The Daily Office for July 8, 2012
Scriptures
Psalm 113
Numbers 27:12-23
Acts 19:11-20
Mark 1:14-20
Reading (Psalm 113)
Reflection
If you’ve ever tried a dating service you know to beware. Many people tend to creatively alter the truth about themselves. So, a man who describes himself as a “health enthusiast who enjoys entertaining in his home” may actually turn out to be a guy who likes sitting around the house all day watching sports. A woman who describes herself as “mature and a lover of animals” may actually be a senior citizen who has 35 cats running around her home.
Of course we’ve all “enhanced” the truth about ourselves at least once or twice in our lives. Whether we’d care to admit it or not, most of us have pretended to be someone we’re not. The Bible has some interesting things to say about pretending. According to God’s accounting method, money does not necessarily make a person rich. If a person has a wealth of material possessions but is lacking spiritually, he or she has nothing. Ask the Lord to help you shift your focus from material wealth to social and spiritual riches.
Collect for the Day
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified: hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people, that in their vocation and ministry they may serve you in holiness and truth to the glory of your name; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.