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Psalm 119:97-104 (Mem)

02 Aug

Mem

97 Oh, how I love your instructions!
    I think about them all day long.
98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
    for they are my constant guide.
99 Yes, I have more insight than my teachers,
    for I am always thinking of your laws.
100 I am even wiser than my elders,
    for I have kept your commandments.
101 I have refused to walk on any evil path,
    so that I may remain obedient to your word.
102 I haven’t turned away from your regulations,
    for you have taught me well.
103 How sweet your words taste to me;
    they are sweeter than honey.
104 Your commandments give me understanding;
    no wonder I hate every false way of life.

Psalm 119:97-104

Dear God, okay, this Mem section was tough for me to read. I was brought back to the Rich Young Ruler from Mark 10 again. Jesus loved him, but he knew there was a dimension missing. When I read this Mem section it just feels like this young man (I call him young because he mentions his elders) is trying so hard to justify himself through his own power and strength. My wife and I have this joke where when one of us gives the other a nice compliment the receiver of the compliment says, “I know, right?!?” For example, “You did such a great job at ______.” Reply, “I know, right?!?” It’s a way of receiving the compliment but also sarcastically deflecting it to some extent. I almost get the feeling that this psalmist would take a compliment like, “You are amazing at how your follow God’s commands,” and say without any sarcasm, “I know, right?!?”

With that said, let me look to see what I see in these verses.

  • 97 Oh, how I love your instructions! I think about them all day long. – I am grateful for your instructions, but there are times when I want to reject them and be selfish and unforgiving. I know my desires will only lead me to places I don’t want to be, but they feel so good in the moment. I suppose it would be a great aspiration for me to love all of your instructions all day long. Maybe I’m just jealous of the psalmist for getting there when I haven’t been able to yet.
  • 98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide. – I will say that there are times when I feel like I have a secret passcode to peace that others don’t have. Is it wisdom? I don’t know that I’d call it that. It feels more like letting go and living in a state of acceptance of what I cannot control. Perhaps an answer to the “Serenity Prayer” from AA: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
  • 99 Yes, I have more insight than my teachers, for I am always thinking of your laws. – I think this is where he lost me. Honestly, I’m surprised the Jewish church added this psalm to the canon based on this verse alone. As for me, there are certainly times I disagree with my teachers, but I am very aware that I could be wrong. I will never know you completely on this side of life, but I can try to get as close as I can. But I’ll still be wrong about some things. I watched a video yesterday by N.T. Wright on whether or not cremation is okay from an eternal standpoint. He had an opinion. Others have another opinion. I have my own opinion, although I don’t stand by it. I don’t know what’s right. And that’s okay. If I can stay in community you can help us all work it out with fear and trembling.
  • 100 I am even wiser than my elders, for I have kept your commandments. – Oh, my goodness. “This one thing you lack…”
  • 101 I have refused to walk on any evil path, so that I may remain obedient to your word. – I’ve walked evil paths. I’ve been tempted by evil paths just this week. So I will modify mine to say I really do my best to not walk on an evil path. I don’t just try not to walk on an evil path, but I do my best to avoid it. But sometimes I stray. I am sorry.
  • 102 I haven’t turned away from your regulations, for you have taught me well. – You do teach me well. I wish I followed you better, although I do think I get a little better each year. Thank you for your patience with me.
  • 103 How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey. – Yes. This. Your words are awesome, and when I do successfully follow you I find myself in a peace that is awesome.
  • 104 Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life. – I completely agree with this verse too. It’s also a reason I want to help others not only call you Lord, but also live a discipling life. I want them to experience this as well. Help me to do that.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on August 2, 2025 in Psalms

 

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Psalm 119:73-80

30 Jul

Yodh

73 You made me; you created me.
    Now give me the sense to follow your commands.
74 May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy,
    for I have put my hope in your word.
75 I know, O Lord, that your regulations are fair;
    you disciplined me because I needed it.
76 Now let your unfailing love comfort me,
    just as you promised me, your servant.
77 Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live,
    for your instructions are my delight.
78 Bring disgrace upon the arrogant people who lied about me;
    meanwhile, I will concentrate on your commandments.
79 Let me be united with all who fear you,
    with those who know your laws.
80 May I be blameless in keeping your decrees;
    then I will never be ashamed.

