It‘s simple.
Take God seriously.
Micah 6:8 (MSG)
But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do,
what God is looking for in men and women.
It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,
be compassionate and loyal in your love,
And don’t take yourself too seriously—
take God seriously.
Dueling declarations make the news. Here’s the theme, coming from both sides of almost every issue:
Only God is 100% right, all the time. The rest of us could be wrong.
That’s just (morally good) news.
China is creating a “social score” system, similar to our credit ratings, based on people’s behavior (see this article in Business Insider).
This doesn’t bode well for Chinese Christians. Open Doors USA tracks and supports persecuted believers around the word. CEO David Curry comments in this Christian Post article:
“Imagine a system where citizens are given 2,000 points and every time you do something they government disagrees with, you are marked down for it. Eventually, your travel is restricted, your children won’t get into the best schools. You lose points for taking your children to Sunday School. That is what the experience is like for many Christians in China.”
Cameras and facial scanning monitor movement and behavior of Chinese citizens, including their presence in church.
Almighty God, Your all-seeing eye is on this situation. As needed, shelter Chinese believers from this ever-present surveillance. On the other hand, may the godly behavior of Your people influence the watchers. Holy Spirit, sweep across the nation and transform watchers into believers, in Jesus’ name.
Ultrasounds now show us
images from the womb —
a view that used to be God’s alone.
Psalm 139:13-15 (NIV)
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body.
I work with special needs children. I see the image of God in each of them:
One’s ever-happy heart reflects the joy of the Lord. Another never forgets a promise. Others take pleasure in keeping things organized. They patiently wait for those who are slow to move or speak. They are eager to help and quick to encourage. Their love for one another is akin to God’s.
These are sacred lives.
Isaiah 66:1 (NIV)
This is what the LORD says:
“Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.”
Toddler Jesus walked holding His mother’s hand. Young Jesus ran and played. 12-year old Jesus walked to Jerusalem. Adult Jesus carried out His ministry on foot.
God so loved His footstool.
Jesus experienced the warm, dark womb
and the cold, dark tomb–
the start and the end of life:
Hebrews 4:14-15 (MSG)
Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality.
The beginning and end–Jesus has been there, done that.
When I was pregnant, I often thought of Mary, the mother of Jesus:
Let’s think about Jesus in the womb. The God-so-loved-the-world heart starting to beat. The feet nailed to the cross, ten tiny toes with even tinier toenails. The mouth that spoke the world into existence sucking the thumb of the hand that broke the bread.
Sacred life, indeed!
Luke Goodrich has written a book, “Free to Believe,” on the status of religious freedom in the United States. In an article from The Christian Post, Mr. Goodrich comments on the attitudes of American Christians:
“If you don’t have a firm biblical understanding of religious freedom as a Christian, you are prone to living in fear in the midst of religious freedom conflicts rather than joy. You’re prone to hostility toward your perceived enemies rather than loving your enemies.”
Yes, there’s been a shift in the acceptance of Christianity, but we are far from the oppression and violence experienced by Christians in other parts of the world. Let us maintain a prayerful perspective:
Lord, we humbly and gratefully acknowledge that up till now believing in You has come easily to us. We lift up our brothers and sisters who truly suffer for their faith–strengthen and protect them, Lord! Fill us with Your love for those who don’t love You. May we focus more on the state of their souls than on our right to practice our faith. May they be won to You through our love.
“Character is made by many acts;
it may be lost by a single one.”
Credited to Aristotle (384-322 BC)
Ancient, simple wisdom. Building character takes time. Destroying character (yours or someone else’s) doesn’t. 
