Focus

Breathe in clear thoughts of peace and reflection as you prepare to hear God speak to you through the scripture and the writer. Put aside all the things the world says you have to accomplish today and use this time to rest in God’s presence.

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Read

Psalm 135 (NRSV)

Praise the LORD!
Praise the name of the LORD;
give praise, O servants of the LORD,
you that stand in the house of the LORD,
in the courts of the house of our God.
Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;
sing to his name, for he is gracious.
For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself,
Israel as his own possession.

For I know that the LORD is great;
our Lord is above all gods.
Whatever the LORD pleases he does,
in heaven and on earth,
in the seas and all deeps.
He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth;
he makes lightnings for the rain
and brings out the wind from his storehouses.

He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
both human beings and animals;
he sent signs and wonders
into your midst, O Egypt,
against Pharaoh and all his servants.
He struck down many nations
and killed mighty kings—
Sihon, king of the Amorites,
and Og, king of Bashan,
and all the kingdoms of Canaan—
and gave their land as a heritage,
a heritage to his people Israel.

Your name, O LORD, endures forever,
your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages.
For the LORD will vindicate his people,
and have compassion on his servants.

The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
They have mouths, but they do not speak;
they have eyes, but they do not see;
they have ears, but they do not hear,
and there is no breath in their mouths.
Those who make them
and all who trust them
shall become like them.

O house of Israel, bless the LORD!
O house of Aaron, bless the LORD!
O house of Levi, bless the LORD!
You that fear the LORD, bless the LORD!
Blessed be the LORD from Zion,
he who resides in Jerusalem.
Praise the LORD!

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Reflect

As I was reading and reflecting on this passage, I found myself dwelling on the verses about idols. They caused me to think of “mob mentality,” which is also referred to as “herd mentality.” This phenomenon is most likely fresh on my mind because of the presidential rallies that are being broadcast so widely.

One day, when my twin daughters, Mary and Lydia, were about 10 years old, we were talking as I drove them to school. During our conversation, Mary and I simultaneously said the same phrase. As we chuckled, I said, “Great minds think alike!” Lydia interjected, “But greater minds think differently!”

I’ve thought about her profound statement a lot in the past few days. The way of the world often leads us to put other things before God, compromising the values we uphold as disciples of Christ. It’s easy to think that decisions we make simply because “everyone else is doing it” will not harm us. But as Christians we are called to take a higher road, one that is often difficult. Greater minds often do think differently.

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Pray

Dear sovereign God, give us strength to hold true to our Christian values. Be with us when we are tempted to follow the herd rather than listening for your direction. Free us of idols that stand between us and your love. In Christ’s name, Amen.

Go with God.