Focus

Take time to rest in the comfort of the Lord today.

Read

Reflect

In 1971 John Lennon wrote the song “Imagine.” Here are the lyrics of the third verse of the song, “Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can, No need for greed or hunger, A brotherhood of man, Imagine all the people, Sharing all the world…”

While it is a great song, it leaves us simply imagining a world that can never be without the redemption and restoration found in Jesus Christ. The problem with utopian theology that simply asks humans to think better and act better is the denial of the human condition apart from the regeneration of the Holy Spirit.

In the opening chapters of the Bible, we read about God’s loving, creative power in crafting a world where God places the most special of all creations, human beings, in a garden so that true communion would be practiced and love shared. John Lennon’s song is not imaginative if it were describing the Garden of Eden before the fall. God created humans with the freedom to respond in love and obedience to God. Humans were created in righteousness, reflecting all the qualities of God to creation and one another.  But something happened. Humans used their freedom to disobey God. This disobedience led to disruption between God and humans, between humans themselves, and the corruption of creation.

It is only through Jesus Christ that we are restored to a right relationship with God. In John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Pray

Almighty God, we want to desire more of You, but we often settle for earthly things. Enlighten our minds so that we may clearly see what is good, lovely, and praiseworthy. In our study today, turn our hearts’ desire to You. Amen

Go with God.