The Sunday Lectionary Readings for SUNDAY, February 10, 2019 - Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

Jesus Calls the First Disciples
Luke 5:1-11

The Sunday Lectionary Readings

SUNDAY, February 10, 2019 - Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

Opening Prayer

As we gather here in the harbor of your safety we thank you for fellowship and family.

We ask that you will strengthen us, restore us and inspire us with your love. Lord, would fill us with your peace so that as we journey onwards we would pour out your love and grace to others. We ask that our souls would catch the wind of your spirit so that we would take your promises to all the earth. Amen.

The Collect (Book of Common Prayers)

Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Confession and Forgiveness

Trusting God's promise of forgiveness, let us confess our sins against God and one another.

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Words of Reassurance

In spite of our individual inadequacies, God has called us together to be Christ’s Body, and each one of us is indispensable. God remembers us, giving each of us distinct gifts, equipping each of us to provide guidance and accountability for one another, that we all may become more faithful followers of Christ. We are all greater as one Body than any single member of us could be on our own.

The Lessons

First Reading
Isaiah 6:1-8 [9-13]

A Vision of God in the Temple
6:1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. 2 Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. 3 And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”

4 The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. 7 The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.” 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!” [9 And he said, “Go and say to this people:

   ‘Keep listening, but do not comprehend;
   keep looking, but do not understand.’
10 Make the mind of this people dull,
     and stop their ears,
     and shut their eyes,
   so that they may not look with their eyes,
     and listen with their ears,
   and comprehend with their minds,
     and turn and be healed.”
11 Then I said, “How long, O Lord?” And he said:
   “Until cities lie waste
     without inhabitant,
   and houses without people,
     and the land is utterly desolate;
12 until the Lord sends everyone far away,
     and vast is the emptiness in the midst of the land.
13 Even if a tenth part remain in it,
     it will be burned again,
   like a terebinth or an oak
     whose stump remains standing
     when it is felled.”
   The holy seed is its stump.]

Psalm 138

Thanksgiving and Praise
Of David.
1  I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
     before the gods I sing your praise;
2  I bow down toward your holy temple
     and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness;
     for you have exalted your name and your word
     above everything.
3  On the day I called, you answered me,
     you increased my strength of soul.

4  All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord,
     for they have heard the words of your mouth.
5  They shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
     for great is the glory of the Lord.
6  For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly;
     but the haughty he perceives from far away.

7  Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
     you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies;
   you stretch out your hand,
     and your right hand delivers me.
8  The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
     your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.
     Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Second Reading
1 Corinthians 15:1-11

The Resurrection of Christ
15:1 Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, 2 through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain.

3 For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, 4 and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them—though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe.

The Gospel
Luke 5:1-11

Jesus Calls the First Disciples
5:1 Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, 2 he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6 When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” 11 When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.

Here ends the Lessons

Click HERE to read today's Holy Gospel Lesson message

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Closing Prayer

Lord, thank you that we are a family in Christ. Help us to share his love and legacy with everyone that we encounter this week. May we lavish Christ’s abounding goodness upon our families, friends and colleagues. Holy Spirit, come and equip us in our workplace, guide us in our school life, and inspire us in our neighborhood. May we be your hands and feet to the needy, your words of affirmation to the oppressed and your arms of comfort to the lonely.

Thank you for choosing to use us to bring your kingdom here on earth. Amen.

Optional parts of the readings are set off in square brackets.

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.

Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.

“A New Direction” The Sermon for SUNDAY, February 10, 2019 - Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

Our Gospel message comes to us today from Luke the 5th chapter, beginning at the 1st verse.

Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him. (Luke 5:1-11, NRSV)

All mighty God, we thank you for your word and the way that you in it revealed to us who you are and what you've done for us in Christ. Now as we open that word we pray that your spirit may be present, that all thoughts of worry or distraction may be removed and that the Spirit will allow us to hear your voice. And so, oh God, fill us with your spirit through the reading and proclamation of your word this day. We pray in Jesus name. Amen

“A New Direction”

I. INTRODUCTION

Where do we go to encounter God? This question has been debated and attempts made to discover the answer for centuries. Some people have followed the example of John the Baptist and traveled the deserts and wildernesses of the world. In the middle ages, it was popular to enter a monastery or convent. When I was growing up, in the sixties, many thought that the path to god was through drugs. Today we have New Agers making pilgrimages to Sedona and its vortices.

Better places to encounter God may be found in worship services, Christian retreat centers, or Bible camps. Certainly it is our prayer that everyone encounters God in our readings and devotions at ichthusfellowshipministry.org. I personally appreciate the ministry of retreat centers and avail myself of them every chance I get. Thousands upon thousands of Christians had encountered God as young people during a week at a Bible camp.

