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EDITOR'S NOTE: 2010 marks the 75th anniversary of Forward Day by Day. To commemorate this milestone, the meditations from February 1, 2010 through January 31, 2011 feature reprints of the most outstanding meditations from our past 75 years. The year each meditation was originally written is included at the end of the meditation. To learn more about our anniversary and the selection process for these meditations, click here. We encourage you also to share your comments about these classic meditations below. Our editor, Richard Schmidt, will be responding to comments for these meditations.
Hebrews 12:12-29. Lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees.
When pioneers in covered wagons crossed the prairies and mountains to go west, there was no room for extra baggage. They had to sit loose and travel light.
This was the situation for the Hebrews in the wilderness. Nomads on the march, they could not afford a clutter of possessions. They traveled with the bare necessities. Something of this same trimness entered into their religious life as well. There was a simplicity about the Mosaic religion: the laws could be counted on your fingers; ritual was at a minimum.
Lent will be here before long. As we prepare for it, we might learn the discipline of traveling light. It applies to our theological dogmas as well as our material comforts. Paul reminds us in his Letter to the Hebrews to lay aside every weight as we run the course ahead.
Some of the burden consists of our sins, of course. We are all hindered by our selfishness, our lack of concern for others. A good deal of the weight, however, is just ecclesiastical baggage--the outworn good we carry long after its utility has disappeared.
The world is on the march. If we are to minister, we had best strip for action and learn to travel light, lifting our drooping hands and strengthening our weak knees, following our Lord's example. (1971)
PRAY for the Diocese of Asaba (Prov. of Bendel, Nigeria)
Ps 75, 76 * 23, 27; Genesis 24:28-38, 49-51; John 7:14-36
View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com.
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