Thursday 19 August 2021

Psalm 46

Background

It’s not always easy to stay on the right track. One moment you are heading for your destination and the next you have a choice to make. The SatNav seems to have mind of its own, taking you by a less well-known route and you find yourself experiencing towns and villages you never intended to visit, before arriving at your journey’s end rather later than you had originally intended.

In these verses from his letter to the Colossians, St Paul says they were "once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds"(verse 21). However, Jesus himself has reconciled them to God. Here is grace and love in full measure which offers hope and a fulfilling future. Paul says (I interpret), "stay on the right road and all will be well." Or as Jesus put it, "For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it."(Matthew 7: 14)

In other words, follow the way you know with Christ as your guide. Don’t be put off by other voices along the way tempting you on to other paths. Stay on the right track "without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard." (verse 23)

I wonder when you heard the gospel or, indeed, if you have heard the gospel? Here St Paul offers a wonderful reminder of the gospel grace which assures us, just as it assured his original readers, that we will be seen as "holy and blameless" before God because Jesus has made it so. The part we must take is to stay on track as loving, caring, justice-seeking and inclusive Godly people.

To Ponder:

• Listen to the hymn: 'Only by grace can we enter’.
• What does it mean to you that Jesus has made it possible for you to be accepted by God as ‘blameless and irreproachable’?
• What ‘voices’ tempt you to stray from the ways of love, justice and grace seen in Jesus?
• Is there someone who you can help to find the ‘narrow way’ today?

Prayer

Gracious God, thank you that because of Jesus I am seen as ‘blameless and irreproachable’ by you. Give me the strength and will to live your way and remain within the promise. Amen.