I don't know where to begin. Today's reading from the Old Testament is the 10th plague - known as the angel of death. The Gospel readying from today is about temptation and Jesus' teaching that we should not be the cause of anyone's sins. The texts themselves are not bad. They tell us part of the story - but they do not speak life to me this day. In my devotional practice, I read 3 scriptures, one from the OT, one from the NT and a Psalm. For the last 2 weeks I've read & shared with you, usually both the OT & NT. Today I want to share with the Psalm.
Before I do, I want you to know why the Psalms are important. They are often called prayer book of the OT. So here is the Psalm for today.
Psalm 130
Out of the depths have I called to you, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice : let your ears consider well the voice of my supplication.
If you, Lord, were to note what is done amiss : O Lord, who could stand?
For there is forgiveness with you : therefore you shall be feared.
I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for him : in his word is my hope.
My soul waits for the Lord, more than watchmen for the morning : more than watchmen for the morning.
O Israel, wait for the Lord : for with the Lord there is mercy;
with him there is plenteous redemption : and he shall redeem Israel from all their sins. My soul waits for the Lord : more than watchmen wait for the morning.
What does it mean to you to wait for the Lord? For me, I need to be quiet to hear God. In the busy-ness of working from home, helping kids with school and doing all the other things that need to happen I found that I had not spent much time waiting, resting, listening for God. So this afternoon, I took my computer outside and did a little work but then I just sat and listened. I heard birds, frogs and felt the wind on my face. And do you know what - I felt better. So I invite you to take some time today - to stop, wait and listen to the world around you.
Let us pray: God we love you and we know you love us. Help us be who you want us to be and when we miss, let us feel your grace like the wind on our face. In Jesus name, Amen.