e-vo for week of January 20

Dearest e-votees-

The appointed psalm for this coming Sunday is Psalm 19. We will use some of this psalm as the focus of our devotion this week.

Have a blessed day.

Peace,

Karl

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The teaching of the Lord is perfect and revives the soul;

the testimony of the Lord is sure and gives wisdom to the simple.


The statutes of the Lord are just and rejoice the heart;

the commandment of the Lord is clear and gives light to the eyes.


The fear of the Lord is clean and endures forever;

the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.


More to be desired are they than gold, more than fine gold,

sweeter far than honey, than honey in the comb.



Psalm 19:7-10 (from Evangelical Lutheran Worship)

People of this world chase after riches—property, possessions and power.

People of this world hunger after rich foods—banquets, feasts and sumptuous desserts.

But God would have us hunger and chase after other things. We are called to seek out God’s instructions and God’s commands and submit ourselves to God’s standards. We are called to be not of this world.

When we seek after instruction from God our souls are revived. There is much in this world that will draw the life out of us. We can be slow to learn and thick in the head. God’s testimony brings wisdom to bear in our lives. There are promises in scripture that if we seek after God we will find God (see Jeremiah 29:11-13). Better news yet is that God seeks after us and God finds us. When God finds us wisdom and new life abound.

When we seek to abide by God’s commands justice comes to pass. When we truly submit our desires to the scrutiny and guidance of God’s laws we find joy. God’s commands are clear and they illumine our path. We need not stumble around in ignorance and misplaced good intentions. God has and will continue to show us the way.

When we maintain proper respect for the power and majesty of God and God’s judgments truth and righteousness abound. When we show proper deference to God a cleansing and purifying fire burns through the chaff in our lives. The good work began in us continues on until forever—not because we are so reverent but because God is faithful even unto sometimes faithless ones such as us.


God, teach us to chase after you more than the riches and rich delicacies of this world. Have your way in us and through us all to your glory. Amen.