We hope this week's devotional will encourage you in your spiritual walk. You are welcome to share this and include it in your church newsletters if you wish; we just ask that you please give credit to NTC and the author. Thank you!
Scripture: Psalm 19 (NLT)
The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship.
2 Day after day they continue to speak;
night after night they make him known.
3 They speak without a sound or word;
their voice is never heard.
4 Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
and their words to all the world.
God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.
5 It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding.
It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race.
6 The sun rises at one end of the heavens
and follows its course to the other end.
Nothing can hide from its heat.
7 The instructions of the Lord are perfect,
reviving the soul.
The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The commandments of the Lord are right,
bringing joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are clear,
giving insight for living.
9 Reverence for the Lord is pure,
lasting forever.
The laws of the Lord are true;
each one is fair.
10 They are more desirable than gold,
even the finest gold.
They are sweeter than honey,
even honey dripping from the comb.
11 They are a warning to your servant,
a great reward for those who obey them.
12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant from deliberate sins!
Don’t let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt
and innocent of great sin.
14 May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Devotional Thought:
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics recently took place, and the Paralympics are nearly complete. I don’t know about you, but every time the Olympics are on, I find myself glued to the television. It is awe-inspiring to see these athletes perform with a level of excellence unmatched by any other competition. What is it about this competition that draws such skill and accomplishment? I think, having heard interviews with athletes and trainers that the competition itself may be the most exciting bit, but it is by no means the most important.
In our passage for today, the Psalmist uses the metaphors of athletics and gold as he attempts to describe the majesty of God and the wisdom found in His Law. He says the instructions/commands/laws of the Lord are perfect, right, true, and desirable. They bring a great reward for those who obey them. As I read this, I think about the many hours of training and discipline the Olympic and Paralympic athletes engage in months and years in advance of the opportunity to compete for the gold. And great is the reward for those who are disciplined.
Discipline is often viewed as a negative word. It may simply look like hard work, but as we see in this Psalm, discipline also describes a life of wisdom, joy, sweetness, and reward. I think our passage for today is a reminder for us, that a life lived for Him, a disciplined life is even more desirable than gold!
Prayer:
Holy God, as we seek to live by your commands, may we be strengthened by Your Spirit, may we experience Your wisdom and joy, and may we ‘press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.’ Amen.
Rev Dr Joseph Wood
Dean of Students and Lecturer in Theology and History