FAITH CONNECTION – FARMERSVILLE UMC
Ministry Updates for Monday, June 15th, 2020
Scripture for reflection – Psalm 119:14-16
I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.
15 I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
16 I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.
Reflection – Letting God’s Word Sink In
Bible study and Christian Education are important as they give us the ‘big picture’. But I suspect the greatest gains to my soul have been from ‘meditating on God’s precepts and considering God’s ways’, as the Psalm says.
An enormous portion of my spiritual growth has come from reflecting on simple short sayings spoken by Jesus. These are things he said which have haunted me, in the best sense of the word:
Love your enemy and pray for them.
Love the Lord your God, with all your heart, mind, body and soul.
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Do not judge others and you will avoid judgement.
Take the log out of your eye before you take the speck out of your neighbor’s.
Do not worry about tomorrow, for today’s troubles are sufficient for today.
And finally, I would add Paul’s,
‘Christ died for us while we were yet sinners. This proves God’s love for us.’
Is there a passage which is difficult for you to get out of your mind? You do not need to let it trouble you. Rather, welcome it as God trying to lead you to a better life.
Prayer
God, we give you thanks for the character which is built by following your rules and which helps us have great relationships. We give you thanks for the joy that comes to us when we hear the Good News of your love. We give you thanks for the community you seek to create by calling us to practice both justice and compassion. God, whatever passage is challenging me today or this week, help me welcome it as your desire to share your love with me. Help me find a moment today to meditate on a favorite passage of scripture, or on one of the above. May it give me hope, or challenge me, or help me see your love more clearly. Amen