Scripture: John 7:18 (the Common English Bible)
Those who speak on their own seek glory for themselves. Those who seek the glory of him who sent me are people of truth; there’s no falsehood in them.
Thought for the Day: Someone just asked me when I thought all the bad stuff would stop and we would start seeing some good stuff. I can understand the question — whether it is the earthquake in Nepal or the violence against religious minorities or upheaval in Baltimore or violence in our own backyard. It can feel a bit overwhelming, but what we currently see is really no worse than any other time in history. In fact, sociologists suggest we are living in a less violent time. I think the question needs to be asked, “How much news are we watching?” If it is more than an hour a day, we need to reduce the time we spend consuming news. Historically, news was intended to inform, and out of that information, people could choose to respond in an educated way. That is not the reality for us today. News seeks to push and form our responses, even when the information is not there. I’m not calling out one of the news outlets, but all of them. I write this because too many people have come to see their purpose in life as being outraged by something they saw on the news. A lot of energy is spent on wailing and bemoaning some crisis that is not a crisis – all the time ignoring the real issues that confront our world. Find a purpose that is responding to a real need, not an issue conceived in the shadows of a commercially driven news cycle. And look behind the news to find the amazing people who are standing up for justice, demonstrating great acts of compassion, and bringing healing to individuals and communities. This is the real news, and it is out there…just hard to find.
Prayer: I desire to be a person of truth, and so I seek you and your guidance, O Sovereign of Life. Don’t allow my spirit to be consumed with the nonsense and half-truths that always seek my attention. By your grace I pray! Amen.
TOMORROW’S WORSHIP
