Does it really matter?

Our Daily Bread
Have you every listened to a singing group or a band play and thought "That just doesn't sound right"?  You can't put your finger on it, but it just doesn't sound right.  Things in the church can work that way as well.  Whenever there are people involved, there will be some kind of issue!

The devotional talks about a problem in the early Christian church where folks claimed to follow different religious leaders.  That caused a schism in the church and between the leaders.  Paul wrote to them encouraging them to follow Jesus and not the individual leaders.  What a concept!

When a music group or band needs help, they call in an experienced and knowledgeable leader.  That was Paul in the story above.  The leader helps the group fix the problem much like Paul encouraged the church to fix the leader problem!

Lord, help us to always follow you, regardless of who is leading us at church!

Psalm Sunday
The psalm for today is number 35.  It is a typical style for this kind of psalm.  The psalmist is begging God to fight against his enemies.  In his mind, his enemies are God's enemies, so God should take care of them.  He expresses his concern that God isn't listening to his prayers.  I love the way that the psalm ends in a praise.  The psalmist gives praise even though he feels like his prayers are not being heard!


Psalm 35

Of David.
 1 Contend, LORD, with those who contend with me;
   fight against those who fight against me.
2 Take up shield and armor;
   arise and come to my aid.
3 Brandish spear and javelin[a]
   against those who pursue me.
Say to me,
   “I am your salvation.”

 4 May those who seek my life
   be disgraced and put to shame;
may those who plot my ruin
   be turned back in dismay.
5 May they be like chaff before the wind,
   with the angel of the LORD driving them away;
6 may their path be dark and slippery,
   with the angel of the LORD pursuing them.

 7 Since they hid their net for me without cause
   and without cause dug a pit for me,
8 may ruin overtake them by surprise—
   may the net they hid entangle them,
   may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.
9 Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD
   and delight in his salvation.
10 My whole being will exclaim,
   “Who is like you, LORD?
You rescue the poor from those too strong for them,
   the poor and needy from those who rob them.”

 11 Ruthless witnesses come forward;
   they question me on things I know nothing about.
12 They repay me evil for good
   and leave me like one bereaved.
13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth
   and humbled myself with fasting.
When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
 14 I went about mourning
   as though for my friend or brother.
I bowed my head in grief
   as though weeping for my mother.
15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;
   assailants gathered against me without my knowledge.
   They slandered me without ceasing.
16 Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;[b]
   they gnashed their teeth at me.

 17 How long, Lord, will you look on?
   Rescue me from their ravages,
   my precious life from these lions.
18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly;
   among the throngs I will praise you.
19 Do not let those gloat over me
   who are my enemies without cause;
do not let those who hate me without reason
   maliciously wink the eye.
20 They do not speak peaceably,
   but devise false accusations
   against those who live quietly in the land.
21 They sneer at me and say, “Aha! Aha!
   With our own eyes we have seen it.”

 22 LORD, you have seen this; do not be silent.
   Do not be far from me, Lord.
23 Awake, and rise to my defense!
   Contend for me, my God and Lord.
24 Vindicate me in your righteousness, LORD my God;
   do not let them gloat over me.
25 Do not let them think, “Aha, just what we wanted!”
   or say, “We have swallowed him up.”

 26 May all who gloat over my distress
   be put to shame and confusion;
may all who exalt themselves over me
   be clothed with shame and disgrace.
27 May those who delight in my vindication
   shout for joy and gladness;
may they always say, “The LORD be exalted,
   who delights in the well-being of his servant.”

 28 My tongue will proclaim your righteousness,
   your praises all day long.


Other Stuff
I didn't do as much as I planned yesterday, but I still got a lot done.  I am having trouble motivating myself to exercise.  I walked on Friday, but didn't make it to the gym yesterday.  I have two sessions planned this week before my trip to Chicago next weekend.  I will walk or something as well.

I watched the third installment of the "Girl" series yesterday afternoon.  I will review the second and third installments on Monday.  ;-)

I started my reading for the D1 class.  I need to finish the book of Matthew before Wednesday.  I will see how that goes.

Let go, my friends!  God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!