Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Wisdom and Encouragement

Jim:

1 Kings 3:1-15
Verse 9 struck me today. “Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?” This was the request that Solomon made to God, the wisdom necessary to govern well. I hope (or wish) it is the prayer of all those who govern or who seek to govern. Humility before God and all people and the wisdom necessary to recognize good from evil can make a huge difference in the quality of governance in any nation. Perhaps we should offer this prayer ourselves for those who govern us or who seek elected office, especially at this time when our nation is as divided as it is. May God bless our leaders with the wisdom to know right from wrong, and the humility to govern fairly.

Acts 27:9-26
Paul encouraged the passengers and crew of the ship on which he was sailing as they endured a horrific storm at sea. “So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that is will be exactly as I have been told” (verse 26). This is sort of a counterpoint to story of the stilling of the storm as told in the gospels. In that case Jesus caused the wind and waves to cease while marveling at how little faith the disciples had. In this case, Paul displays faith in God even though the storm continues unabated. In our stormy lives it would do us well to trust God to do exactly what God has promised. (This will be our primary text for worship tonight, and I plan to use it conjunction with one of the gospel texts on the stilling of the storm. We'll see how it goes.)

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