Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
December 31, 2024
Psalm 106:1-5
1 Praise the LORD! Give thanks to the LORD because he is good, because his faithful love endures forever. 2 Who could possibly repeat all of the LORD’s mighty acts or publicly recount all his praise? 3 The people who uphold justice, who always do what is right, are truly happy! 4 Remember me, LORD, with the favor you show your people. Visit me with your saving help 5 so I can experience the good things your chosen ones experience, so I can rejoice in the joy of your nation, so I can praise along with your possession.
Good Morning. Give thanks to God because he is good!
On this final day of 2024, it is time to think and reflect upon our blessings and challenges. A couple of days ago, we read from Ecclesiastes and the seasons of our lives. The Broadway Musical Rent played for twelve years before its closing in 2008. This iconic song considers the passage of time in a year of someone’s life.
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes.
Five hundred twenty-five thousand moments so dear.
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes.
How do you measure? Measure a year?
In daylights? In sunsets? In midnights?
In cups of coffee? In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife?
In five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes.
How do you measure a year in a life?
As expected, if you do the math, it turns out to be a year (525,600/60 minutes/24 hours= 365 days.)
In the review of our year, what is most important or notable? How are you different now than you were on Dec. 31, 2023? If we are moving forward and transforming as God calls us, then we should be a different person. What are our units of measure?
Certainly, if you are meeting with your financial advisor, money and dividends are important. Your doctors examine and record numbers like blood counts, blood pressure, height, and weight. We might also have educational and career goals to evaluate, but are all these numbers the measure of your life for this past year?
This past Sunday, we read of Samuel and Jesus as they grew in wisdom and stature, finding favor with God. So, let’s consider how to measure our year regarding spiritual growth. First, we are called to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and second to love our neighbors as ourselves. Where would we find a rubric to assess our success in living a faithful life? A good starting place is Galatians 5:22-23: 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.
Truthfully, these are tough standards to meet for one day. How can we be expected to do these for 365 days? The Good News is that through Christ, God forgives our failures. We are to go out each day and work to follow the fruit of the Spirit. We will have successes and challenges along the way, but if we continue day after day, we will grow in wisdom and stature as we find favor with God.
Let me stop here. I feel a sermon coming on!
Gracious Lord, We are your children! You set tough standards for us. Help us keep You in our hearts. Thank you! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Thank God for our abundant blessings!
Each day is an opportunity to grow! Pastor Liz
コメント