Living in the Spirit
September 26, 2022
Scripture Reading:
Lamentations 1:1-6, 3:19-26
Judah has gone into exile with suffering
and hard servitude;
she lives now among the nations,
and finds no resting-place;
her pursuers have all overtaken her
in the midst of her distress.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul,
‘therefore I will hope in him.’
The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul that seeks him.
It is good that one should wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord. –Lamentations 1:3, 22-26
I watched Ken Burns latest series on PBS which describes the USA’s interaction with the Holocaust. Most of it was not news to me but seeing it all gathered together was heart-wrenching. It was also frightfully similar to parts of our nation today. Some with their heads buried in the sand, some leaning toward fascism. Others see what is happening but do not think it is theirs to solve, and others want to help but do not know what to do.
Yesterday, I took a day off from the news. I have grown tired of hearing another senseless murder occured in my city overnight, and lamentapoliticians raving about issues that take the focus off the real problems that cry out to be addressed–lack of health care, poorly supported education systems, homelessness, and hunger. I needed to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Lamentations are good for the soul as God strengthens our backbones giving us the courage to rise and be the people God created us to be as we do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God. (See Micah 6:8)
Prayer: Lord, grant us the courage we need to serve you more nearly. 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.