May 7, 2019 -- Psalm 119:148 -- "Sleepless in Moncton"

My eyes are awake through the night watches,
That I may meditate on Your word.

Psalm 119:148 NKJV

To be honest, it is rare that I am awake at night. My wife can wearily testify I can saw logs (loudly) no matter it seems, what is going on. So it was odd for me to wake up last night, a couple of times, in the depths of the night. I know the reason. Carolyn and I are in Moncton, house-hunting. Today we are going back to one of the homes we saw. There are many things about it we like. So, obviously, my mind was on this, anticipating, sorting out, considering details and well, basically awakened because of excitement. This morning’s devotions this led me on a different path for thought. Here is what I remembered: We, Christians, followers of Jesus Christ, have a home in glory that will outshine the sun! There will be no need of sun or moon because of the glory of the LORD will be our light in that place.

It struck me how easy it is for us to anticipate earthly treasures and pleasures. A vacation. A new place to live. A big birthday celebration. The birth of a child. A major anniversary. Yet this is the promise of Jesus is: And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also (John 14: 3 NKJV). What joy and glory! What splendour and blessing are in store for us!! We ought to have many nights of sleepless anticipation. Our days filled with the glad expectation of being with our King and Saviour. Our idle times of thought be overrun with the knowledge that one day sin will be no more, our hearts and hands will be purified and Jesus will be for us all in all.

Forgive me, Jesus, King of Glory, for the silly and small things that occupy my mind. Forgive me for neglecting the vast wonders of eternity to come. Forgive me for wasting such times of sleeplessness instead of anticipating these watches of the night as times of meditating on You. Spirit of God build my scriptural vocabulary. Spirit of God use the days and the nights to expand my soul’s capacity for wonder and joy so that when the Day comes when Jesus returns my heart will be a vessel prepared to hold the wondrous, glorious joy of knowing God my Father ever more fully into and through-out all eternity. Blessed be Your Name Triune God of Splendour and Majesty! Hallelujah! Amen.