Morning Devotional 012126 Act With Love

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

January 21, 2026

Psalm 34:1-14

1 I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise will always be in my mouth. 2 I praise the LORD let the suffering listen and rejoice. 3 Magnify the LORD with me! Together let us lift his name up high! 4 I sought the LORD and he answered me. He delivered me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to God will shine; their faces are never ashamed. 6 This suffering person cried out: the LORD listened and saved him from every trouble. 7 On every side, the LORD’s messenger protects those who honor God; and he delivers them. 8 Taste and see how good the LORD is! The one who takes refuge in him is truly happy! 9 You who are the LORD’s holy ones, honor him, because those who honor him don’t lack a thing. 10 Even strong young lions go without and get hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. 11 Come, children, listen to me. Let me teach you how to honor the LORD: 12 Do you love life; do you relish the chance to enjoy good things? 13 Then you must keep your tongue from evil and keep your lips from speaking lies! 14 Turn away from evil! Do good! Seek peace and go after it!

Good Morning! Bless the Lord, O My Soul

14 Turn away from evil! Do good! Seek peace and go after it!

Choosing to follow Christ requires action. In verse 14, the verbs are turn, do, seek, and go! Too many times, it seems we are more in the sit-and-wait mode. When we see a need, do we act promptly, or do we hold a meeting to decide what to do, how to do it, and whether there is money in the budget to do it?

While conversations are necessary, committee meetings can be the death of many good initiatives. I’m reminded of a poem I discovered a while back. 

Introduction to Poetry

By Billy Collins

I ask them to take a poem

and hold it up to the light

like a color slide

or press an ear against its hive.

I say drop a mouse into a poem

and watch him probe his way out,

or walk inside the poem’s room

and feel the walls for a light switch.

I want them to waterski

across the surface of a poem

waving at the author’s name on the shore.

But all they want to do

is tie the poem to a chair with rope

and torture a confession out of it.

They begin beating it with a hose

to find out what it really means.

It brings us back to the sheep and goats. When we see someone in need, do we act immediately, or do we discuss the pros and cons of our actions? Sometimes we need to consider things from a different perspective. Imagine you are the one who is hungry, without a home or a coat, in prison, or ill. Instead of considering the Good Samaritan, think of the one lying in the road, bleeding and hurting. 

14 Turn away from evil! Do good! Seek peace and go after it!

These words are clear and to the point. Turn, Do, Seek, and Go as Christ would do!

Redeeming Lord, you bless us abundantly! Help us to see the needs of others, so that we may show love and mercy. Thank you. We love you. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.

Thought for the day: Praise and worship God regardless of my circumstances.

Feed God’s sheep! Pastor Liz