Psalm 7 Leviticus 18-19 Ephesian 3
Psalm 7 is a reminder that God will hold all accountable for
the life we live. Like the Lord’s prayer it invites God to examine our life and
return to us that we have offered to others. It is a call to give back to our
enemies what they have done to us if it was not done in the pursuit of the ways
of God. This song is inviting God to bring down our soul if we have treated
others in any way other than God’s way. A challenge to look at our lives and
the way we have pursued the ways of God with integrity for that is what God
will examine, what is in our hearts and minds.
When we fail to change our ways when we realize we are out
of God’s will and subject to judgment every day this for God to bring his wrath
on ourselves. We recognize that God tramples the wicked when he sees us for
what we really are. We are called to give thanks to the Lord according to God’s
ways and sing praise to him in all things.
Are there parts of our lives that are not in pursuit of the
ways of God but our own? Are we willing to confess them before God, change our
way, and seek forgiveness?
Reading through Leviticus 18 and 19 today I see that God
lays out for Moses and His people appropriate sexual relationships and then rules
for our relationships with one another. I have always found it frustrating that
we want to pick and choose which of these that we call good. We must note that the
reason they are here is that we understand God’s plan for us to live a full and
blessed life. It does not mean that we won’t be tempted to live differently and
as we read on; we will see how many poor decisions have been made throughout
history. For me, the key is that God wants to be not only first but the only
God and that anything that takes away from that relationship is bad for us. We
must not forget that we were created to reflect God to the world, not make God
a reflection of our distorted world.
The image of Paul as a prisoner of Christ Jesus in Ephesians
has fascinated me because he would in no other way likely decided to dedicate
his life to reaching the gentiles, all those that didn’t believe in his version
of who God was. He recognizes that his call is very different but says that
Jesus calls us from where he wants and to go where he wants and to reach out those
that are different than us with grace and offer the chance for a new life based
on faith. No matter how much we think we know and are right in our belief when
God calls us to do something, we are uncomfortable with we need to trust the
fullness of God and the love of Jesus.
Today all the readings are about trusting God to have our
best interest in mind when he gives us the rules of life. Following them will
often bring us into conflict with others, including anger that has even led to
death. Faith is trusting God does what is right for us and that the promise of
the reward of faith is eternity in God’s presence where singing praise will be
a joy.
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