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 8:1-9. Verses 5 and 6, what good is this psalm to me if my actual selfhood seems in no way near-angelic, if my daily existence shows little or no God-given dominion? Is it all just a fairy tale, a bad joke?
Isaiah 9:1-21. Verses 2, 6, 7, how does this lofty picture of Messiah’s kingship relate—if at all—to the strife-torn realities of Americans struggling over how to govern ourselves? My role?
James 4:1-10. Verse 3, asking amiss. Does my prayer life need a different approach today, an adjustment of what I’m asking God to do or be or provide?
Matthew 4:12-17. Verse 16, how does the symbolism of darkness in need of light relate to an immediate practical need concerning myself, my family, my friends?
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To go deeper, see interpretive notes by Bible scholar Patrick Reardon for many of this week's readings.