Daily Devotion

Collect of the Day
Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Scripture Reading of the Day, Luke 6:39-49
39 He also told them a parable: "Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher. 41 Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? 42 Or how can you say to your neighbor, "Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye. 43 "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks. 46 "Why do you call me "Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I tell you? 47 I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them. 48 That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when a flood arose, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, immediately it fell, and great was the ruin of that house."


Reflection

"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I tell you?"

A recent report on NPR radio focused on the rebuilding of homes in the regions of China devastated by the 2008 earthquakes. Working through a translator, an American woman, well-trained and skilled in the engineering science of building to withstand earthquakes, was giving instruction to people who were rebuilding their homes. The steps she recommended were not the easy way, nor the quick way to get a structure built. Patience was required. Determination to follow instructions was absolutely necessary. Trust that this foreign woman would have their welfare and safety foremost in her intentions would require every ounce of faith these villagers could summons from their difficult lives. Following her instructions, building according to her directions could well lead to their salvation when the next earthquake strikes.

The "earthquakes" of life strike in all manner of ways and circumstances. From small tremors to outright chasms of despair, our hopes for a calm, peaceful life are interrupted by events that have the potential to destroy us. But, thanks be to God, we have a "well-trained and skilled engineer for life" in Jesus, the Christ. Following his instructions for building a Christian life, we are promised salvation from any and all of life's earthquakes. Let us call him "Lord, Lord".....and do what he tells us!

thoughts of a fellow traveler - DMc