humility

Power reimagined: From Domination to Devotion.

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Power is one of the most misunderstood and misused forces in our world. We see it daily—in politics, wealth, influence, military strength, and social dominance. Power is often defined as the ability to control outcomes, silence opposition, or secure advantage. Yet when we turn to Scripture, we discover a radically different vision of power—one that confronts our assumptions and invites us into a transformed way of living.

Psalm 2, Isaiah 49:13–23, and Matthew 18:1–14 each speak about power, but they do so from distinct angles. Together, they reveal that God’s power is not exercised through fear or coercion, but through faithfulness, compassion, and care for the least.

Psalm 2: Power That Exposes False Authority

Psalm 2 opens with a striking image: nations raging, rulers conspiring, and powers of the world attempting to throw off God’s authority. It is a portrait that feels uncannily familiar. Human power, when detached from humility, tends to resist accountability. It seeks autonomy without responsibility and control without justice.

Yet the psalm does not respond with panic. God is not threatened by the noise of empire. Instead, God’s sovereignty exposes the fragility of power built on pride and fear. The psalm reminds us that authority rooted in domination is ultimately unstable. True power belongs not to those who shout the loudest or hoard the most, but to the One who governs with righteousness and calls leaders to serve with wisdom and reverence.

In our day, Psalm 2 challenges both leaders and citizens. It asks us where we place our trust and whom we believe ultimately holds the future. It warns against confusing force with legitimacy and reminds us that power without justice is already unraveling.

Isaiah 49: Power That Remembers the Forgotten

Isaiah 49 shifts the conversation. Here, power is not expressed through conquest but through consolation. God speaks to a people who feel abandoned and asks a tender question: “Can a woman forget her nursing child?” Even if that were possible, God declares, “I will not forget you.”

This is power as faithfulness. God’s strength is revealed in memory, in presence, in the refusal to abandon the vulnerable. The passage envisions a world turned upside down—where kings become caregivers and queens serve as nurturers. Power bows low. Authority is redefined as responsibility for the weak.

In our world, where refugees are dismissed, the elderly are neglected, and the marginalized are treated as expendable, this vision is deeply countercultural. Isaiah insists that God’s power is measured not by dominance but by devotion to those society overlooks. Any system that forgets the suffering has misunderstood power at its core.

Matthew 18: Power in Smallness and Care

Jesus brings the conversation to its sharpest point in Matthew 18. When the disciples ask who is greatest, Jesus does not offer a strategy for success. He places a child among them and says that greatness looks like humility, dependence, and trust.

More than that, Jesus issues a stark warning: harming or neglecting “the little ones” is a grave offense. Power that exploits or ignores the vulnerable stands under judgment. Then comes the parable of the lost sheep—a shepherd leaving ninety-nine to seek the one who is lost. This is not efficient power. It is not practical power. It is personal, attentive, and relentless love.

In our day, this teaching confronts cultures that value productivity over people and numbers over names. Jesus reveals a power that stops for the one, listens to the small voice, and refuses to write anyone off as insignificant.

Power for Our Time

Together, these Scriptures call us to examine how we understand and exercise power. They ask difficult questions:

  • Do we equate power with control or with care?
  • Do we admire strength that dominates, or strength that protects?
  • Do our institutions reflect God’s concern for the least, or human hunger for status?

God’s power does not crush rebellion with brute force, forget suffering in the name of progress, or measure worth by influence. God’s power restores, remembers, and rescues.

For us today, following Christ means resisting the temptation to grasp power as the world defines it. Instead, we are invited to practice power through humility, advocacy, compassion, and faithful love—especially toward those with the least voice.

In a world obsessed with being first, God calls us to notice the child, seek the lost sheep, and remember the forgotten. This is the power that endures. This is the power that heals. And this is the power to which we are called.

When God Remembers Us: A Daily Office Reflection on Mercy, Restoration, and Faithful Living

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A Reflection by Roy Pearson

Today’s readings from the Daily Office—Psalm 106, Zechariah 10:1–12, Galatians 6:1–10, and Luke 18:15–30—invite us into a sweeping story: a God who remembers His people, restores what is broken, calls us to do good, and asks us to trust Him above everything else.
Together they form a tapestry of mercy, responsibility, and hope that speaks directly to our world today.

Psalm 106 — Remembering God’s Faithfulness in an Unfaithful World

Psalm 106 is both confession and praise. The psalmist recounts Israel’s repeated failures—forgetfulness, idolatry, rebellion—yet marvels at God’s steadfast love that never lets them go.
The heart-cry of the psalm is this simple prayer: “Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people.”

Meaning:
The psalm reveals a God who is faithful even when we are not. Israel’s story becomes our story. We wander. We forget. Yet God’s mercy remains.

