16th. February. 2022. Daily Devotion.
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. ~ 1 Corinthians 2:9
We have used the King James Version of this quote because it is so beautiful; in fact, I want to repeat it: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”
The first two are easy enough. What you will see after you die, in heaven, is more beautiful than anything you have ever seen on earth. What you hear will be more beautiful than anything you have heard. I don’t know about you, but I have seen and heard some beautiful things in my life, and the thought that I am going to get to see and hear things more wonderful — well, that’s worth looking forward to.
The KJV reflects the poetic feel of the Greek in saying, “neither have entered into the heart of man.” We can no more appreciate heaven than a blind man can appreciate a painting. We simply are not equipped. Our minds, our imaginations, cannot grasp the raw power and beauty of God, in His perfect truth and love. Representations of heaven in movies usually are blandly pretty and boring, with harp music that sounds like something a dentist would play to relax you. This has absolutely nothing to do with what we will experience.
Heaven cannot be represented. We have taken God in faith, and we can have full faith in this: It will be so good that it is beyond our experience and beyond our imagination. M Barge.
Lord, let me always have faith in the reward you have promised to the faithful. Amen.
We commend to you, O Lord, our souls and our bodies; our prayers and our hopes; our health and our work; our life and our death; our families and our friends; our neighbours and our fellow men and women, this day and always. Amen. Lancelot Andrewes (1555-1626)
Morning Prayer (George Washington)
O Lord our God, most mighty and merciful father, I, your unworthy creation and servant, once more approach your presence. Though not worthy to appear before you, because of the many sins and transgressions which I have committed against your divine majesty; yet I pray you, for the sake of him in whom you are well pleased, the Lord Jesus Christ, to let me give you thanks and praise for your many and varied mercies extended toward me, for the quiet rest and repose of the past night, for food, clothing, health, peace, liberty, and the hopes of a better life through the merits of your dear son’s bitter passion.
And O kind Father, continue your mercy and favour to me this day, and always; give resolution to all my lawful undertakings; let me have all my directions from your Holy Spirit; and success from your bountiful hand. Let the bright beams of your light so shine into my heart, and enlighten my mind in understanding your blessed word, that I may be enabled to perform your will in all things, and effectively resist all temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Preserve and defend our rulers in church and state. Bless the people of this land, be a father to the fatherless, a comforter to the comfortless, a deliverer to the captives, and a physician to the sick. Let your blessings guide me and all of us, this day and forever, through Jesus Christ, in whose name I pray. Amen
A prayer for peace
Please pray with me for the wisdom of living in peace: Lord God, each day we read and hear of such pain and anguish. We are fearful. Of war, nations rising against nation, of homelessness and hunger, of violence in our streets, of division caused by intolerance and ignorance, of uncontrollable viruses and incurable illness, of earthquakes and volcanoes, of droughts and floods caused by global warming. Quite frankly, Lord, we’ve made a complete mess of everything! Make us wise and wake up to our failings, dear Lord. Make us see sense and learn to live in peace. Amen.