God is my helper

 

I’m reflecting today about how important it is to read the Bible!  There is a real value in listening to and/or reading the Scriptures as a reminder of the hope, joy, confidence and trust that God expresses through His inspired words.

The selections I read today just seem to flow so gently in reminding us to choose to live life in relationship with God.  To trust that, while we will make human errors, God will forgive us if we ask and then strive to correct our errors living joyfully with others.  I hope as I live my life joyfully that, like Saint Paul, I too can be a minister who will “Persevere in the faith; firmly grounded, stable.” (Colossians 1:21-23)

While reading Psalm 54 I thought of my partnership with God, “Hear my prayer; hearken to the words of my mouth.”  (Psalms 54:3-8).  I tend to look at prayer as a joint effort between the Lord and myself, to be open to His plans in my prayer requests. “God is my helper”; I really do trust that, if I open myself up to His words and ask the Lord to be with me I’ll be successful, at peace and will have opportunities, in my life, to be “Christ-like” with others.

The Gospel, reminded me of the idea of doing what’s right because it’s the right thing to do, and not basing actions on “because it’s the law.”  (Luke 6:1-5).  Jesus mentioned David to the Pharisees, and I thought about how important role models are for people.  I know that I choose certain actions over others because of the influence of role models in my life.  I have had so many role models in my life, from my grandparents to my parents to my wife’s parents to bosses and many, many others.  If I had to choose just one, I would have to go with my dad or my father-in-law in most instances, since they were the men who basically prepared me for fatherhood.  Whenever a major decision needs to be made or an action taken as the patriarch of my family, I stop and think, “What would Dad or Frank do in this situation?”

Jesus is certainly a role model for all of us along with the people in our lives that we respect because of their faith and the choices they have made about how to live life day to day.  I am ever grateful to those early Christians who recorded the messages of God.