Psalm 25:1-10
The cry of the psalmist is plain. It reaches to the heart of every person “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.” In other words, God what do you want me to do? What direction do you want me to go?...in life, in love, in our jobs,… “Show me your path!!”, are words that I have said often enough in life, when it was not clear to me what God wanted me to do. So we cry out to our God for help, for clarity, for a sense of purpose and for a sense of love. Then we remember that our God, the psalmist’s God, is a loving God. A faithful God. A God who promises to forget the sins of our youth, our transgressions. A God who sacrificed everything, for the sake of humanity. To bring us back into his arms of love.
Holy God, thank you for teaching me to trust in you. For showing me my path and for walking with me. Be with me today as I face the world. Amen
Monday, November 30, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
1 Timothy 2:5-6
1 Timothy 2:5-6
2:5 For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, 2:6 who gave himself a ransom for all--this was attested at the right time.
Ever since I was a teenager I’ve had this mental image of the judgment throne of God, as a courtroom with myself on trial before the Almighty. I envision myself sitting behind the desk of the accused. The one on trial with no one to represent me but myself. I know all that I have done wrong in my life. All of the sins that I have committed. All of the people whom I failed to help. Failed to serve. Failed to notice. I am aware of all of this and of the knowledge that I am doomed. Once God opens up the ledger of my deeds and misdeeds I know that I will be cast into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And I’m scared. And hopeless. And suddenly God does open that ledger of my life and flips through the pages, looks me in the eye and says, “All is well! The pages are blank! Welcome into my presence.” I’m shocked. I’m grateful. I’m overjoyed. I’m aware that someone is there next to me, behind the defendant desk. And it’s Christ Jesus. The mediator.
Lord Jesus, thank you for making things right. Amen
2:5 For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, 2:6 who gave himself a ransom for all--this was attested at the right time.
Ever since I was a teenager I’ve had this mental image of the judgment throne of God, as a courtroom with myself on trial before the Almighty. I envision myself sitting behind the desk of the accused. The one on trial with no one to represent me but myself. I know all that I have done wrong in my life. All of the sins that I have committed. All of the people whom I failed to help. Failed to serve. Failed to notice. I am aware of all of this and of the knowledge that I am doomed. Once God opens up the ledger of my deeds and misdeeds I know that I will be cast into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And I’m scared. And hopeless. And suddenly God does open that ledger of my life and flips through the pages, looks me in the eye and says, “All is well! The pages are blank! Welcome into my presence.” I’m shocked. I’m grateful. I’m overjoyed. I’m aware that someone is there next to me, behind the defendant desk. And it’s Christ Jesus. The mediator.
Lord Jesus, thank you for making things right. Amen
Friday, November 27, 2009
Psalm 25
Psalm 25:1-10
“To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me. Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord! Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.”
The cry of the psalmist is plain. It reaches to the heart of every person “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.” In other words, God what do you want me to do? What direction do you want me to go?...in life, in love, in our jobs,… “Show me your path!!”, are words that I have said often enough in life, when it was not clear to me what God wanted me to do. So we cry out to our God for help, for clarity, for a sense of purpose and for a sense of love. Then we remember that our God, the psalmist’s God, is a loving God. A faithful God. A God who promises to forget the sins of our youth, our transgressions. A God who sacrificed everything, for the sake of humanity. To bring us back into his arms of love.
Holy God, thank you for teaching me to trust in you. For showing me my path and for walking with me. Be with me today as I face the world. Amen
“To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me. Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord! Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.”
The cry of the psalmist is plain. It reaches to the heart of every person “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.” In other words, God what do you want me to do? What direction do you want me to go?...in life, in love, in our jobs,… “Show me your path!!”, are words that I have said often enough in life, when it was not clear to me what God wanted me to do. So we cry out to our God for help, for clarity, for a sense of purpose and for a sense of love. Then we remember that our God, the psalmist’s God, is a loving God. A faithful God. A God who promises to forget the sins of our youth, our transgressions. A God who sacrificed everything, for the sake of humanity. To bring us back into his arms of love.
Holy God, thank you for teaching me to trust in you. For showing me my path and for walking with me. Be with me today as I face the world. Amen
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