Scriptures Mold Character
(NRSV) Is 40: 30 Even youths will faint and be weary,
and the young will fall exhausted;
31 but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.
(NRSV) Josh 1: 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful. 9 I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
(NRSV) Ps 1:1 Happy are those
who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or take the path that sinners tread,
or sit in the seat of scoffers;
2 but their delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law they meditate day and night.
3 They are like trees
planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season,
and their leaves do not wither.
(NRSV) 2 Corin 5:17 So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
Ps 27–the entire chapter
Ps 91–the entire chapter
Eph 6(NRSV) 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. 15 As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. 16 With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.
As I meditate this morning on some of the Scriptures I return to time after time, I see they are not necessarily the ones I relied on in my youth. I also see there is a theme—wait on the Lord, be strengthened in and by the Lord, and when you have prayed, waited, and been renewed, then stand. Stand firm in your convictions, firm in your faith, firm in your love for God and for others.
I see that Scripture not only helps to form me into who God wants me to be, but it truly is life-giving. When I linger over God’s Word, I know that I am in His presence and the more I am in His presence, the more I want to remain.
May we know the importance of hiding God’s Word in our hearts, that we might not sin against Him (Ps 119:11).
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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Seeking Holiness 