Koinonia: January 2019 Edition

The LORD’S loving kindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently For the salvation of the LORD. Lamentations 3:22-26

When I watch television, it is usually one of three things: sports, news, or movies. I have not yet fully immersed myself into Netflix and the world of on-demand TV, and so I rely upon the various cable stations that frequently show movies. When I select one to watch, which is often a movie I’ve seen many times before, I always look at the date the movie was first released. And what often follows is how I will marvel over the time that has past. Is that movie really ten years old? Has that much of life really gone by? I feel the same when a former champion or major news story from the past is referenced. So often events seem like just yesterday, yet they are years in the rear view mirror. Yet when I reflect upon my life during that time span, I am equally amazed at all that has happened. Hence the phenomenon that life is full of so much and yet still manages to go by so quickly.

As we enter another new year, I’ve been pondering this phenomenon. I think what it comes down to is that God is in the habit of giving His portion daily, not weekly, monthly, or yearly. Each day we wake God gives us one portion: one cup of energy, one cup of strength, one cup of His presence that must sustain us. Sometimes that portion is quite large, other times it is quite small.

Yet whether God gives us a bucket or shot glass, how we use the portion He allots each day is entirely up to us. We can use it all on one relationship, one crisis, or one event…or we can spread it around. But when it is gone, it is gone. So as we enter 2019, perhaps we should not think of our goals in terms of year-long goals. Instead we should consider how we will best use the portion God gives us day by day.

I don’t know if anyone can really slow down time. But perhaps if we were a little more present in the moment we’d have more opportunity to enjoy and appreciate it. It is popular in today’s world for folks to video record or take pictures of life as it is happening rather than just live it. I think we miss out on blessing of the waterfall, the baby’s first steps, or family time at the party when we are too busy trying to preserve them.

Perhaps living in the moment would also better equip us to handle the tough times, for we could better manage the portion we are given and utilize it where its most needed. We need His strength, His wisdom, His energy, His love, His patience, and His presence day-by-day. So rather than try to somehow reserve and preserve it, we should let us flow from us as He gives. Maybe then our worst times will not seem so bad and our best times not seem so short. The Lord is our portion and His faithfulness is great…and His compassions are new every morning. Let’s make sure we embrace them.

-- Pastor Justin