Living in the Spirit

October 5, 2022

Scripture Reading: Psalm 111
Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
   in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
Great are the works of the Lord,
   studied by all who delight in them.
Full of honor and majesty is his work,
   and his righteousness endures forever.
He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds;
   the Lord is gracious and merciful.
He provides food for those who fear him;
   he is ever mindful of his covenant.
He has shown his people the power of his works,
   in giving them the heritage of the nations.
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
   all his precepts are trustworthy.
They are established forever and ever,
   to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
He sent redemption to his people;
   he has commanded his covenant forever.
   Holy and awesome is his name.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
   all those who practice it have a good understanding.
   His praise endures forever.

While visiting a museum at the University of Texas, I rounded a corner and found myself face to face with an enormous stone that had facial characteristics carved on it. I screamed and then looked around embarrassed to see if anyone heard or noticed me. It was a god from antiquities.  We would call it an idol. Just its size scared me. Thank goodness the museum was empty of other visitors in the area I was observing. I stood and studied it and wondered about the people who carved it and most likely worshipped it. A big solid rock is not something to fear. It would have taken a strong push to tip that rock over. Studying it, I wondered about how we perceive God. Fear can mean being in awe of something and that certainly applies to God. I liked the phrase in the above poem He provides food for those who fear him. I envisioned trying to entice a hurt animal to let me care for it by enticing it with a bit of food. And then I move to the closing lines and read The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Tying those two phrases together we realize that everything that entices us is not good for us, but God is always good for us. Discerning the difference between God’s love and the temptations of the world is indeed the beginning of wisdom.

Prayer: Lord, grant us the wisdom to discern the differences between knowing you more nearly and the enticements of the world that distract us. Amen.

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.