Don't Devise Evil

Today's reading: Zechariah 1-7

Do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another. Zechariah 7: 10 NRSV

How do I oppress the widow?

What do I do to help the orphan?

Do I help the alien?

How often do I truly help the poor?

And when have I devised evil in my heart against others?

My first response is: I have helped the less fortunate and have not devised evil in my heart against other people.

But have I? Do I really help the less fortunate? It is easy to say my tax dollars or the money I tithe at church go to help many unfortunates. But even Ebenezer Scrooge could say the same before he was visited by the four spirits.

I think I have not devised evil in my heart...unless it has to do with those in politics. They are easy targets. And yes, everyone else thinks ill of them as well. But if God really wants me to do such strange things as pray for my enemies, then I better be careful when I open my mouth to put down someone who doesn't share my own political leanings. Whether they are in the wrong or not, when I speak against them I come to hate them and my hatred becomes evil in my heart. Just one more step from acting on such evil.

My next response is: God, help me to not oppress those less fortunate than me and prevent me from devising any evil in my heart. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims

Without God

"...Remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world."
Ephesians 2: 12 NRSV

Do you remember being an alien, a stranger, having no hope and without God? Although I grew up a baptized Christian, there have been times in my life that I have tried to alienate myself from God. I remember what that feels like and the feeling is pretty empty and without deep meaning. Also, I think I was pretty self-righteous. Okay, so I know I was being self-righteous.

I see similar things in folks who claim to be atheist - they think they have all the answers and are seeing the world in the right way. Hmmm, actually I see that in some Christians as well. Maybe we all tend to make ourselves into aliens and strangers. No matter what our belief system, we can be living without hope and certainly trying our best to live without God.

The thing is, Paul wants the folks at Ephesus to remember what that felt like, especially compared to what they feel like now. We too should spend some time in recalling how it feels to live without hope. Then we can rejoice when we are again filled with Christ's hope.

God, you have made us your children rather than strangers and aliens. Thank you. May we grasp the hope that you have given us in Christ and hold on tight. In His name we pray, Amen.

Question for the day: When in your life have you tried to be a stranger to God?

Copyright 2009 Amelia G. Sims