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Posted on 07/01/2019 12:03:00 AM PDT by JustAmy
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Bible in a Year : Psalms 140–142; 1 Corinthians 14:1–20
Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil. Psalm 141:4
Years ago, when I was learning to ski, I followed my son Josh down what appeared to be a gentle slope. With my eyes on him I failed to notice he turned down the steepest hill on the mountain, and I found myself careening down the slope, completely out of control. I cratered, of course.
Psalm 141 shows how we can easily find ourselves slipping down sin’s slope. Prayer is one of the ways we stay alert to those slopes: “Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil” (v. 4) is a plea that echoes the Lord’s Prayer almost exactly: “Lead [me] not into temptation, but deliver [me] from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13). In His goodness, God hears and answers this prayer.
And then I find in this psalm another agent of grace: a faithful friend. “Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it” (Psalm 141:5). Temptations are subtle. We’re not always aware that we’re going wrong. A true friend can be objective. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend” (Proverbs 27:6 nkjv). It’s hard to accept rebuke, but if we see the wounding as a “kindness” it can become an anointing that puts us back on the path of obedience.
May we be open to truth from a trusted friend and rely on God through prayer.
What slippery slopes do you gravitate toward? In what ways can you set a guard over your heart?
Father, please keep my feet from straying. Help me to listen to You and good friends.
It’s Peaches again. He’s the one that poses the most. Ginger sort of stays out of range. LOL!
You need a cat. They are soooo quiet. Except at mealtime. :)
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Thank you.
Bible in a Year : Psalms 143–145; 1 Corinthians 14:21–40
God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Genesis 1:3
The restaurant was lovely but dark. Only one small candle flickered on every table. To create light, diners used their smartphones to read their menus, look to their tablemates, and even to see what they were eating.
Finally, a patron quietly pushed back his chair, walked over to a waiter, and asked a simple question. “Could you turn on the lights?” Before long, a warm ceiling light flashed on and the room erupted with applause. But also with laughter. And happy chatter. And thank-yous. My friend’s husband turned off his phone, picked up his utensils, and spoke for us all. “Let there be light! Now, let’s eat!”
Our gloomy evening turned festive with the flick of a switch. But how much more important to know the real source of true light. God Himself spoke those astonishing words, “Let there be light,” on the first day when He created the universe, “and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). Then “God saw that the light was good” (v. 4).
Light expresses God’s great love for us. His light points us to Jesus, “the light of the world” (John 8:12), who guides us from the gloom of sin. Walking in His light, we find the bright path to a life that glorifies the Son. He is the world’s brightest gift. As He shines, may we walk His way.
In what situation do you need Christ’s light to shine? When has His light guided you?
Loving God, we thank You for Jesus, the Light of the World, and the guiding light of His great love.
Thank you and your welcome.
You really need not thank me daily.
It’s my pleasure and my mission daily
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So cute1
Q. What’s more adorable that a Golden Retriever Puppy?
A. TEN Golden Retriever Pippies!
:-)
Thank you.
Dear TM,
In my worklife, I periodically reviewed my activities and eliminated those which appeared to be unnoticed and unproductive. Never once was I questioned about having eliminated work product Feedback lets you know that your work is appreciated and beneficial to the recipients! Thank you (haha), Sg
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Bible in a Year : Psalms 146–147; 1 Corinthians 15:1–28
If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. 1 Corinthians 15:19
Her name was Saralyn, and I sort of had a crush on her back in our school days. She had the most wonderful laugh. I’m not sure whether she knew about my crush, but I suspect she did. After graduation I lost track of her. Our lives went in different directions as lives often do.
I keep up with my graduating class in some online forums, and I was intensely sad when I heard that Saralyn died. I found myself wondering about the direction her life had taken over the years. This is happening more and more the older I grow, this experience of losing friends and family. But many of us tend to avoid talking about it.
While we still sorrow, the hope the apostle Paul talks about is that death doesn’t have the final say (1 Corinthians 15:54–55). There is something that follows, another word: resurrection. Paul grounds that hope in the reality of the resurrection of Christ (v. 12), and says “if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (v. 14). If our hope as believers is limited to this world only, that’s just a pity (v. 19).
We will one day see those again who have “fallen asleep in Christ” (v. 18)—grandparents and parents, friends and neighbors, or perhaps even old schoolyard crushes.
Death doesn’t get the last word. Resurrection does.
What does Christ’s resurrection mean to you? How might you express your faith and point someone to the hope of the resurrection?
Jesus, may the power of Your resurrection become more and more evident in my life. May it be clear in my words and actions, especially as I interact with those who do not know You.
Thank you.
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Wow!
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