Thursday, July 16

What I love most so far about the daily lectionary is that it is very thematic. The Psalms set the stage for the rest of the scripture reading. For awhile now the readings have been comparing the curses and struggles the wicked have, even in the midst of their wealth and earthly fame, with the blessings and comfort the righteous have in the midst of their rejection by society and attacks from the wicked. These passages have made me hunger for righteousness, or covenant faithfulness. Seeing how God provides and what awaits each person, I have been compelled more and more to pursue faithfulness to Jesus in all aspects of my life. The last thing I want is for Jesus to look at me and accuse me of having a hard heart as he does the Pharisees in the Mark reading. The passage suggests that the only righteousness the wicked have is self-righteousness, the counterfeit of genuine faithfulness and obedience to Jesus. The self-righteous one is too focused on self to think upon God. That is one of my biggest pitfalls right now. Knowledge, if not met by love and obedience, puffs up. I have been accumulating much knowledge lately, but my life has not reflected this knowledge. So I found myself being puffed up and growing in my self-righteousness.

God, may you ever shame my self-righteousness by displaying what your righteousness looks like. I want the benefits of the one who is righteous by your standards and not man's. Thank you for continuing to shape me.