e-vo for week of July 13

Dearest e-votees-

My apologies for this coming out late in the week. What can I say?—time at the beach with my kids and an awesome middle school/high school lock-in from Tuesday to Wednesday did a number on my regular rhythm.

The next few weeks are crazy busy too (but a good busy) with VBS, Film and Faith and a mission trip to Las Vegas. e-vos will come but might be a tad early or a touch late. Your patience during the next fortnight or so is greatly appreciated.

Peace,
Karl

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This week we will take a look at our appointed psalmody for our devotional focus:

11 Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere your name. 12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. 13 For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. 14 O God, the insolent rise up against me; a band of ruffians seeks my life, and they do not set you before them. 15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. 16 Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant; save the child of your serving girl. 17 Show me a sign of your favor, so that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame, because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

Psalm 86:11-17

This psalm is attributed as a prayer of David.

He prays for guidance that he might walk in God’s ways. He prays for an undivided heart. As a king he has probably experienced firsthand those who follow half-heartedly or perhaps with even less allegiance. He wants to be more committed than that. Perhaps he has learned a thing or two about the heartbreak of illicit connections and allegiances through his destruction of Uriah and Uriah’s family as he summoned Bathsheba—leaving Uriah and an unnamed baby dead and surely many hearts deeply scarred in the process. He wants to serve God in a way that doesn’t leave such carnage in his wake.

David has known a thing or two about Sheol. Things that have come his way and things that he has directly invoked have left him in the pits, in the depths of the grave. But God has rescued David. In spite of his transgressions God has remained faithful and loyal. God’s heart is not divided. God brings to completion the good work God began at David’s anointing and even before. God is that way with us too. We wander and we transgress but God rescues us. In spite of our transgressions God remains faithful. God’s heart is not divided. God brings to completion the good work God began at our baptisms and even before. Thanks be to God. God is merciful and gracious. God is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. God is faithful.

Others might rise up against us—others who do not set God before them—they may wish ill for us. We can pray for them. We can live lives in such a way that they see God’s life in us. We can live in such ways that God’s help and God’s comfort and God’s favor might testify to them. How is it we say in baptism again? (quoting Jesus): Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven. (see Matthew 5:16). It seems that David was foreshadowing these words of Jesus.


God, draw our hearts toward you. Help us grow in faithfulness to you as you are so assuredly faithful to us. Help us rest and trust and grow in you. Let others see you deeply at work in our lives—all to your glory. Amen.