None of these places rank in the top five places in Scripture.

II. THE MUNDANE

The story of Jesus and the calling of the disciples reminds us that most often we encounter God in the mundane activities of life. The disciples were cleaning their nets. Moses encountered God in a burning bush while he was tending sheep. Paul had his encounter with God when he was traveling from Jerusalem to Damascus in order to persecute more Christians. Martin Luther encountered God traveling during a stormy night.

For the residents of a sub-division called El Amor De Cristo in Peoria, AZ, they have seen God as they worked with hundred of others who built them their homes through Habitat for Humanity. Others have caught a glimpse of God while walking for cancer. People have experienced God in the scores of casseroles that were baked for them when a loved one died, the cards and letters they received during a difficult time, or in the words and actions of a co-worker.

A small group that I participate in at times ask the question, “Where have you seen Jesus this past week? It is a question that encourages the proper perspective on life. God is not a distant God. The God whom we worship is here among us. We need to be attentive to that reality and see the world through the eyes of faith.

III. HOLY GOD/SINFUL HUMANKIND

Peter’s response to catching the shoal of fish catches us by surprise. “Wow,” “Cool,” or “Awesome,” might be possible responses that we would make. Peter asks Jesus to leave because Peter is a sinful person. God’s goal in revealing himself and his glory to us is not to impress us, or entertain us. God reveals his glory in order to draw us closer to him.

When we encounter God we are immediately aware of God’s holiness. At the same time, we become aware of our sinfulness. Peter isn’t the only example in Scripture of this truth. When Isaiah was called to be a prophet (Isaiah 6) he responded to see the Lord fill the temple by saying that he was a man of unclean lips. Paul, perhaps the greatest theologian and missionary of the Christian church identified himself as the chief of sinners.

Mature Christians are not those who strut around in their self-righteousness proud that they are such good people who have so few sins to confess during their times of prayer. True mature Christians are a humble crew. As they grow in their relationship with God, they are more and more aware of God’s grace, love, and holiness, and of their sinfulness. These “saints” are constantly aware of their need for Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and they cultivate an attitude of gratitude for God’s gracious, unmerited movement in their lives.

IV. CHANGE OF DIRECTION

There is a third consistent element in God’s revelation, or epiphany, to us. Not only does it usually occur in the mundane, and cause us to be awesomely aware of God’s holiness and painfully aware of our sinfulness, but there is also a change in the direction of our lives.

Peter, Andrew, James and John, didn’t continue in their fishing enterprise and bore their families and fellow fishermen with tales of the great number of fish that they caught—their number and size increasing daily. Rather they left their boats and followed Jesus along a path that they did not know where it would lead. They certainly didn’t think it would end at the cross and an empty tomb.

Moses stopped tending sheep and became a leader of his people. Paul stopped persecuting Christians and became the greatest advocate for Christ. Martin Luther dropped his law studies and became a priest and a leader of the reformation.

When we see Jesus, we might realize that we haven’t been living in a relationship with him, and chose to accept his forgiveness and his offer of a new relationship with God. We might experience God and become aware of other gods—gods of this world—in which we have placed our faith and trust. Encountering Jesus may make us aware of our refusal to take up our cross and follow him, or our decision to love only a select few and to be harsh and judgmental with others.

Encountering God puts our lives in God’s light, and when we see ourselves as God sees us, it is difficult to remain the same. Encountering God is a life-changing experience.

V. CONCLUSION

We cannot control when God reveals himself to us and we see God in all of his glory, but we can be watchful and observant, and open to God’s movement in our lives.

God is with us not only in a Sunday morning worship service, but up also in the world in which we live and work.

Amen

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The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.
Encountering God puts our lives in God’s light, and when we see ourselves as God sees us, it is difficult to remain the same. Encountering God is a life-changing experience.

The Morning Prayer for SUNDAY, February 10, 2019

Sunday morning prayer

Lord on this special day, I run into Your loving arms. May Sunday be a celebration, filled with thankfulness, where I connect with the presence of Heaven, seek Your beauty and goodness, and cherish special family time together. Come fill my heart afresh with Your love. May it overflow with Heaven's bounty, moving through this rest day and into the week ahead.

Lord on this special day,

I run into Your arms.

Spend cherished time with family,

And find shelter in Your palm.

May Sunday be a celebration,

Full up to the brim,

With Heaven's promise ringing loud,

And Your love flowing in.

Amen.

Verse of the Day for SUNDAY, February 10, 2019

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NIV) If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 13

Listen to 1 Corinthians 13

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Un dia a la Vez - Recuerda quién te lleva de la mano

Recuerda quién te lleva de la mano

Aunque mi padre y mi madre me abandonen, el Señor me recibirá en sus brazos.

