Posted May 30, 2016 | Judith Ingram
Scripture
Psalm 97:10 (CEB)
Those of you who love the LORD, hate evil! God guards the lives of his faithful ones, delivering them from the power of the wicked.
Consider
How would you define “the wicked”? The psalms and proverbs of the Bible often describe the wicked in contrast to the godly—two extremes of the human condition, one hopeless and without God, the other secure in the knowledge and friendship of God. In a broader sense, “the wicked” could also be any thing that entices us away from God and God’s ways.
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Posted May 23, 2016 | Judith Ingram
Scripture
1 John 3:12-13 (NLT)
We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous. So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.
Consider
One of our biggest obstacles to living a godly life is knowing that our righteous decisions may antagonize others. Righteous actions are not always appreciated, especially by those who are attached to their sin. John says that such people love darkness.
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Posted May 16, 2016 | Judith Ingram
Scripture
Psalm 27:5 (NRSV, revised for the Book of Common Worship)
For on the day of trouble the LORD shall shelter me in safety; the LORD shall hide me in the secrecy of the holy place and set me high on a rock.
Consider
No matter how threatening our troubles or how confusing our situation, we always have a refuge in God. Our “day of trouble” may be conflict with a coworker or betrayal by a friend. It may be unexpected economic hardship, job loss, or moving to an unfamiliar place and starting over. Our day of trouble may have already stretched into months or years.
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Posted May 9, 2016 | Judith Ingram
Scripture
Psalm 22:16 (NIV)
Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet.
Consider
This psalm of David is one of the Messianic psalms that foretell of Christ. Psalm 22 in particular alludes to Jesus’ crucifixion, with verse 16 describing his hands and feet nailed to the cross. Today the cross is a beautiful sign of our faith, but in Jesus’ day it was a gruesome symbol of public humiliation and torture. Prisoners were made to carry their own crosses to the execution site amid the jeers and taunts of a hostile crowd.
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Posted May 2, 2016 | Judith Ingram
Scripture
Psalm 5:7-8 (NLT)
Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house; I will worship at your Temple with deepest awe. Lead me in the right path, O LORD, or my enemies will conquer me. Make your way plain for me to follow.
Consider
It’s an elementary concept: If you want to know what God has in mind for you, ask him! The psalmist gives us a beautiful image of God’s approachability, made possible by God’s unfailing love for us. Who else in your life can offer you love that is reliable, unconditional, and available 24/7?
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