July 15, 2010

7-15-10 Thursday, 7:27 am Springfield, Illinois, hot and humid.

Audrey and I will take in the Lincoln library as we begin our final day of travelling on this vacation. It has been a very good trip, one of our best as we have connected with many different family members and had wonderful visits and catching up. The last three days at Lake Geneva were “picture perfect” and as we left we expressed hope to return some day.

Romans 2:25-3:8

Paul addresses the question about value in being a jew and practicing circumcision. He states that there is no value in being circumcised if one does not keep the whole law. 2:29 “No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.” This verse has great application also to the historic forms of the Christian faith – Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, Reformed, Congregational, etc. Any and all of these traditions have great value, but only if the participant experiences a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit.

Psalm 11

David affirms his trust in God for protection, and remembers that “the Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth” (verse 4).
Reading this Psalm is a useful recalibration for me of my trust in God, and my understanding that He rules from heaven. Thank You Lord for Your close attention to every person on earth, including me on this day in the middle of July, in the middle of America.