Bright Morning Star

I guess that I have always been sort of a morning person.  As I have gotten older, I have come to really enjoy the quiet calm of the early morning where I can just sit alone and enjoy the feeling of the nearness of the Lord that seems to be so easily available at that time of day… at least to me!

I’ve mentioned on numerous occasions of how I loved to be the first up and out of the tent, and later on the trailer, when camping with the family in the mountains of northwest and northeastern California.  But even before I tried to quietly unzip the entrance flap on the tent, I also enjoyed experiencing the first light of day as it would slowly filter through the canvas or nylon sides and roof of our various tents.  Many times, I would let the little kid in me have its way and would quietly giggle as I remembered my mother’s disdain of the loud squawking Bluejays that would break the silence of the morning… and her precious last few moments of sleep in the tent!

Nowadays I look forward to and take great pleasure in flowing with the solitude of the morning stillness as I open my Bible first thing and spend time in conversation with God.  Weather permitting, I will open the window in order to enjoy the cool freshness of the day before the sounds of others pursuing the busyness of their day come into play.  Out here in Oklahoma, I have even been known to put on a thick sweater or hoodie so as to see, feel and fully enjoy the ambiance of that special time of day… without my teeth chattering!

I got the feeling this week during my Bible study times, that Jesus also enjoys the quiet stillness of the morning.  One of the very last messages that He left us at the end of the book of Revelation, which was the last discourse of the Lord’s written communication to mankind, was when He declared that,

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give this testimony for the churches. I am the Creator, the Root from which life originates, but also the descendant of David, and the true Light Bearer—The BRIGHT MORNING STAR of truth.”  (Revelation 22:16 – The Remedy Bible)

The word “MORNING” is defined in the Greek as “relating to the dawn” or “brilliant in the early day.”*  One thing that I have noticed in my early morning escapades is that when the sun begins to rise over the horizon… one can’t hardly resist being drawn to its golden glow!  But as if that wasn’t enough, Jesus preceded his self-reference to the “MORNING” with the adjective “BRIGHT!” …and this to me is where things get descriptively exciting!

Some of the words used to define this Greek word are “radiant, limpid (meaning completely clear of anything that darkens**), magnificent, sumptuous, gorgeous and white”* or “resplendent, attractive and impressive through being richly colorful.”***

So… Jesus doesn’t just compare Himself with the morning time of day… but separates Himself from anything else by His vivid descriptions and thereby bluntly records His presence in the annuals of written history, as the greatest, most wonderful, most resplendently beautiful and sumptuous sight and LIGHT that you and I will ever set our eyes upon… PERIOD!

So again, with all that in mind… why wouldn’t any of us want to get up in the early solitude of the morning to spend time… alone… with Him?

I’m pretty sure that most of us have heard the old adage that “The early bird catches the worm.”  Well… similarly, in the context of this post, one could also confirm that the early risers see things… wonderful things… in the quiet freshness of the morning and gain revelations that others won’t or cannot see in the heat and busyness of the day!

I recently started re-reading an old favorite book**** which tells the story of an Episcopalian priest, Father Dennis Bennett, who in the early 1960’s and 70’s came into the charismatic movement, received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues and was forced to resign as Pastor of a big Episcopalian church in Southern California.  After leaving that church, he took on a new assignment at a small missionary Episcopalian church in Washington state and soon became one of the world-wide leaders of the bourgeoning Charismatic Movement.

One of the main observations that stirred a greater hunger for God in his wife’s and his hearts was the young couple from another Episcopalian church in Southern California who had experienced the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the dramatic change in their lives that drew the attention of their Pastor, who then introduced them to Dennis.  Upon their first meeting of the young couple, Father Dennis and his wife both agreed that the couple,

“radiated something that stirred feelings and responses deep inside them and that the young husband and wife seemed to know God – to be so sure of Him.”

I clearly remember Piper and I having almost identical feelings through the years of our faith walk that could… and still do… propel me to want to spend as much time with Him as I can.  And while I do take opportunities to be with Him whenever possible throughout my daily activities… my early morning coffee and study times that I set apart and committed to Him many years ago, is still my favorite, most encouraging and strengthening part of my day… hands down!

When is the last time that you spent time in the quiet calm of the early morning to experience the greatest, most wonderful, most resplendently beautiful and sumptuous sight and LIGHT of the world?  If it hasn’t been for a while… well… it can start tomorrow morning!

Enjoy the rest of your first spring week of 2025… and keep asking yourself… “What am I EXPECTING today?”

 

*Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries

**Oxford Online Dictionaries

*** Thayer’s Greek Definitions

**** “Nine O’Clock in the Morning” by Dennis J. Bennett, © 1970 by Logos International

         --- This book especially spoke to my heart because of the similarity of my liturgical Catholic upbring and Father Bennett’s Episcopalian training ---