Thursday, June 25, 2026

Opening Scripture

Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases; for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them. Though while they live they count themselves blessed – and people praise you when you prosper – they will join those who have gone before them, who will never again see the light of life. Psalm 49:16-19

Opening Prayer

Gracious Father, Your Word says that we who follow the Lord Jesus are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people who belong to You. You have called us out of darkness into Your marvelous light so that we may declare Your praises to this lost and fallen world. Help me to live today in such a way that others may know and glorify You. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

Psalm 37

Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.

The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them; but the LORD laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming. The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright. But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.

Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous. The blameless spend their days under the LORD’s care, and their inheritance will endure forever. In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty. But the wicked will perish: Though the LORD’s enemies are like the flowers of the field, they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.

The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously; those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be destroyed. The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing. Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever. For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed; the offspring of the wicked will perish.

The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever. The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just. The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip. The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, intent on putting them to death; but the LORD will not leave them in the power of the wicked or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

Hope in the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it. I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a luxuriant native tree, but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found.

Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace. But all sinners will be destroyed; there will be no future for the wicked. The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

Reflection  

This lengthy psalm is full of profound insight! It has the “wisdom literature” feel of Proverbs – written by David’s son, Solomon – offering sound, time-tested advice to God’s people who truly desire to know and serve Him.

The crux of the message is this: establish your identity and security in your relationship with God, trust fully in Him and do what’s right, and don’t worry about what everyone else seems to be doing.

Earlier this month, we touched on the problem of “fretting because of those who are evil and being envious of those who do wrong.” Remember Choir Director Asaph’s confession in Psalm 73?

“But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills. When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.

In our consideration of forbearance this week, I continue to find that the key element is proper perspective. It really is how you look at a thing that determines what you should make of it. To the degree that we embrace God’s divine, eternal perspective, we see things as they really are. To the degree that we embrace the world’s fallen, temporal perspective, we see things in a distorted way.

Pride, envy, and greed are quite effective at distorting our perspective. They can cause us to miss or ignore God’s blessing in our own lives, as we resent what someone else seems to be enjoying. Unfortunately, social media is extremely adept at fanning those destructive flames in us.

Speaking of wisdom literature and proper perspective, here are some other passages to keep in mind.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10).

“Show me, LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before You. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure” (Psalm 39:4-5).

“A thousand years in Your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:4,12).

Flourishing Habit

Flourishing Christians

Today’s passage offers excellent instruction for followers of Jesus:

• Trust in the LORD and do good.
• Take delight in the LORD.
• Commit your way to the LORD.
• Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him.
• Refrain from anger and turn from wrath.
• Turn from evil and do good.
• Hope in the LORD and keep His way.

We not only need to embrace God’s divine, eternal perspective, we also need to embrace God’s divine, present economy. Followers of Jesus have a different value system and view of earthly “success.” As Jesus said, “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Matthew 16:26).

This principle is illustrated in the parable Jesus told in Luke 16 about the rich man and the beggar named Lazarus. The rich man lived in luxury, and the beggar longed for the scraps that fell from his table. When they both died, the roles were reversed. The rich man, then in Hell, longed for Lazarus, who was in Heaven, to dip his finger in water and touch it to his tongue. Our choices here have eternal consequences!

As Almighty God designed it, abundant life and eternal life are really one and the same. “Flourishing” means living life as God intends. When we choose to do that now, we experience the abundant life that Jesus promised His disciples. When we die, it gets even better!

Have your values and perception become a bit distorted?

Ask God to help you embrace His perspective and His economy.

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Remember: Nothing changes until something changes!