Living in the Spirit

November 2, 2022

Scripture Reading: Psalm 98

O sing to the Lord a new song,
   for he has done marvelous things.
His right hand and his holy arm
   have gained him victory.
The Lord has made known his victory;
   he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
   to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
   the victory of our God.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
   break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
   with the lyre and the sound of melody.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
  make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord. –Psalm 98: 1-6

I am more than ready to sing a new song, but it must be the right song. I am tired of hatred and violence and the attitude that if I say it, it is true. I want a new song that spreads the love of God while not using God as one more trick in a political scheme for power.

The new song I want is actually a very old song reaching all the way back to Leviticus 19:18, You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. Jesus added an exclamation mark to this commandment in Mark 12:28–31.

Singing a new song, restoring an ancient one requires intentionality. Humans naturally develop habits making life somewhat simpler. All habits are not good. Over time and with changes in our lives some habits take our time but are no longer meaningful to our lives. We need to develop positive habits making it impossible for us not to love our neighbors.

Prayer: Lord, make us uncomfortable with the bad habits we have picked up in our lives, and crowd those bad habits out with new habits singing a new song.  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.