Psalm 119:73-80

Dear God, I wonder how this psalmists would have defined your “commands.” Is he referring to all of the meticulous laws and being pious, or is he looking at the bigger picture. Would he have been the type to come to Jesus, ask what it is to be saved, and then claimed to have kept all of the commands. Would Jesus ask him to sell all he has, give it to the poor, and then come and follow him? In the story of the Rich Young Ruler in Mark 10:17-27, Jesus loved the man. That is often forgotten. He loved his earnestness. He loved his zeal. He loved his obedience. To obey is better than to sacrifice. So why did Jesus raise the bar on him beyond the law? It makes me think of the part of the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus said the series of, “You have heard it said …, but I say…” This psalmist and passionate about following you and loving you. I appreciate him for that. I would love for that to be said of me. But if it were true, would there still be something more I owe you?

  • 73 You made me; you created me. Now give me the sense to follow your commands. – I owe you everything. You are my creator. I am your created. And I am at the lower end of your creation at that. Even the lowest angel in heaven is far greater than me. I’m just this man on earth who has some amount of reason and thought. Who am I to think I am more than I am? But you are God. Give me the sense to follow your commands.
  • 74 May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy, for I have put my hope in your word. – Accountability isn’t in here, but I can see it in the subtext, for me at least. I want “all who fear you” to be my tribe. My friends. My support. And my accountability. I pray that those I know and respect will know me and hold me accountable, but that starts with me making myself known to them. Help me to be completely known, warts and all.
  • 75 I know, O Lord, that your regulations are fair; you disciplined me because I needed it. – When I first read this verse as part of the passage this morning, I asked myself if I’ve ever considered any event in my life to be discipline from you. I don’t think I have. Should I have? I’ve certainly seen you take challenges in my life, including terrible mistakes I’ve made, and used them as opportunities to teach me. I’ve learned a lot. But I think they natural consequences of my sin are quite enough punishment. I wonder if this is the difference between how the psalmist saw you and how Jesus taught us to see you. The ultimate punishment will be exclusion from your presence in the end, but even that is more a natural consequence of our choices and not what you want to happen.
  • 76 Now let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant. – Yes. I like the idea of claiming your comfort. Again, going back to the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said those who mourn are blessed because they will be comforted. There are times when I really need your comfort. But there are also times when I just simply feel sorry for myself. At those times, I am slowly learning from you to care more about others and the pain they are in than myself.
  • 77 Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live, for your instructions are my delight. – For those before Jesus, they didn’t have this blanket understanding of your grace or the comfort of it. I appreciate your tender mercy and reconciliation through Jesus so that I might live–both on this earth and past it.
  • 78 Bring disgrace upon the arrogant people who lied about me; meanwhile, I will concentrate on your commandments. – It’s always these types of verses in psalms that catch me off guard. If people are enemies of mine, I suppose I don’t care about their outcomes. I only care if they are enemies of yours–especially if they claim to be of you and then act apart from you. If they are doing that, the bring all of the disgrace upon them you can muster so that they might not misrepresent you and your name.
  • 79 Let me be united with all who fear you, with those who know your laws. – This kind of goes back to that accountability I was talking about earlier. About being known by my tribe. Being one with them under you so that we might bring you joy and glory.
  • 80 May I be blameless in keeping your decrees; then I will never be ashamed. – A clear conscience is an amazing thing. I’ve had a guilty conscience. I’ve had a clear conscience. There’s no comparison. Father, help me to live with a clear conscience, repenting to you and accepting your grace when I am wrong, and repenting to others when I need to as well.

I pray all of this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 30, 2025 in Psalm 119, Psalms

 

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Ecclesiastes 6

15 Oct

6 There is another serious tragedy I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily on humanity. 2 God gives some people great wealth and honor and everything they could ever want, but then he doesn’t give them the chance to enjoy these things. They die, and someone else, even a stranger, ends up enjoying their wealth! This is meaningless—a sickening tragedy.

3 A man might have a hundred children and live to be very old. But if he finds no satisfaction in life and doesn’t even get a decent burial, it would have been better for him to be born dead. 4 His birth would have been meaningless, and he would have ended in darkness. He wouldn’t even have had a name, 5 and he would never have seen the sun or known of its existence. Yet he would have had more peace than in growing up to be an unhappy man. 6 He might live a thousand years twice over but still not find contentment. And since he must die like everyone else—well, what’s the use?

7 All people spend their lives scratching for food, but they never seem to have enough. 8 So are wise people really better off than fools? Do poor people gain anything by being wise and knowing how to act in front of others?

9 Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

10 Everything has already been decided. It was known long ago what each person would be. So there’s no use arguing with God about your destiny.

