Living in the Spirit

July 25, 2022

Scripture Reading:

Psalm 107:1-9, 43
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
   for his steadfast love endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
   those he redeemed from trouble
and gathered in from the lands,
   from the east and from the west,
   from the north and from the south.

Some wandered in desert wastes,
   finding no way to an inhabited town;
hungry and thirsty,
   their soul fainted within them.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
   and he delivered them from their distress;
he led them by a straight way,
   until they reached an inhabited town.
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
   for his wonderful works to humankind.
For he satisfies the thirsty,
   and the hungry he fills with good things.

Let those who are wise give heed to these things,
   and consider the steadfast love of the Lord.

My mind switched from one picture to another drawn from recent news reports as I read this scripture. I recalled people in Africa living in danger due to famine partially caused by the cut-off of grain exports from Ukraine and fertilizer from Russia. Destroyed buildings throughout Ukraine surrounded the body of a little girl dead in the street. A conference table in Turkey where an agreement was reached to let the grain and fertilizer be exported. More people will survive but the delivery will be too late for some and not enough for many.

Prayer:
For the healing of the nations,
Lord, we pray with one accord;
For a just and equal sharing
of the things that earth affords.
To a life of love in action
help us rise and pledge our word.

Lead us, Spirit, into freedom,
from despair your world release;
That, redeemed from war and hatred,
All may come and go in peace.
Show us how through care and goodness
fear will die and hope increase. Amen.

First two verses of For the healing of the nations by F. Kaan/R. Lloyd see at https://pilgrimwr.unitingchurch.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Social-Services-Sunday-various-songs.pdf

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.