~ Salmo 27:10 (NVI)

Nadie nace con un manual ni con una cartilla que nos enseñe cómo ser mejores padres. Se trata de un compromiso que nos llega sin muchas veces haberlo buscado. El día menos esperado las cosas cambian y nos enfrentamos a esa realidad: «Voy a ser padre» o «Voy a ser madre». Incluso, en ocasiones puedes quedar en estado de choque un par de días. Entonces, después de hacer las pruebas, las cuentas y demás análisis, te cae el veinte y llegas a tu verdad, vas a ser padre.

¿Y qué me dices de los que tienen sus hijos sin contar con el respaldo de la pareja y les toca seguir adelante solos con esta enorme responsabilidad? Pues para todos va esta reflexión.

Tuve la oportunidad de vivir esta última situación con un embarazo no planeado. Sumado a eso, una pareja que prefirió abandonarme antes que asumir su papel de padre. No les niego que viví momentos de angustia, de soledad y de tristeza por no haberme guardado. Viví momentos de dolor por haberle fallado a mi Dios, a mis princesas y a mi familia.

Sin embargo, llegó el momento en que me tocó guardar mi dolor, levantar mi cabeza, pedir perdón a quienes afecté con esta situación y vivir ese último embarazo como si fuera el primero. Hoy en día mi princesa Anacristina tiene cinco años y es mi vida. Ha llenado de felicidad mi vida y la de mi familia.
Dios perdona nuestras faltas y nos da nueva oportunidades.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Nadie nace con un manual ni con una cartilla que nos enseñe cómo ser mejores padres. Se trata de un compromiso que nos llega sin muchas veces haberlo buscado.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - BOLD WITNESS NOT IN VAIN

BOLD WITNESS NOT IN VAIN

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

~ 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)

Lung Singh was a spirit worshiper and opium addict for forty-five years in the little Southeast Asian country of Laos. When he turned to Christ, he became a powerhouse for the Lord. Dr. Jan Pit shares about the day he baptized Lung Singh:

“I’ll never forget how, after coming up out of the waters, he began singing, ‘I have decided to follow Jesus,’ Then he pointed to the ripples spreading out in the water and said, ‘Brother Jan, there goes my old life. All the old things have passed away. It’s gone. Everything now is new.’

“Still soaking wet, he clambered onto the bank on the side of the famous Mekong River and knelt down. ‘Devil,’ he shouted. ‘I’ve been your servant for 45 years. Now I belong to Christ. Now I only serve him.’

“I’ve never met a man so on fire for the Lord. After I left the country in 1973, Lung Singh continued his courageous ministry. He was constantly warned by the Pathet Lao Communists to stop his preaching, but he refused.

“’I cannot do that. Jesus saved me. He did everything for me. I can’t be quiet!’”

Years later he was executed but not before impacting for good the kingdom of heaven.

Sister Wu is a leader in a house church in China. One day her home was suddenly raided by the police. She had Christian literature from abroad and it was confiscated. Sister Wu was arrested and taken to the police station. The police were cruel and abusive towards her. She was questioned overnight not only by the police but also by the head of the Religious Affairs Bureau (RAB) of the city. She bravely responded to their questions.

Just a few days after her release, the chief of the RAB’s brother was severely injured in an automobile accident and taken to the hospital. By the time Sister Wu knew about it, she went to visit this RAB chief’s brother and mother. She led them to the Lord while they were in the hospital.

Later, on another occasion, Sister Wu was holding a Christian training class in a small room of a restaurant. One of the employees decided to report the meeting to the PSB hoping to make some money because it was an illegal meeting. The matter was reported all the way to the top of the RAB, but the chief of the RAB, upon discovering that it was Sister Wu conducting the meeting, said “Oh, don’t bother her. She’s OK.” Sister Wu’s boldness was rewarded.

RESPONSE: Today I will live in the strength of Christ and fearlessly refuse to give in to my enemy, Satan’s attempts to shut down my verbal and outgoing witness.

PRAYER: Pray for boldness for all believers to share the gospel openly.

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.

LHM Daily Devotions - Holy, Holy, Holy

"Holy, Holy, Holy"

Feb. 10, 2019

"Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God Almighty, Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee. Holy, holy, holy, Merciful and mighty, God in three Persons blessed Trinity.

"Holy, holy, holy, Though the darkness hide Thee, Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see. Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee, Perfect in power, in love, and purity."

If you're looking for a song to get you into a spirit of praise and devotion, this is the number. This song has been covered by everyone from Bing Crosby to Ronnie Milsap, and for good reason. The catchy melody by John Dykes and memorable words by Reginald Heber do what great worship songs do: they lift us to a place where our hearts, though weighed down by the world, can break free—rejoicing in the truth of God's complete dominion over the universe and His selfless love toward mankind.

