(This reading is based on Psalm 134 and is read in accordance with the Revived by His Word initiative of the General Conference of SDAs)
"Behold, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who by night stand in the house of the Lord!" Psalm 134: 1
The night connotes the idea of not being seen, and may refer to those who work mainly behind the scenes/backstage and don't often, if ever, get into the limelight. Interestingly, we often seem to have a way of requiring a higher standard of living from those in the limelight as opposed to those who are not. From a practical point of view it is true that those in the limelight will have a more traceable impact on the image of the Church than those who work behind the scenes. But if you've ever worked on a stage production you know that what you actually see on stage is the easy part; the real work is backstage. So much depends on who directs, who's in charge of lighting, who writes the script, etc.
"Behold, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who by night stand in the house of the Lord!" Psalm 134: 1
The night connotes the idea of not being seen, and may refer to those who work mainly behind the scenes/backstage and don't often, if ever, get into the limelight. Interestingly, we often seem to have a way of requiring a higher standard of living from those in the limelight as opposed to those who are not. From a practical point of view it is true that those in the limelight will have a more traceable impact on the image of the Church than those who work behind the scenes. But if you've ever worked on a stage production you know that what you actually see on stage is the easy part; the real work is backstage. So much depends on who directs, who's in charge of lighting, who writes the script, etc.
The night could also mean the private time spent in prayerful preparation for the performance or ministry you will later deliver. What you're going to do on stage is what you will do in rehearsal. The secret to the power that Jesus constantly exuded is linked to His practice as recorded in Mark 1: 35, "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed." The power and impact of our Christian witness does not so much depend on that moment spent in the limelight, but in the moments before, when no one is seeing you.
So what's happening in the backstage of your life? Who is your director... your lighting manager... your scriptwriter? Here's a team worth working with:
God as Director - Prov. 3: 6, "In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall DIRECT thy path."
Jesus as Lighting Manager - John 8: 12, "I am the light of the world."
The Holy Spirit as Scriptwriter - 2 Peter 1: 21 "Holy men of God spake (wrote) as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
I guarantee that if you work with this team yours will be an award winning performance; you will hear the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant...." May God so lead us all.
To read and/or listen to Psalm 134 and to read other related blogs, please click here.
No comments:
Post a Comment