Manna for Today: Psalm 2

Psalm 2:1-12

Key Verses: 2:1, 10

“Why do the nations plot, and why do their people make useless plans? Be smart, all you rulers, and pay close attention. Serve and honor the Lord; be glad and tremble.” CEV 

Right now it seems we live in a maelstrom of ideas, of plans, controversies. It seems everyone is plotting against everyone else. Everyone is taking sides.  We have all come to believe that those on the other are not thinking. They are allowing themselves to be led by people who do not have all of our best interests in mind. They are not listening to reason, or seeing things clearly. While at the same time believing that we alone, and those who see things the way we do, are the ones who have a correct understanding of what is going on and what needs to be done. 

Everyone believes we ourselves have the proper plan for what needs to happen and how it needs to happen. The air is buzzing with the discontent and the vitriol which is being passed back and forth. Each of us thinks we alone, and those who are on “our side” have the best grasp of what is really going on and what needs to be done. But in truth none of us truly do. 

God is the only one who truly sees, and truly understands. In the end the only side it profits to be on is God’s. And before we all pick God up like a rope each one pulling on a different end attempting to claim God is has sided with us. God is not on any side, God does not take sides. We must align ourselves with God, not work to have God aligned with us. We must move away from our plotting and planning and instead move to stand with God. We can never make ourselves right, we can only work to be aligned with the one who is Right.

 

Thing to Think on

How do you see the situations in the world right now?

Do you believe that you have a good understanding of what the right thing to do is?

What do you think about what “the other side” believes?

What do you think about people who believe differently than you?

What is the difference between claiming God agrees with you and what you believe and aligning yourself with God?

Would aligning yourself with God change what you think? Would it change what you do? Would it change what you think about those who disagree with you? Would it change how your treat them?

 

 

A Prayer for Today

Lord, the things that are going on are so big. There are so many people who speak with such confidence, knowing the right things to do, have plans about what they believe needs to be done. Some of these people call themselves Christians and they believe differently than me. They believe what they believe as passionately as I do, sometimes even more so. Help me to behave charitably and with respect to those who see things differently. They very well may also believe they are doing what you would have them do. We both may be wrong. Help me to look to you for answers. I want to be on your side. I want to do what is right, what is righteous. I want do what it is you would do. Help me to follow Christ’s example; love as he loved, and to show mercy as he showed mercy, even to those who disagree with me. - Amen