Living in the Spirit

August 3, 2022

Scripture Reading: Psalm 33:12-22

Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord,
   the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.

The Lord looks down from heaven;
   he sees all humankind.
From where he sits enthroned he watches
   all the inhabitants of the earth—
he who fashions the hearts of them all,
   and observes all their deeds.

A king is not saved by his great army;
   a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
The war horse is a vain hope for victory,
   and by its great might, it cannot save.

Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,
   on those who hope in his steadfast love,
to deliver their soul from death,
   and to keep them alive in famine.

Our soul waits for the Lord;
   he is our help and shield.
Our heart is glad in him,
   because we trust in his holy name.
Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
   even as we hope in you.

All humans were made in the image of God and God saw them all as good. This psalmist wrote From where [God] sits enthroned he watches all the inhabitants of the earth—he who fashions the hearts of them all, and observes all their deeds. We were created with the innate capability of discerning right from wrong. That was a courageous act. If we consider God as being the essence of love, then we also must realize that loving is a choice we make. We never make it alone. God’s love can and will enable our love when we choose to have a relationship with God.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for having the courage to love people who struggle with temptations drawing us away from what is right and just.  Nurture us in your ways of loving to the extent that we can nurture others in your ways. 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.