Lent 2023 Day 16 “Protect Your Neck”

Daily Scriptures: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2095;%20Exodus%2016:1-8;%20Colossians%201:15-23

^{Psalm 95:3} For the Lord is the great God,
    the great King above all gods.
⁴ In his hand are the depths of the earth,
    and the mountain peaks belong to him.
⁵ The sea is his, for he made it,
    and his hands formed the dry land.

⁶ Come, let us bow down in worship,
    let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
⁷ for he is our God
    and we are the people of his pasture,
    the flock under his care.

Today, if only you would hear his voice,
⁸ “Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah,^[a]
    as you did that day at Massah^[b] in the wilderness,
⁹ where your ancestors tested me;
    they tried me, though they had seen what I did.

Protect Your Neck

For the last few years there has been a new virus on the scene that has challenged and changed many of the ways we move from day to to day. There once was a time only deperados and stick up men wore masks. Now you see masks everywhere, even on the streets as trash. This virus has taken many lives and it may never leave us. A virus is a microscopic organism that replicates in a cell of the body. Scientist recommend we get vaccinated, wash our hands with soap and water, cover our noses and mouths when sneezing or coughing, and avoid touching our face. In other words protect your neck and the necks of others.

In the same way we must protect ourselves from viruses we must also protect ourselves from sin. Sin acts like a virus. Sin enters into our body when we let our guards down. When we grow complacent and skip vital steps of spiritual discipline, sin creeps in like a virus. It is aggressive and replicates itself. In very little time we are ill, focusing on surviving and missing the call to thrive. Psalm 95 gives us a way to protect ourselves from a virus. First, humble ourselves. We do this when we: bow down in worship, and kneel before the Lord our Maker. Putting GOD first allows our life to be in a proper perspective. Secondly, listen to what GOD is saying. Amid the symphony of sound we are bombarded with, GOD is still speaking. Sometimes through the percussion and sometimes through the piccolo. Sometimes through the tuba and other times through the triangle. GOD is speaking and we are called to listen which is a more intentional act than simply hearing. Third, we must remember how GOD has been with us in the past and not harden our hearts.

Let us be prepared this Lenten season to know GOD in creative ways that rituals and routines don’t provide. This is a day the LORD has made, Come let us bow down and worship.

Point to Ponder: How have you hardened your heart to GOD? In what ways has sin crept in and weakened your spiritual immune system? How will you Protect Your Neck?

Lent 2019 Day 3 Scriptures

Here are the scripture readings for today 8 March 2019

Fri Mar 8

am: Psalm 95, 31 pm: Psalm 35

Deut 7:12-16

Titus 2:1-15

John 1:35-42

Psalm 95 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+95&version=NIV

Psalm 31 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+31&version=NIV

Psalm 35 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+35&version=NIV

Deuteronomy 7:12-16 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+7%3A12-16&version=NIV

Titus 2 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=titus+2&version=NIV

John 1:35-42 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+1%3A35-42&version=NIV

Lent Day 3: Hearing and Listening

 

Hearing And Listening

^{PSALM 95: 6} Come, let us bow down in worship,
    let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
⁷ for he is our God
    and we are the people of his pasture,
    the flock under his care. Today, if only you would hear his voice,

Day three of any new commitment can be one of the most challenging. It is on day three that our minds and bodies may begin to rebel against this new discipline. Often times cravings for the old and familiar increase and our will is tested. As I write this devotion I am aware of how many journeys get turned around because a person loses sight of the over all goal. Without making too bold of an assumption I feel comfortable in saying one of the outcomes most believers desire through their Lenten season is to be closer to GOD. There is something about the idea of being closer to GOD through self sacrifice that has ancient roots.

This pattern of becoming empty so that we may be filled is consistent with what the Master Jeshua did during his 40 days in the wilderness. He was empty of food and friends while consecrating himself for service. While in the midst of his sacrifice he was being tempted. I dare say many who read this are being tempted. Some question whats the point? Does this really get me anywhere? All I’m feeling is cranky and hungry, how could this be good. While these voices may be going through our minds, there is also the voice of GOD speaking. The question is what voice are you listening too.

We can be flooded by a symphony of sounds fighting to get our attention. One of our greatest challenges is being still enough in the symphony to surrender to the sound of the voice of GOD. Many will say they have talked to GOD today, but fewer will be able to say what GOD told them. Many times in talking to GOD we do all the talking and asking and little of the listening and following. The text from Psalm 95 says, “Come let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our maker.” The pursuit of a closer walk with GOD is an act of worship. We are figuratively bowing down, acknowledging that we are the flock under the care of GOD. Then in the text comes a line that gives cause for pause. It says, “If only you would hear HIS voice. The sense here is not simply hearing by perceiving sound, but hearing by the choice of concentrating to make meaning out of the words which is listening. Many people are hard of listening not hard of hearing.

GOD desires to be in dialog with us not simply monologue. One of the greatest gifts we can give to GOD and others we claim to love is our undivided attention. Sounds easy but today pay closer attention to how much you hear and how much you listen. Who has your full attention? Is your mind wandering while you nod your head? Are you saying, “I hear ya”, but really trying to figure out how long this conversation is going to last? Instead of feeling guilty just recognize that listening is an intentional act and requires effort. It takes no effort to hear, that just happens, but listening, now that’s work.

On this third day of Lent I encourage you to put in the work of listening to, not just hearing the Word of GOD. The  great symphonies have the Big brass instruments playing at the same time as the little piccolo. You have to listen to hear the piccolo. GOD is flute and flugelhorn. GOD is piccolo and percussion. Today, if only you will hear GOD and listen.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+95&version=NIV

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Titus+2&version=NIV