The Daily Office for July 6, 2012
Scriptures
Psalm 143
Numbers 24:1-13
Romans 8:12-17
Matthew 22:15-22
Reading (Psalm 143)
Reflection
Some people who really don’t understand Christianity downplay it as “pie in the sky when you die” – in other words, they think it’s just vague, empty promises of sweetness and light in heaven. They assume that the Christian life on earth is tough, hard and grim – a bunch of do’s and don’ts without much joy or excitement.
In Psalms we read that God rewarded David both in the present and in the future. God spoke to Nathan, David’s trusted advisor. Through Nathan, God assured David that he had been chosen to lead His people Israel. He promised He would raise up David’s son after him and make him a great king. And that son would be the one to build the temple. When he heard this message, David was overwhelmed with gratitude. It was almost too good to be true. Yet that’s just the kind of God He is. He wants to lavish on us every blessing in this life including fellowship, joy, peace and much more.
Sure, life can be tough. And yes, there are limits to our behaviours here on earth. But these are limits that God gave us for our own protection. And there’s much more than just the “sweet by and by”. There are the blessings here and now.
Collect for the Day
O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that with you as our ruler and guide we may so pass through things temporal that we lose not our hold on things eternal; grant this, heavenly Father, for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.