11 The more words you speak, the less they mean. So what good are they?

12 In the few days of our meaningless lives, who knows how our days can be spent? Our lives are like a shadow. Who can tell what will happen on this earth after we are gone?

Ecclesiastes 6

Dear God, “one thing [he] lacks.” That’s what came to mind when I started to pray about this passage. Solomon (or the person writing in his voice) is missing something so key. He’s missing the part about loving others and following you. It reminded me of the rich young ruler in Mark 10:

17 As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. 19 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’”

20 “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”

21 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

22 At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

This guy was trying so hard without giving all of himself. I think the same can be said of Solomon. He wanted so badly to have everything. He didn’t want to sacrifice anything for the good of someone else. Even the idea that he would work to accumulate things and then someone else could inherit and enjoy them appalled him. It’s a very self-centered view of the world. If Solomon had come to Jesus like this young ruler did and asked, “What must I do to be happy?” I think Jesus would have had a similar answer for him. Solomon pursued money, possessions, women, and land. He was a harsh king. His son was even more harsh than he was (1 Kings 12:1-15). Solomon lost his love for you and for others through his pursuit of self.

Of course, now it’s time to turn the lens and focus it on myself. Am I pursuing myself? In the things at work that are causing me stress, am I stressed because I am not sure how to accomplish the things you want me to accomplish, or am I stressed because the things that are a struggle might reflect poorly on me? Am I there for others and do I want things to be good for others, or do I want them to be good so I can have a good, easy time? Of course, there is some of both, but I confess to you right now that a good bit of my ego is in there too.

Father, as things come up today, make my focus all about worshiping you and loving others. When I problem comes up, help me to put you first and foremost. Help me to put your will for others first and foremost. Help me to love as you love. Help me to pray, serve, persuade, and suffer for others. It’s all about you. It’s all about how you will use me to love others. My joy will come through those two things.

I pray all of this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on October 15, 2024 in Ecclesiastes, Mark

 

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Peter & John — Mark 10:17-31

08 Oct
As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.” Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said. “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.”
Mark 10:17-31
Dear God, there is something in our nature that wants to “inherit eternal life.” There are some revealing things in this passage about the disciples’ thinking about things. Perhaps they reveal something about our own thinking.
  • It seems like we are always worried about what is next as opposed to worrying about what’s now. Wouldn’t a better question for this young man to ask have been, “Good teacher, what must I do to be in complete relationship with God now?” Ironically, Jesus’ answer would probably have been the same. I saw a billboard yesterday on the Interstate that said, “When you die you WILL meet God.” Yes, that’s true, and that’s an interesting threat to give someone while they are driving at 75 mph. And maybe that works on some people. I would prefer to think about being at peace with the God of the universe now and then think about meeting you later.
  • The disciples were still in the mindset that everything is easier when you have plenty of money. Now for some things that is definitely true. I am the director of a nonprofit and I always joke that the board meetings are a lot easier when there is plenty of money. But the money only goes so far. My wife and I were talking the other day about a friend who has made plenty of money, but he just uses it to continue to buy toys, vacations, and comfort. The phrase we used (which I learned from a Sesame Street/Cookie Monster sketch when I was little) is that he is looking for “everlasting joy and happiness.” He won’t find it doing what he’s doing. The other thing I’ve learned about giving is that if we don’t do it when we have a little, it is likely that we won’t do it when we have more. It’s an attitude of sacrifice that is learned, and it can be hard for a person who has never done it to give at a significant level when they have more.
    Peter exhibits that insecure five-year-old that is inside all of us. Can’t you just hear a parent being critical of a child for not making their bed or cleaning up after themselves and their little brother comes in and says, “I made my bed this morning! I’m good, right?” That’s Peter here, and that insecure child is in all of us.
Father, help me to simply rest in you. I’m in the middle of an extended vacation and I don’t have much practice at this. I don’t feel like I do it very well. But I know that I want to get out of this time what you have for me. So please make me very present in this moment. Help me to rest. Help me to love my wife. Help me to receive love from her. And help me to not miss the opportunities that you put in front of me.
In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen
 
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Posted by on October 8, 2018 in Mark, Peter and John

 

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Peter & John — Matthew 19:23-20:16

06 Sep

And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Then Peter said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?” And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last; and the last, first. 20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place; 4 and to those he said, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ And so they went. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did the same thing. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he *said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day long?’ 7 They *said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He *said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ 8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard *said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last group to the first.’ 9 When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a denarius. 10 When those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, 12 saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’ 13 But he answered and said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?’ 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last.”

