For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have been convicted over the last few weeks to seek to develop a disciplined prayer life. It is still a work in progress. Please pray for me, that the Holy Spirit may show me how to pray in a disciplined manner.

    Gossip is fuel for quarrels in the same way that wood is fuel for a fire. If you take away the fuel the fire will go out. If both parties, and everyone around them, stop spreading gossip about them the quarrel will fade away.

    This psalm is a wonderful basis for a personal devotion. If we remind ourselves of each piece of this everyday, it will help us live godly lives.

• lead a life of integrity…even when no one can see
• refuse to look at anything vile or vulgar…whether on television, at the movies, or on the Internet
• have nothing to do with those who deal crookedly
• reject perverse ideas, and stay away from evil…even when they promise pleasure
• call out those who slander others

And the key to accomplishing these things is seeking out faithful people with whom to companion. If we spend our time hanging out with faithful people and people who are above reproach, we will be inspired to be the same.

    This letter reminds me of Jesus’ parable of the unforgiving debtor. In this letter to Philemon Paul reminds us that we should extend our kindness to those who are “beneath” us. More than that, we are to consider our fellow believers our siblings. That means that no matter how the world sees them, they are socially our equals.
    There is one other thing worth noting. Paul does not order Philemon to take the actions he wishes, which involve economic issues for Philemon. Paul merely requests that he do so (with a reminder that Philemon owes him a non-economic debt of much greater value). Paul does not say, “God calls you to offer this economic asset to His work, so I am just going to take it and use it to do God’s work.” Instead Paul tells Philemon that it is his Christian duty to use his economic assets to do God’s work, but leaves it up to Philemon to choose how to use his assets in doing the Lord’s work. It is not God’s will that we demand that others use their assets to do what we think is God’s work. Each of us is responsible to determine the best way to use what God has given us in order to serve Him.

    Jerusalem fell and its people suffered. This happened because of the sins of its people. However, we should mourn for those who suffer such a fate, even though they brought it on themselves. It is a sin to rejoice at the suffering of others, even those who have brought such suffering on themselves. Let us call out to God to relieve their suffering. At the same time, let us encourage them to call out to God as well. If we suffer such a fate, let us not blame God. Rather let us recognize the ways in which we have brought our suffering on ourselves and turn to God for relief and for rescue.

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

     The writer mourns the fall of Jerusalem. He writes of how far Jerusalem has fallen because of the sins of her people. He points out that her enemies take credit for her fall, but that it is the result of God’s judgment. Jerusalem’s enemies did not defeat her because of their righteousness or greatness. Rather Jerusalem fell because of her sins.
     This is an important point to remember. Jerusalem did not fall because of the strength of her enemies. She fell because of the sins of her people. This is always the case. Nations fall because of the failure of their people to follow the laws by which God created mankind to live. Those nations which are currently victorious will soon fall as well if they also break the laws which God has laid down. Civilization breaks down when people choose to live by their own desires rather than according to God’s law.

     This is a difficult passage for me to write about because there is so much back story we need to read between the lines. Onesimus was a run away slave who found the Lord after running away. He came to realize that he should return to his master, perhaps because Paul encouraged him to do so, although we do not know that. However, Onesimus is afraid of what Philemon, his owner, will do to him. Paul knows Philemon, having preached the Gospel to him. Paul writes to Philemon telling him to accept Onesimus back and to treat him well. Paul promises that he will repay Philemon for any loss which Onesimus may have caused him in the past.

     This psalm calls us to live a blameless life and tells us how to accomplish that. The psalmist tells us to reject perverse ideas and to stay away from every evil. Then he tells us the most important step, seek out faithful people as companions. The way to live a godly life is to hang out with godly people.

     The way to stop quarrels is to stop the gossip. Gossip provides the fuel which keeps a quarrel going in the same way which wood provides fuel for a fire.