days and he already smelled really bad when Jesus called to him to come out of his tomb)

Jesus didn’t have to “judge any books by their covers” because His special x-ray vision sees all of us clearly, completely and accurately, not just our exteriors or covers. This is made clear in Hebrews where I read –

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:13)

I find this revelation both disconcerting and comforting. I can’t hide anything from my Heavenly Father, He sees all of me – the good, the bad and the ugly. (and still He loves me, died for me and extends to me His mercies “new every morning.”) I can’t hide from Him, (Adam and Eve tried to do that unsuccessfully) and all that I am and all I have done is “uncovered” before my Heavenly Father’s eyes. No matter how diligently I attempt to “whitewash” my outward appearance, it will never be enough to deceive my Heavenly Father one bit as to what’s going on inside of me.

So here’s my situation. I can’t hide from God and I find myself without cover before God. BUT – in an ironic twist God is both my hiding place and my cover. King David said this about God –

“You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” (Psalm 32:7)

And remember when God said to Moses –

“Look, stand near Me on this rock. As My glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove My hand and let you see me from behind. But My face will not be seen.” (Exodus 33:21-23)

This account reveals God as both hiding place and covering for Moses, and today, this same God is exactly that for me and for you, too, dear readers. He wants to be our hiding place and our covering amid the dangers and the storms of this life. The psalmist said of God –

“I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’ . . . He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” (Psalm 91:2-4)

It is Jesus’s blood that covers my sins. So even though God is the One before whom everything about me is “uncovered and laid bare” as it says in Hebrews, God is also the One who provides my covering. Kind of like in the garden with Adam and Eve, their sin was not hidden from God. They were exposed and naked, BUT – it was God, Himself who made their new clothes (coverings) before He sent them out of the garden because of the choice they had made.

Wow, have I digressed! But perhaps not so far as it would appear. Being an avid reader, I don’t want to be one to go around judging books by their covers. I have been wrong too many times. I want to look beyond the cover. I want to discover whatever uniquely inspiring story is written on those pages inside the cover. Likewise, I don’t want to make this same mistake with people either. I want to look beyond outward appearances to what is on the inside, the heart of a person. Unfortunately, I don’t possess my Heavenly Father’s perfect x-ray vision. So I have to take the time to listen, not only with my ears, but with my heart, in order to learn the stories of others, allowing me to see beyond their outward appearance. The words that hang next to my front door are a constant reminder of this daily challenge – they are a sacred charge to me, saying –

“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” (Antoine de Saint Exupery)

What is essential to know about a person is not going to be known from the cover, from their outward appearance. Like God said to Samuel, I would do better to look at the heart like God does. Grandma was right all along when she advised me not to judge a book by its cover. Even though I don’t have my Heavenly Father’s supernatural vision, I can take the time to look beyond the cover, beyond outward appearance, and give everyone a chance to be seen, heard and known for who they are, not what they look like. And just maybe there will be those who will do the same for me.

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2)

sincerely, Grace Day