Matthew 19:23-20:16

Dear God, there is a neediness and insecurity in Peter’s question of Jesus. After the “rich young ruler” leaves, Peter wants to make sure that 1.) Jesus is proud of him and 2.) this is all going to be worth it.

And Jesus seems to affirm him. I might have thought Jesus would have gotten on to him, but Jesus has some teaching to do. And this story about the vineyard workers applies to Peter and the disciples in two ways. First, they are the laborers that joined later in the day. Second, one day, they will be the ones welcoming laborers even later in the day. So the good news is that the master hired them and they are working in the vineyard. They have the grace of a full day’s wage for only partial work. The bad news is that it will soon be their job to hire more workers who get the same wage (except for the sitting on thrones and judging the twelve tribes of Israel part) and they will need to be accepting of it.

I got to visit with a friend yesterday about our faith and how we work that out as individuals. While we talked, I hoped to share with her some of the things you’ve taught me over the last 30 years. And she was able to share her life lessons with me as well. My perception is that she is already part of your vineyard staff, but she is still figuring out how you would have her work. What does living out her faith on a daily basis look like? How does she approach her children, parents, husband, etc. when it comes to her faith and relationship with you. I pray that you will help her to find the answers for which I think she is searching.

Father, help me to be at peace and to not have Peter’s need to know that the reward is on its way. I don’t want to simply use this relationship with you for my ultimate reward. I want to be in this relationship because you love me, you gave yourself for me, and you are my source of love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self control.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on September 6, 2018 in Matthew, Peter and John

 

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Emails to God – One thing I lack… (Luke 18:18-23)

17 Aug

18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’”

21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.

22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy.

Dear God, there is a fatigue in self-sufficiency. It can be hard to always do things yourself—to insist on being able to say that you are the one who deserves credit for everything you have accomplished. That’s what this rich young ruler was saying: “I have done it. I have done it all. From honoring the commandments to making money, I have done it within my power and succeeded.”

I am reading a book right now where the “hero” (protagonist is probably a better word because I don’t know that he is that heroic) has accomplished a lot on his own. He started out poor, became a star running back in college, and then a successful lawyer. But the writer is doing a good job of setting up the idea that, even though the man sees his life as safe and impenetrable, it is actually very fragile and only a couple of things have to go wrong for it to all fall apart.

Father, help me to surrender my resources, talent, sinfulness, and everything in between to you. Help me to embrace and absorb you a little more each day. Help me to never cease taking you into my being and surrendering all of me to you. I metaphorically turn my fists downward, open them up and drop everything to which I hold so tight, and then turn my open palms up to you, asking that you will them simply with your presence. And then help me to influence my children to do the same.

 
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Posted by on August 17, 2012 in My Utmost for His Highest Scripture of the Day

 

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Emails to God – Mission IMPOSSIBLE (Matthew 19:16-30)

23 Mar

16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

18 “Which ones?” he inquired.

Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”

20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter thekingdom ofGod.”

25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

27 Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”

28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

Dear God, verse 26 makes me think of a line I read in a book yesterday. It basically said that the God of Judaism and Christianity (you) is the only God who loves sinners. All other false gods that men make up hate sinners, but the true God loves sinners and made a way to connect with us by reaching out to us. When the disciples asked in verse 25, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus basically answered them that no one can be saved by their own merit—you have to do it for them.

I also like how Peter totally missed the meaning of verse 26 and goes back to a performance-based system in verse 27: “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” It’s like a little kid trying to know how impressed you are with him and what he gets as his reward.

I once had a man work for me who was pretty insecure. He was always comparing himself with coworkers and trying to show how he was superior to them in how he did his job. It was hard to watch, but then when I stop and wonder how much of that I do myself I get a little humbled. I love for people to be impressed with me. I love it when I get glory and rewards. I’m better about it and less needy than I used to be, but it is still an issue.

Father, help me to embrace verse 26. Help me to embrace and absorb the idea that “impossible” means “IMPOSSIBLE”. It doesn’t mean “REALLY HARD”. It’s not like the show “Mission Impossible” where it really possible if you are smart enough, brave enough, and fortunate enough to pull it off—it is truly IMPOSSIBLE to be saved by my own ability or actions. It’s too late. That ship has sailed. I cannot save myself. I need YOU to make it POSSIBLE, which of course you already have. I just need to remember it and BELIEVE it.

 
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Posted by on March 23, 2012 in Matthew

 

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