Scriptures for the Week, August 29 – Sept 3, 2011
The Scriptures this week focus on the centrality of family life, being together, sharing the time we have with each other, building a sense of wonder and hope.
MONDAY
“People travel to wonder at the height of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars; and they pass by themselves without ever wondering.” St. Augustine
St. Augustine catches us exactly where we are. We are dazzled by the beauty of nature and the mighty force of rivers (well, not so much in Southern California), and at the power of the waves. But more wonderful than all of nature is the gift of life we all experience. Take some time to notice how unique and wonderful you are, a creation of God, deeply loved. So are we all.
TUESDAY
Scripture: Acts 2:42-43
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
The early church survived because eating together was a critical part of their spiritual life. There is no single thing a family can do to provide every kind of meaning – spiritual, physical, emotional and mental – than to eat together. It is a sacred time. Make sure you make time for each other, to eat and to talk and to pray.
WEDNESDAY
Scripture: Revelation 3:20
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
A deep relationship with Jesus Christ is not something that requires rocket science to figure out. Just listen, and invite him in, and share. The rest will follow.
THURSDAY
Scripture: John 15:13-15
Greater love has no one than this; that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
One Scriptural truth stands out from the very beginning. God made us for relationship. It isn’t incidental or accidental. It must be intentional and even sacrificial. Anything less is too little to matter. Make sure you practice your friendship with God and with your family. And then let your heart grow to include others who need friendship and love.
FRIDAY
Scripture: Psalm 17:7
Show the wonder of your great love,
you who save by your right hand
those who take refuge in you from their foes.
The psalmist is bold in making this appeal for God to show a saving love. Any serious relationship requires such boldness. Our children will make appeals to us all the time that we show them our love. So will our spouses, and our friends. As we appeal to God, so others appeal to us. Let us respond, because we have already known the power of the love of the Lord.
SATURDAY
Scripture: James 1:22-24
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
We have all experienced those situations where people listen, but never hear. It is as if they are on cruise control. The trouble with that is it risks a serious accident. Take time to listen to God, to others, and even to yourself today.
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