Studying this morning's four readings from the St. James Daily Devotional Guide (click to subscribe), I examined myself with these questions. Where is your self-examination leading today?
Psalms 103:1-22. Verses 13-17, what evidence have I of being as lowly as dust, ephemeral as grass? What proof have I of God’s fatherly care for me even so? How can his mercy to me last forever, if I myself don’t?
I Kings 16:1-34. Northern kings outdo each other in evil. What reason have we as Christians, so aware of the Fall, to hope at all for a just political order, a regime of consent and rights and law?
Acts 23:11-35. Verse 16, a nephew prevents Paul’s assassination. What must have been involved in God’s using this boy to accomplish a great kingdom purpose for all time? How can I ready myself for God to use me today?
Mark 14:12-21. Verse 13, the man with the water jug makes possible the Last Supper. Same question again. How can I put myself at Jesus’ disposal for his kingdom purposes today?
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To go deeper, see interpretive notes by Bible scholar Patrick Reardon for many of this week's readings.