Dressing for the season
This fresh set of Daily Devotions is being provided for our LCA/NZ family, friends and visitors to help us to keep our eyes on Jesus as we face unsettling times. They can be used by families and individuals as part of the LCA/NZ’s Church@Home resources to encourage us and build trust in our Heavenly Father during this season of uncertainty and physical isolation.
by Pastor Reid Matthias
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You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy (Psalm 30:11).
Church clothes.
I remember every Sunday, my parents would wake us early so that we could be scrubbed up and ready for worship. Included in this weekly ritual, was the ‘opportunity’ to wear our ‘church clothes’, which consisted of anything that had a collar, and not blue jeans. To be honest, these church clothes were not my favourite. In David’s terms, they were like sackcloth to me.
But when we returned home, I quickly donned my ‘play clothes’, which were anything without a collar, and blue jeans. These gave me great joy. I knew that I was about to head out into the world to experience the wonder of limitless joy.
I wonder what David’s ‘church clothes’ were like? It sounds like his wardrobe for worship changed all the time, whether sackcloth of lament when it seemed as if Israel was being overridden by their enemies, or a garment of joy during times of festive peace. This psalm, a song used for the dedication of the temple, gives us a great insight into the true dichotomy of his life.
Sometimes we must sit in the ashes in sackcloth. Sometimes we must be patient and wait on God’s timing. During this painfully frustrating process, we recognise that the world still spins and God is in control.
Other times, we are clothed with joy. What are the things that give you joy in this season?
Heavenly Father, give us patience in the time of trials and hopeful expectation, so that we might experience the joy in the morning as it comes. Amen.
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