March 13, 2022

 God With Us

I hope your Sunday was filled with gladness!

Psalms73

1A psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

2But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.

3For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. 

5They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills.

6Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.

7From their callous hearts comes iniquity ; their evil imaginations have no limits.

8They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.

9Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.

10Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. 

11They say, “How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?”

12This is what the wicked are like— always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.

13Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence.

14All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments.

15If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children.

16When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply

17till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.

18Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.

19How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!

20They are like a dream when one awakes; when you arise, Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.

21When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,

22I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.

23Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.

24You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.

25Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

26My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

27Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.

 28But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

Luke Cont...

Luke 6: 39- 42

He also told them this parable: "Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher. Why do you look at the speck in your Brothers's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 

How can you say to your brother, Brother let me take the speck out of your eye; when you yourself fail to see the plank in your eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

This passage looks at one brother who has decided he will help another brother. But there is a big issue. It is impossible to do that when there is a plank in the eye. The blind cannot lead the blind. They both will fall into a ditch.  If I find myself focusing on another person, I like to remind myself that focusing others keeps me from looking at me.

I hope you had an awesome Sunday!