Curious Pilgrim Daily Office Reflection

June 24, 2026

Thus Far the Lord Has Helped Us

Daily Office Readings: Psalm 101, 1 Samuel 7:2–17, Acts 6:1–15, Luke 22:14–23

If someone asked me to summarize today’s Daily Office readings in one sentence, I would simply say:

Godly leadership is not about power—it is about integrity, faithfulness, service, and self-giving love.

Each reading offers a different portrait of what it means to lead as God intends.

Psalm 101 begins with David’s prayer to govern with integrity. He desires that his heart be blameless, his speech truthful, and his leadership just. While some of David’s language reflects the ideals of an ancient king protecting his kingdom from corruption, the deeper lesson remains timeless: before we can lead others well, God must first shape our own hearts. Character always comes before influence.

In 1 Samuel, Israel has wandered far from God. Samuel calls the people to put away their idols and return wholeheartedly to the Lord. They repent, pray, and discover that their security does not rest in military strength but in God’s faithfulness.

After their victory over the Philistines, Samuel does something remarkable. He places a large stone between Mizpah and Shen and names it Ebenezer, saying:

“Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

The stone is not a monument to Israel’s strength. It is a testimony to God’s faithfulness.

How often we need our own “Ebenezers”—those moments in life when we pause long enough to remember that every step of our journey has been sustained by grace. Looking back over my own life, I can see many such stones: moments of joy, seasons of sorrow, unexpected turns, painful losses, and surprising new beginnings. Through them all, one truth remains unchanged:

Thus far the Lord has helped me.

The story then moves into the life of the early Church.

As the number of believers grew, so did the needs of the community. Greek-speaking widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. The apostles did not ignore the problem or assign blame. Instead, they invited the congregation to select seven people of wisdom, good reputation, and spiritual maturity to oversee this ministry.

This passage is traditionally understood as the beginning of the ministry of deacons.

Notice what qualified these servants. They were not chosen because they possessed wealth, influence, or impressive resumes. They were chosen because they were full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.

The Church learned an essential lesson: leadership is shared, and leadership exists to serve.

Finally, we arrive in the Upper Room.

Jesus gathers with his disciples for the Passover meal. Knowing that betrayal, denial, suffering, and the cross lie just ahead, he does not speak of revenge or power. Instead, he takes bread, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it away.

“This is my body, given for you.”

Then he takes the cup.

“This cup is the new covenant in my blood.”

The greatest act of leadership in human history takes place not upon a throne but around a table.

Jesus does not rule through domination. He reigns through self-giving love.

Looking across today’s readings, a beautiful progression emerges.

David teaches us that leadership begins with integrity.

Samuel reminds us that leadership trusts God’s faithfulness rather than human strength.

The apostles demonstrate that leadership serves the needs of others.

Jesus reveals that true leadership ultimately gives itself away in love.

The movement is unmistakable:

Integrity. Faithfulness. Service. Love.

Perhaps that is also the pattern of the Christian life.

Our world often celebrates leaders who accumulate power, wealth, status, and influence. Yet Jesus turns that understanding upside down. The Kingdom of God is built by those who kneel to wash feet, who feed the hungry, who care for the forgotten, who forgive their enemies, and who willingly give themselves for others.

As followers of Christ, we are called to become that kind of people.

Whether we lead a church, a family, a classroom, a workplace, or simply our own daily lives, the measure of our leadership is not how many people serve us but how faithfully we serve them.

And as we continue this pilgrimage of faith, perhaps each of us can pause today and raise our own Ebenezer—not a literal stone, but a grateful heart—and quietly whisper:

“Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

Thanks be to God.