11/5/18
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
Where are we going to place our hope? It will be somewhere, no doubt about that. Our Psalm for this week gives us very significant guidance. Verses 3-4 tell us not to trust even noble people. They can’t save you. They die and their plans come to an end.
This thought could well bring us to despair. We are, after all, taught the virtue of self-reliance. We can work hard, show industry and integrity, and make a difference in the world for ourselves and for others. Or we are taught to dream of a better world for future generations, then to make it into reality. We try to write music for the ages rather than for next week. We want to do things that matter. Yet the Psalmist says the plans of even nobility pass away. How much more will ours? We want to save the world, but we need saving ourselves. What will we do?
Verses 5 and following tell us to trust in the Lord. He’s the one who is faithful. He’s the one who endures forever. He gives justice, provides food, releases prisoners, cares for the oppressed, heals the sick. So we look to the Lord for our help. Our ability passes away.
Does that still leave us in despair? After all, what’s the use of us? What’s the use of any of this earthly life? When we consider the ways God helps us, I thnk we can grasp our purpose. God gives justice. How? He often uses earthly law enforcement and legal systems to hand out justice. The lawyer, officer, or judge who looks to God is equipped to administer justie rightly. God feeds the hungry. How does He do that? Through farmers, shippers, markets, food preparation, everything involved in getting from the idea of food to putting it on the table. He uses your employer and your employer’s customers as well, so you can pay for what you need. I don’t think we need to go on down the list. When God cares fr our world, he uses us as His instruments. We will pass away from this earthly work. But our Lord will keep on until heaven and earth pass away. He is faithful and just. We look to Him as the one who supplies all we need by His grace.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
Where are we going to place our hope? It will be somewhere, no doubt about that. Our Psalm for this week gives us very significant guidance. Verses 3-4 tell us not to trust even noble people. They can’t save you. They die and their plans come to an end.
This thought could well bring us to despair. We are, after all, taught the virtue of self-reliance. We can work hard, show industry and integrity, and make a difference in the world for ourselves and for others. Or we are taught to dream of a better world for future generations, then to make it into reality. We try to write music for the ages rather than for next week. We want to do things that matter. Yet the Psalmist says the plans of even nobility pass away. How much more will ours? We want to save the world, but we need saving ourselves. What will we do?
Verses 5 and following tell us to trust in the Lord. He’s the one who is faithful. He’s the one who endures forever. He gives justice, provides food, releases prisoners, cares for the oppressed, heals the sick. So we look to the Lord for our help. Our ability passes away.
Does that still leave us in despair? After all, what’s the use of us? What’s the use of any of this earthly life? When we consider the ways God helps us, I thnk we can grasp our purpose. God gives justice. How? He often uses earthly law enforcement and legal systems to hand out justice. The lawyer, officer, or judge who looks to God is equipped to administer justie rightly. God feeds the hungry. How does He do that? Through farmers, shippers, markets, food preparation, everything involved in getting from the idea of food to putting it on the table. He uses your employer and your employer’s customers as well, so you can pay for what you need. I don’t think we need to go on down the list. When God cares fr our world, he uses us as His instruments. We will pass away from this earthly work. But our Lord will keep on until heaven and earth pass away. He is faithful and just. We look to Him as the one who supplies all we need by His grace.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
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