Through the Bible in one year - Day 44

Psalm 44:25-26

For our soul is bowed down to the dust;

our belly clings to the ground.

Rise up; come to our help!

Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!

Here we are at Ash Wednesday and so this Psalm is in keeping with the Ash Wednesday service in my tradition: we remember we are but dust and to dust we will return (BCP p.265) How important to remember that our days are numbered, and only through the Lord’s favor are we alive.

In Genesis today we read of Joseph’s continuing trials in prison; here today he interprets two dreams (rightly) and yet is forgotten out of mind when they no longer need him – and there we leave him, still in prison. What will tomorrow bring?

We begin today’s passage in 2 Chronicles reading about Jehoshaphat, and how he walked in the way of the Lord, after his father David, and how he took down the idols and the high places where their idols were kept – and he found favor in the sight of the Lord – and his people. Do you think it will turn bad in the days ahead? I will wait to read, and see what comes.

Today in Acts we read of the story of a man, a non-Jew, named Cornelius. And he has a vision from God. Notice with me that he was already praying, and paying close attention to the Lord and in this case an Angel of the Lord came to him and told him what to do. Also notice that Peter was praying and received a vision from the Lord and in both cases they obeyed the Lord’s call on their lives and did what was asked of them. When Peter came and heard of the vision that Cornelius had, this is what Cornelius said: “So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord." (Acts 10:33) Peter used this opportunity to preach the good news to them and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and baptized. When we have baptisms today, we wait to see if the Holy Spirit will be obviously present, and there are those who might say that without these obvious signs that something is missing, and I think they would be right, but I also notice here that the Holy Spirit fell on these folks – and then they were baptized. All I am thinking is that the Holy Spirit comes at his own will and that we ought to be ready wherever he is. Peter and the Jewish believers were surprised, and the Gentile believers hadn’t even an idea that this could happen, and yet in all instances God did as he pleased, and through prayer, these people were ready when the time was ripe.

I pray that we may be at prayer and ready when the time is ripe.

Today’s readings: Psalm 44, Genesis 40, 2 Chronicles 17, Acts 10:1-11:18