For today, One Year Bible Online links here.
Those who work hard at things known to produce something of value (such as a farmer planting crops which do well where he lives) will have more than enough to eat. On the other hand, those who spend their time chasing get rich quick schemes and the latest thing to catch their fancy will do poorly.
This psalm contains a line which reminds me of something I have been struggling with the last few years: Why do we not see more miracles among Christians today (at least in the U.S.)?
We no longer see your miraculous signs.
All the prophets are gone,
and no one can tell us when it will end.
This tells me that I am not the first person to wonder about why God’s people were not seeing His miraculous signs. The rest of the psalm talks about how God’s enemies had struck down His Temple and His people. Yet, I see signs that that may soon happen. Nevertheless, I will join the psalmist in calling upon God to defend His cause and give the poor and needy reason to praise His name.
Luke put the accounts of the three potential followers of Jesus right before the account of His sending out the 72 for a reason. At least part of that reason is to show us the amount of dedication we need to the task to which God has called us. We have the accounts of those who were potential disciples, but were not willing to pay the price.
Then Luke tells the account of Jesus sending out the 72. Here we learn why it is important for those who choose to follow Christ to be fully committed without second thoughts. There is a lot of work to get done and not enough workers. This means that we need to do two things: Ask God for more workers…and buckle down and get to work. There is work to be done reaching those who do not yet know the Lord. Let’s get to work!
At the beginning of chapter 22 we are reminded that our responsibilities are not just passive. Doing the right thing is more, much more, than not doing wrong. We have a responsibility to help those who need assistance. If you have an opportunity to help someone and fail to do so, you are not better than someone who actively harms them. And it is indeed an opportunity with all of the positive connotations that word carries. When God send opportunities our way let us take advantage of those opportunities.