Scripture: Psalm 119:99-103 (the Message)
I’ve even become smarter than my teachers since I’ve pondered and absorbed your counsel. I’ve become wiser than the wise old sages simply by doing what you tell me. I watch my step, avoiding the ditches and ruts of evil so I can spend all my time keeping your Word. I never make detours from the route you laid out; you gave me such good directions. Your words are so choice, so tasty; I prefer them to the best home cooking.
Thought for the Day: I love the hopeful optimism of this passage, specifically the words: “I never make detours from the route you laid out; you gave me such good directions.” The latter part of the verse resinates with truth, yet it doesn’t automatically keep me from making a few detours along the way. The good directions we’ve been given are: To love the Lord our God (the kind of love revealed on the cross) and to love our neighbor (neighbor defined in the Parable of the Good Samaritan). There are a few other areas of gray in which people of faith may debate, but if we can fulfill those two commandments just 75% of the time, then we will dramatically reduce the number of detours we take. And not only will we see a reduction in our own detours, but that kind of love will help guide others away from falling into the ditches and ruts of life.
Prayer: Continue to keep before me your simple message of grace, O Loving Lord, and with this message as my compass, I shall reduce the time spent in the ditches and ruts. Amen.
SATURDAY EVENING CONCERT
SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP
