Living in the Spirit
October 31, 2018
Scripture Reading: Psalm 146
The Lord sets the prisoners free;
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the strangers;
he upholds the orphan and the widow,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. –Psalm 146:7b-9
Psalm 146 was probably written in post-exilic Israel around 515 BC. To the Christian ear it seems to be an accurate description of Jesus except for the last phrase but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin, although he did chase the money lenders out of the temple. If Jesus’ way is the way to wholeness not following it could lead to ruin, I suppose, although I do not think that is Christ’s desire for anyone. This caring side of Jesus sometimes is overlooked as we invest much of our time in worrying about what hymns to sing or if we have enough funds to keep the lights on in the church or whose turn is it to serve coffee after church. Worship is important, Maintenance of a place of worship has its advantage, and hospitality is always important. Ultimately how we love is the crux of following our Lord Jesus Christ who was an ardent student of the Psalms.
Could Psalm 146 be the foundational source for Jesus’ statements in Matthew 25:34-36?
Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”
Everything we do as followers of Christ must be an extension of his love whether in worship or providing sanctuary or providing hospitality or meeting basic needs.
Prayer: Guide us, O Lord, in all aspects of our service to you. Amen.