When I first arrived in Florida this winter, it was chilly in the mornings. Indeed—people who had not lived in Western New York most of their life like I did—might even have called it cold!

Since I like to sit on my patio to watch the sunrise, I sat close to the house. The overhang from the roof helped keep the chill away. My cup of hot coffee helped, too.

Recently, the mornings are warming up. So I sit in a chair further onto the patio.

The view is much better. The sounds of birdsongs are much louder.

I thought how much this is like living in the Way of Jesus.

At the beginning, we may hold back. The times may be “chilly”. Even “cold”. (Matthew 13:20-22; Matthew 24:12).

But eventually, our faith increases. We go further along the Way of Jesus. Further onto our “patio”. (Hebrews 10:36-12:13).

We see better how to live better. (Hebrews 12:1-3).

We hear songs of the Spirit better. (1 Corinthians 14:15).

We see and hear better that, when we come nearer to God, he will come nearer to us. (James 4:8).

And when we can see and hear God better, we will praise God better.

In the words of Psalm 148, we will join with the rest of Creation to:

[P]raise the name of the LORD,

     for his name alone is exalted;

     his splendor is above the earth and the heavens. (Psalm 148:13).

We will join with all the faithful servants of the LORD to praise him because the “coffee” that he brews for our lives and for our world smells and tastes so good! (Psalm 148:14).

And so, by going further onto the patio—by walking further in the Way of Jesus—we will taste and see that the LORD is good! (Psalm 34:8).

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT

In what ways are you hanging back from walking in the Way of Jesus because the times are “chilly”, or “cold”?

In what ways are you going further in the Way of Jesu?

In what ways are you seeing and hearing better as you move further in the Way of Jesus?

In what ways are you tasting and seeing that the LORD is good?

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For related thoughts inspired by sunrises, please read my blogs “Amazing Grace: Birdsongs!”, “Pandemic Wisdom: Leaves and Birds”, “Pandemic Wisdom: Meditating”, “A Foggy Sunrise”, “Mountains and Hills Breaking Into Song”, and ”God Cares for Each Bird That I See Each Morning”.