Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. [Romans 12:2 (NLT)]
Just finishing its 5th season, the Food Network’s “Outrageous Pumpkins” features remarkable pumpkin artistry. This year’s competition matched up 14 of the nation’s best carvers into teams and challenged them to create over-the-top pumpkin creations. The pumpkin artists created horrific nightmares, constructed grisly crime scenes, and fashioned monstrous mechanical battling beasts. Using everything from melon ballers to huge saws, they they sculpted extraordinary and intricate ghouls, witches, wizards, goblins, werewolves, and monsters. As someone who is severely pumpkin-challenged (and eventually purchased a permanent Jack O-Lantern complete with an electric light), I’m amazed by the skill of these artists.
Watching those carvers transform what are nothing more than large gourds into works of art, I couldn’t help but think of another artist who is in the business of transformation: God. There are both similarities and differences between transforming pumpkins into Halloween décor and transforming people into Christians. In both cases, the finished product bears little resemblance to what it once was. But, while the pumpkins become something frightening and macabre, the Christians become more beautiful!
Both carvers and God start by selecting their subject but, unlike the pumpkin artists, God isn’t looking for perfection. He’ll take any color, size, condition, or age. Scratches, bruises, blemishes, a dried-up stem, and even a little mold or rot won’t keep anyone from His workshop. Just as the carvers cut into the pumpkins and scrape out all of the slimy stuff inside, God opens us up, as well. Rather than scooping out our guts, however, He scrapes away things like fear, anger, despair, doubt, hate, pride, and greed. Instead of an X-Acto knife, vegetable peeler, saw, or drill, God’s tools consist of His word, the church, and both blessings and challenges. Just as those artists’ imaginative pumpkin creations are unique, each one of God’s creations is a one-of-a-kind custom design.
Preferring something sinister and spooky, pumpkin carvers usually give their creations a menacing expression. Although the Christian’s outward appearance may not change, God wants His handiwork to spread faith, hope, and love rather than terror or dread so He gives us a far nicer demeanor. The carvers occasionally make small mistakes and, when that happens, they simply alter their design or use a toothpick to reattach a piece. God, however, never makes a mistake and every one of His creations is perfectly made. Pumpkin carvers transform pumpkins for only a few weeks around Halloween and I’m not sure what they do the rest of the year. On the other hand, God keeps busy transforming people all year long.
Although the carvers leave their pumpkins hollow, God fills His people with the Holy Spirit and His gifts. Wanting their creations to glow from the inside out, both the carver and God insert lights. While the carver uses a candle, light bulb, or flashlight, the Christian’s light comes from the Holy Spirit. Eventually, the pumpkin’s light will cease shining but God’s light lasts a lifetime. Unlike competitive carvers, God has no time limit and He continues tweaking us until our dying day. While the “Outrageous Pumpkins” competitors performed their artistry in hope of winning a $50,000 prize and bragging rights, God transforms His children simply out of His love for us.
Despite the hours and labor that go into their making, those fantastic pumpkin creations are temporary. Even when dipped in a mild bleach mixture, they will turn moldy and soft; eventually, they’ll end up in the trash. Not so with God’s handiwork! Unlike carved pumpkins, Christians tend to improve over time; in fact, they last forever!
A pumpkin has no choice about being chosen, washed, and transformed but we are free to reject God’s hand in transforming our lives. It’s wise to remember, however, that any pumpkins remaining in the patch after harvest will rot and decompose; the same goes for people.
While the year is 2024 on most calendars, it is year 5785 on the Hebrew calendar and the tenth day of Tishri begins at sunset tomorrow. For our Jewish brothers and sisters, it will be the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur. With its themes of atonement and repentance, it the holiest day of the year for a Jew.
“Happy Easter,” said the Pastor as she welcomed us to worship. She was neither a week late nor four weeks early for Greek Orthodox Easter. While it’s no longer Easter Sunday and all the jelly beans, chocolate bunnies, and hard-boiled eggs have been eaten, it is Eastertide (“tide” just being an old-fashioned word for “season” or “time”). The Christian or liturgical calendar designates Eastertide as the fifty days from Easter/Resurrection Sunday to Pentecost (when we celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the church).
During Lent, I journeyed toward Jesus’ death and resurrection with a Lenten devotional. For each of the season’s forty days, there was a Scripture reading from John, a short devotional, an inspiring quote, interesting facts about Lent’s history, and a unique fast for the day. Each day’s reading also provided journaling space for the reader. For the fortieth day’s journal entry, readers were asked to write a brief letter of thanks to Jesus for all He endured to lead them into eternal life.
Most of us probably spent Saturday preparing for Easter. We may have done last minute grocery shopping, prepped for Easter dinner, purchased an Easter lily, decorated eggs, assembled Easter baskets, snacked on jelly beans, or hidden plastic eggs around the yard. The previous day’s service on Good Friday had been a somber one but we knew the following day’s worship would be one of joy and celebration. While we may have sung “Were you There When They Crucified My Lord?” on Friday, we knew that we’d be singing “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” on Sunday.
Today is Maundy (or Holy) Thursday—the day many Christians throughout the world will observe the institution of the Lord’s Supper/Eucharist/Holy Communion by coming to the Lord’s table. Regardless of what you call this sacrament, Jesus’ mention of a “new covenant” probably will be part of your service. Not a word commonly used today, what is a covenant and how does it differ from a contract?
Devotions of the Heart 