Summer Devotional Series-Rainbows

Ever had a tough Sunday morning? Or like me is EVERY Sunday morning a tough one?  Could you use a little help getting your mind focused on God instead of on finding "church clothes," locating that missing shoe, or taming the kids' hair?  I have just the thing.  Every Sunday morning this summer before your first cup of coffee I will send you a short devotional (just like the one you're about to read).  Each one takes about 5 minutes to read, includes two scriptures and some practical thoughts.  Each one is designed to help you get ready to worship the Lord.  Want to join us?  Subscribe here!

God said, “This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all successive generations; I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. It shall come about, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow will be seen in the cloud, and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” Genesis 9:12-16

When I moved to Wyoming in my mid-thirties, I had seen maybe 3 or 4 rainbows in my life.  Much of my adult life was in Asia and my childhood was spent in Tennessee. Skylines are very restricted in an urban jungle and a true forest.   But in southwest Wyoming you can see a wide sky between the distant mountains. And those wide skies are graced with rainbows.

Since I’ve lived here I’ve seen both ends of a rainbow and been able to mark where it seems to touch the ground.  I’ve seen rainbows doubled in the sky one seemingly on top of another. I’ve seen twice as many rainbows in a single summer as my whole life previous. And I’ve taught my pre-school class again and again that the rainbow is the sign of God’s promise.  

I don’t expect that they understand the eschatological promise: the world’s end won’t be a matter of flood or a lack of patience on God’s part but the coming end is in fire, recreation and resurrection.  That end will accomplish what the flood could not a true and final washing away of sin.

But the preschoolers and I are building a framework not of eschatology (a bit over the heads of 3 year olds) but of worship.  The things we see and touch-flowers, rocks, and rain-the things we do-notice the rainbows, sing praises to God and take communion-are grounded in God.  He made the world we love; He is worthy of the praises we offer; He established the covenants that we celebrate.

Today as you come to worship may all the promises, all the hope, all the faithfulness of the covenants of God be as clear and as vibrant to you as the colors of a rainbow.

While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom

Matthew 26:26-29

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