Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“As for what others do, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.”
NL Daily Devotion for Wednesday, June 2, 2021
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
It’s so easy to get drawn in to angry argument and judgment. I get frustrated with the state of the world and I want to rage about how everyone who doesn’t see the injustice is either ignorant, unintelligent, or evil—what other explanation can there be? Yeah. That’s not mine to decide. My job is to keep my side of the street clean. To go high when others go low. To keep my head down and do the work without getting drawn into distracting and pointless debate.
Only by the word of God’s lips can I avoid the ways of the violent. Words of love, grace, mercy, acceptance, and compassion, but also words of justice and accountability. I may run up against people who oppose me, who are even nasty about it. But as the psalmist says, “from you let my vindication comes; let your eyes see the right.”
God, save me from pointless argument, inspire me to answer your call, and correct me when my ego tells me I’m right and everyone else is wrong. Amen.
