Forward Movement is an official, non-profit agency of the Episcopal Church whose mission is to create compelling content for Christian living. Since 1935 we have published the quarterly devotional Forward Day by Day, as well as pamphlets, booklets, and books that encourage and nourish people in their lives of prayer and faith.
TUESDAY, June 23
1 Samuel 6:1-16. If not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that struck us; it happened to us by chance.
The Philistines, having captured the ark of God, find themselves plagued by mysterious vandalism, tumors, and rats. The Philistines know the power of the Israelites' God. Rather than fall down and worship this God, however, they decide to buy him off--with an offering of gold tumors and gold rats.
I too put God to the test with my prayers--which he always answers. And as I receive proof after proof, I continue to try to buy God off, with tithe, good works, and lip service. What is interesting is that the Philistines and I seem to get away with our bribes. We read of no more plagues, and I have not yet been zapped for irreverence.
But God wants us to worship in spirit and in truth. What does this mean? To worship in truth means to be honest about my grimy self--my greed, my gluttony, my selfishness--and to be honest about God's holiness. Seeing me as me and God as God is the only way to engage the spirit in worship.
PRAY for the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds – Knaresborough (York, England)
Ps 97, 99, [100] * 94, [95]; Acts 5:27-42; Luke 21:37-22:13
View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com.
A Meditation for Pentecost
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