Luke 11:28 “But He said, more than that, blessed are those, who hear the word of God and keep it!”
Dear God,
You are worthy of all love and praise. You are the foundation and source of all love and hope, upon this earth. Not only are You our Creator, but also the fount of all that is pure and good. Today I have considered the Israelite king Saul, as he continued his sink into sin, to the point of being prepared to murder David and his own son Jonathon. Both who were loyal to him, despite his unpredictable behaviour. Then he sank even further in his apostasy toward You God, by ordering the murder of 85 priests and all their family members, just because he thought they knew the place David was hiding; for whom he was insanely jealous. This is all so amazing for one who had loved You and was chosen by You, some years before, to lead your people as their earthly king.
In my reading in Luke 11, Jesus rebukes the priests, lawyers and teachers for making everything to do with the God of heaven, a burden with their laws and requirements of apparent spirituality, when all along their own hearts were deceitful, unloving and hard!
Lord, please forgive any hard heartedness on my part or the relying on my own actions to save me, unto eternal life. Please be my strength as I determine to give my heart humbly and whole heartedly to You today and each day. King Saul, his appointed reign by never quite doing as he was asked by You, and instead doing things in his own way, and then maintaining he had in fact done as he should have done.
How easy it is for us humans to do the same as he did, and then wonder why we are not close to You, and begin to gradually pull away from that close relationship with You that we need and You desire. Please reveal to me my heart and when I am at risk of not serving You with an obedient, humble, and reliant heart.
Dear God
Thank You for keeping me, family and friends safe over the past day, and that I have risen to greet a new day. In which I seek You again in prayer, and in Your blessed and holy word.
I am also grateful for family and friends who show their love and care by their actions.
Today I have read in Matthew 23: 1-7 that Jesus again, as yesterday, had occasion to rebuke the priests and scribes for their teaching and behaviours. They upheld the Law of Moses to the people and yet did not themselves follow what they taught the people.
Forgive me please if my heart is hypocritical, or lacking in love and care toward others. In Your word I understand, that to know You, is to love You and also all Your other creation, for all are worthy of Your love, so how can I offer less and say I am Your child? Clearly I cannot! Luke 12:19-31, reassures me I have no need to be anxious, for You already know all my needs and will meet them. Instead Jesus says to “seek the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you.”
Thankfully today, I rest in Your love and care, with the hope of the reality of the kingdom of God when Jesus comes again, to take us there.
My heart sings with hope. It is a wonderful future to contemplate.
Praises to You, God, Most Holy.
Amen