Sometimes the meaning of a ritual, or a habit is lost. We become so familiar with the actions we stop thinking about it any deeper level than just doing. I will give you an example. Every afternoon when I arrive home from work, I pass the shelf on which my father’s barometer sits. It’s an old aneroid model, two pointers, one giving the pressure, the other one used to show any movement in the reading. Every afternoon I give the barometer a little tap on the glass and adjust the silver needle according to the change, up or down.
Occasionally I forget to do this, but I am pretty reliable. As far as it goes there is no intrinsic importance in my checking the air pressure every day. At least, that’s what I thought until a comparison came to mind that made me stop. With each movement of that silver needle I am following the air pressure’s lead. I am taking for granted that the barometer is giving an accurate reading of the current air pressure.
Isn’t our faith like that?
Through prayer and daily reading of the Bible, God helps us to adjust the silver needle to keep our faith on track. We see that the pressure has gone down, we might get rain, we prepare for that. The pressure rises and we are anticipating fine weather.
What I found sobering was the thought of ritual that has become rote. Certainly my tapping on the glass to adjust the needle is done without thought. When I went back and read some of the passages about acceptable offerings in Leviticus, I found that whatever is offered must come from the heart, in order for any sacrifice to be accepted. (Lev 22)
Tapping on the glass needs to be accompanied by a prayerful state of thanks for fine weather, and for bad weather. Both are a product of God's Will and God's Sovereignty needs to be acknowledged in both.
In Psalm 32:8 we are told that The Lord will instruct us, and that we will be taught in the ways we should go. "I will counsel you," Says the Lord, "with my eye upon you." The Lord has gone ahead of us, He knows which way the needle will move, and He adjusts our paths accordingly, so long as we have faith in Him, so long as we look to Him to guide us, so long as we look to Him we will tread safely.
If the Law of The Lord is in our hearts, then we will not slip in the steps we take. God is always there, adjusting things to His purposes.
Every time I stop and tap the glass I will remind myself of that and I will be thankful.