If only we could remember and take it to heart that the Christian life is one of complete triumph! Life can be perilous; there is no doubt about that. And while we may experience some blows in life, they will eventually pass. Though a cloud may hang over our lives, there is victory. There is the knowledge that whatever we face, we do not face it alone. Jesus is there, and like the psalmist of old, we, too, can declare to God the Father: "You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing Your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever!" (Psalm 30:11-12).

Holy, holy, holy! Before the sovereign God of the universe, there is nothing we can do but praise and worship our Creator and Redeemer. Whatever else takes place in heaven, we can be sure the atmosphere there reverberates with love and adoration for Him. The Scriptures tell us so: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!" proclaimed one six-winged seraphim to another in chorus above the throne of God (see Isaiah 6:1-3).

Hundreds of years later, after the Son of God had made atonement for our sins, John experienced his own sweeping vision of heaven while on the isle of Patmos. Again, there was the familiar refrain: "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!" (Revelation 4:8b)

Thrice holy is our Triune God!

"Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God Almighty, All Thy works shall praise Thy Name in earth and sky and sea. Holy, holy, holy, Merciful and mighty, God in three Persons blessed Trinity."

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we lift up our voices in praise to You. You are holy, and there is none like You. Work in us through Your Holy Spirit to live as Your people, holy and set apart. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Paul Schreiber. It is based on the hymn, "Holy, Holy, Holy." Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
If you're looking for a song to get you into a spirit of praise and devotion, this is the number.

Unser Täglich Brot - Mit eingeschaltetem Licht

Mit eingeschaltetem Licht

Lesung: Psalm 119,9-16.97-105 | Die Bibel in einem Jahr: 3.Mose 8–10; Matthäus 25,31-46

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Dein Wort ist meines Fußes Leuchte und ein Licht auf meinem Wege. Psalm 119,105

Ich war mit einem Kollegen dienstlich unterwegs und es war schon spät, als wir uns auf den Heimweg machten. Ich werde älter und meine Augen werden es auch. Deshalb fahre ich nicht mehr gern bei Dunkelheit und bot an, die erste Etappe der rund 400 Kilometer zu übernehmen. Ich umklammerte das Lenkrad und starrte angestrengt auf die schlecht beleuchteten Straßen. Irgendwie sah ich besser, wenn die Scheinwerfer der nachfolgenden Autos die Fahrbahn vor mir beleuchteten. Ich war erleichtert, als mein Freund sich schließlich selbst ans Steuer seines Autos setzte. Dabei fiel ihm auf, dass ich die ganze Zeit mit den Nebelscheinwerfern gefahren war!

Psalm 119 ist das Meisterwerk eines Menschen, der begriffen hat, dass Gottes Wort uns Licht für unseren Alltag gibt (V.105). Doch wie oft befinden wir uns in Situationen, die meiner ungemütlichen Fahrt auf der Autobahn gleichen? Wir strengen uns an, etwas zu sehen, und manchmal irren wir vom besten Weg ab, weil wir vergessen haben, das Licht aus Gottes Wort zu nutzen. Psalm 119 macht uns Mut, bewusst das Licht „einzuschalten”. Und was passiert dann? Wir finden Weisheit, um rein zu bleiben (V.9-11); wir werden neu motiviert und ermutigt, um Irrwege zu vermeiden (V.101-102). Und wenn wir das Licht anlassen, werden die Worte des Psalmisten auch zu unseren eigenen: „Wie habe ich dein Gesetz so lieb! Täglich sinne ich ihm nach” (V.97).

Vater, bitte fülle mein Herz mit deinem Wort, damit ich heute das Licht habe, das ich brauche!

Du wirst nicht im Dunkeln stolpern, wenn du im Licht des Wortes Gottes gehst.

Von Arthur Jackson

© 2019 Unser Täglich Brot
Ich war mit einem Kollegen dienstlich unterwegs und es war schon spät, als wir uns auf den Heimweg machten. Ich werde älter und meine Augen werden es auch. Deshalb fahre ich nicht mehr gern bei Dunkelheit und bot an, die erste Etappe der rund 400 Kilometer zu übernehmen. Ich umklammerte das Lenkrad und starrte angestrengt auf die schlecht beleuchteten Straßen. Irgendwie sah ich besser, wenn die Scheinwerfer der nachfolgenden Autos die Fahrbahn vor mir beleuchteten. Ich war erleichtert, als mein Freund sich schließlich selbst ans Steuer seines Autos setzte. Dabei fiel ihm auf, dass ich die ganze Zeit mit den Nebelscheinwerfern gefahren war!