From today's reading 11 May 2019

Psalm 30 and 32

Psalm 32:8

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

Daniel 6:25-26

Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: "Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end.

It didn’t work. No one can legislate the worship of God by fiat. Men’s hearts have to be changed. This is the new birth, and it takes time and effort for each of us.

3 John 1:11

Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.

What a simple instruction. There is no need to delve deeply into complex and confusing theological questions. Follow the simple instructions that a child can understand.

Luke 5:27-39

"Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."

Jesus had called Levi (Matthew) who was a tax collector. And then Jesus went to dinner at his house with other tax collectors. This was scandalous! Jesus is still doing scandalous things, calling sinners to repentance. The religious leaders are still making demands, but Jesus is simply calling. Shouldn’t I just do what Jesus is doing and invite people to follow him? I will let Jesus do the sorting.

It’s something to think about.

From today's reading May 10, 2019

Daniel 6:1-15

It is amazing how when we read a story, we are standing back where we can see the whole story, but when it is our story, we are so close that we cannot see. King Darius valued Daniel and recognized his value in the kingdom, but when jealous advisors wanted to eliminate Daniel and plotted to use the king to destroy him, king Darius was blindsided. How often am I blindsided by the urgent? Refer to Daniel 6.

2 John 1:1-13

Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 2 John 1:9

There are a lot of teachings round about concerning many things but this seems to be a very serious and precise word. It is definitely something to consider.

Luke 5:12-26

And when he saw their faith, he said, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."

In todays gospel from Luke 5:24 these words of Jesus jumped out to me. And later in verse 24 he says, “that you may know that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins”. Later in John 20:23 Jesus tells his disciples, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven, if you withhold forgiveness from any it is withheld.”

In the daily prayers when we pray the Lord’s Prayer we say, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” It seems to me that a large portion of our ministry to others may be to be giving forgiveness to those who need it. Just as I need it.

It’s something to think about.