Devotion for May 09, 2011 – Holy Ground
Today's Scripture Reading
Exodus 3:1-6
The Burning Bush
3:1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When theLord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
Today's Devotion
“Take off your shoes, for you are standing on holy ground.”
Each day, we have encounters where we are standing on holy ground. We often do not recognize it when we find it. In each new face, each new place, each new culture, we are coming face to face with God, if we only have the wisdom to accept that fact. So often, the unusual and the unknown leave us fearful, defensive, definitely not on our best behavior.
We’re about to embark on a journey to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Hospitality there is a joyous and serous business. We will be treated with great generosity by a people who have very little money and few material possessions; I and those with me will be honored as special guests. We will be protected, cared for, and cherished, not because we are unique, but because they believe every visitor is to be welcomed in this manner.
The hymn says it best:
“Cuando el pobre nada tiene y aun reparte, … va Dios mismo en nuestro mismo caminar.”
(When the poor, who have nothing, share with strangers … God walks our road with us.) Cuando el Pobre, Chalice Hymnal p.662.
Our challenge is to accept the gifts without guilt, to express our gratitude sincerely, and to enjoy graciously. God will truly be walking the road with us.
God of all people,
Help us to mentally “take off our shoes” each time and each place we meet Your children. Open our hearts to remember that we are standing on holy ground all the time, and that we see You in every face we encounter.
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