meditating on God's law

Good morning friends,
Today's reading is from Psalm 119, the longest Psalm in scripture. The whole Psalm is a mediation on God's law or Torah. We often think about law or commandments as negative, things we have to do. The Psalm reminds us that God's law (also commandments, decrees, ordinances) give life by teaching us the right way to live. This long Psalm is organized in 22 stanzas of 8 lines each. Each stanza begins with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet in sequence. There are different feelings in the Psalm, but the focus throughout is God's guidance through the Torah. May you find sweetness and blessing in this poem and in God's guidance today.

God bless,
Sam

Psalm 119:24-31

²⁴Your decrees are my delight, they are my counselors.

²⁵My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to your word.

²⁶When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes.

²⁷Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.

²⁸My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.

²⁹Put false ways far from me; and graciously teach me your law.

³⁰I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your ordinances before me.

³¹I cling to your decrees, O Lord; let me not be put to shame.

planting the word

Good morning friends,
Today's reading may take a couple times through to get it; don't feel bad about that, but do give it a second try. The idea is that we've been renewed and claimed by God's love in Christ. The seed of our new life is the word of God. That phrase, "word of God" can mean different things. For instance, John's Gospel tells us that Jesus is the Word who existed before the world began. Most often we think of the word of God as scripture, which is also true, because, through the Holy Spirit, God does speak to us in scripture.

In this reading Peter says God's word is the good news (that God loves and redeems us in Jesus Christ). That good news plants the seed of a new relationship with God and a new live of love and service. That seed is planted and watered with scripture and never dies.

God bless,
Sam

1 Peter 1:18-24

¹⁸You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, ¹⁹but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. ²⁰He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. ²¹Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God. ²²Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. ²³You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.

²⁴For “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, ²⁵but the word of the Lord endures forever.” That word is the good news that was announced to you.

inspired word

Good afternoon friends,
This week our theme is the blessing of scripture, which, by the Holy Spirit's power, is God's word to us. Paul reminds his friend and mentee, Timothy that often people aren't interested in living the right way and so people of faith will be persecuted. At the same time, Timothy has a strong, life-long foundation in faith and scripture. He learned this faith from his mother and grandmother, and also from God.

Christians have different beliefs about how to read and interpret scripture, but Paul's words are a landmark for me. He doesn't use confrontational words like "infallible," instead he says something most of us who spend quality time with the Bible can affirm: "All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness." Of course, like running shoes or a treadmill, we won't get much training out of the Bible unless we put it to use.
Blessings on your training today,

Sam

2 Timothy 3:12-17

¹²Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. ¹³But wicked people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived. ¹⁴But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, ¹⁵and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.

training in godliness

Good morning friends,
This week's theme is God speaking to us through scripture. Today, Paul gives Timothy some advice about being a leader in the church. Part of that advice is to focus on reading and teaching scripture, which helps us become more godly.

Blessings on your journey,
Sam

1 Timothy 4:7-16

⁷Have nothing to do with profane myths and old wives’ tales. Train yourself in godliness, ⁸for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. ⁹The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance. ¹⁰For to this end we toil and struggle, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. ¹¹These are the things you must insist on and teach.

¹²Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. ¹³Until I arrive, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhorting, to teaching. ¹⁴Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. ¹⁵Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. ¹⁶Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Learning to pray

Good evening friends,

Today's reading has Jesus teaching his disciples using the Lord's prayer and two examples of persistence and generosity. Sometimes we feel like we don't know enough to pray, but truly we do. With practice and some learning we will grow closer to God. God wants to hear our prayers; it doesn't matter if we have the right words or not.

God bless,
Sam

Luke 11:1-13

He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” ²He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. ³Give us each day our daily bread. ⁴And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.”

⁵And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; ⁶for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ ⁷And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ ⁸I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. 

⁹“So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. ¹⁰For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. ¹¹Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? ¹²Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? ¹³If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

beasts enlightened

Good morning brothers and sisters,
Please pray for our local presbytery as we meet today to consider issues of common concern. Our topic for today is prayer. The psalmist reflects on times of feeling far from God and feeling bitter. In wiser moments, the psalmist knows that God is always with him. God is always with us; even in dark times we are not alone.

God bless,
Sam

Psalm 73:21-28

²¹When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, ²²I was stupid and ignorant; I was like a brute beast toward you. ²³Nevertheless I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. ²⁴You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me with honor.

²⁵Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you. ²⁶My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. ²⁷Indeed, those who are far from you will perish; you put an end to those who are false to you. ²⁸But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, to tell of all your works.

as the deer

Good morning friends,
Today's reading is the basis of one of our songs for worship on Sunday. The writer has a strong relationship with God, but feels like God is far away. She also feels persecuted by enemies, some of whom used to be her friends. She remembers better times when she had the respect of her community, but now she feels alone and like everyone makes fun of her. People even pick on her because of her faith. The beauty of the psalm is its honesty about hardship and the psalmist's trust in God even when times are hard. I pray your day is easier than the psalmists, but that your faith would be strengthened and encouraged by hers.

God bless,
Sam

Psalm 42

¹As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. ²My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God? ³My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me continually, “Where is your God?”

⁴These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I went with the throng, and led them in procession to the house of God, with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival. ⁵Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help ⁶and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.

⁷Deep calls to deep at the thunder of your cataracts; all your waves and your billows have gone over me. ⁸By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. ⁹I say to God, my rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I walk about mournfully because the enemy oppresses me?” ¹⁰As with a deadly wound in my body, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me continually, “Where is your God?”

¹¹Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.