Application for today:
In a world that often feels anxious, polarized, or spiritually distracted, Psalm 106 invites us to honest confession and renewed trust. We are reminded that God’s covenant love is bigger than our failures.
It encourages us to return—again and again—to a God who remembers us even when we forget Him.

Zechariah 10:1–12 — God Gathers, Restores, and Strengthens His People

Zechariah paints a picture of a God who brings rain to dry places, confronts false shepherds, and gathers His scattered people. He promises restoration, strength, and a renewed identity: “They shall be like mighty warriors.”

Meaning:
This prophecy speaks to God’s desire to restore His people—to bring them home, strengthen what is weak, and lead them in truth. It’s a vision of hope after exile, of God renewing His people from the inside out.

Application for today:
Many today feel exiled in different ways—isolated, weary, spiritually dry. Zechariah reminds us that God still gathers the scattered, heals what is broken, and leads His people into newness.
His restoration is not merely emotional; it is communal, moral, and spiritual.
Wherever there is fragmentation, God is working to bring wholeness.

Galatians 6:1–10 — The Call to Carry One Another’s Burdens

Paul turns our attention from God’s restoration to our role in the restoration of others. He calls believers to gentleness, mutual responsibility, humility, and perseverance in doing good.

Meaning:
The Christian life is never a solo endeavor. We restore the fallen gently. We bear one another’s burdens. We sow seeds—kindness, generosity, faithfulness—and trust God with the harvest.

Application for today:
In a culture shaped by individualism, Galatians 6 calls us back to the radical communal ethic of the Gospel.
We are responsible for one another, not merely to one another.
Every act of kindness, every moment of patience, every decision to forgive becomes a seed sown into God’s field.
Paul’s encouragement is as urgent now as it was then: “Do not grow weary in doing good.”

Luke 18:15–30 — Receiving the Kingdom Like a Child

Jesus welcomes children—the least powerful, least noticed, least valued in society—and declares that the kingdom belongs to such as these. Then He confronts the rich ruler, exposing how wealth, security, and self-reliance can keep a heart from fully trusting God.

Meaning:
This passage contrasts childlike dependence with adult self-sufficiency. The kingdom is received, not achieved.
The rich ruler’s problem wasn’t possession—it was attachment.

Application for today:
Whether our “wealth” is money, reputation, control, or self-reliance, Jesus invites us to loosen our grip.
The call to follow Him is still a call to trust—simple, surrendered, childlike trust.
This is a word we desperately need in a culture built on striving, achievement, and accumulation.

A Unified Message for Today

Taken together, these readings create a clear and compelling summons:

Trust God’s mercy.
Receive His restoration.
Carry one another’s burdens.
Follow Christ with an uncluttered heart.

We live in a world that often forgets God, fractures people, glorifies independence, and clings to possessions.

Today’s readings invite us to live differently:

  • with humble honesty about our failures,
  • with hope in God’s restoring power,
  • with compassion for one another,
  • and with childlike trust in the God who calls us to follow Him.

May we let these truths shape our lives, our communities, and our witness in a weary world.

🌿 “Restore Us, O God”: A Reflection on Psalm 80

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A Reflection by Roy Pearson on Psalm 80, the Psalter for November 10, 2025

Scripture Reading:

“Restore us, O God;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.”
— Psalm 80:3 (NRSV)

Introduction

Psalm 80 is a heartfelt cry from a wounded nation longing for God’s presence once again. Written by Asaph, this psalm captures Israel’s deep grief over national suffering and spiritual decline. It’s not only a prayer of lament but a plea for renewal — a longing for God to shine His light again upon His people.

Though written centuries ago, its message speaks powerfully to us today. It reminds us that when our lives, our communities, or even our nations feel broken and distant from God, the path forward begins with repentance, humility, and a heartfelt cry for restoration.

1. God, Our Shepherd (Verses 1–3)

“Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel… Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.”

Israel addresses God as their Shepherd — the one who guides, protects, and provides. The people feel lost, but they remember who He is. They ask for His face to “shine” upon them, echoing the priestly blessing of Numbers 6:24–26: “The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.”

Today: We too can pray for the light of God’s presence to shine into the dark corners of our lives. When we feel unseen, unheard, or spiritually dry, we can call on the same Shepherd to guide us back to safety.

2. Tears of Sorrow (Verses 4–7)

“You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure.”

The psalmist recognizes that God has allowed hardship to come upon His people — not to destroy them, but to call them back. Their suffering becomes the soil in which repentance can grow.

Today: Our tears, too, can become prayers. In seasons of loss, conflict, or confusion, God invites us to seek His face rather than run from His correction. Through our brokenness, He prepares the ground for renewal.

3. The Broken Vine (Verses 8–13)

“You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it.”

God had planted Israel like a vine in the Promised Land, meant to bear fruit for His glory. But now, the vine is broken, unprotected, and ravaged by enemies.

Today: The Church is God’s vine in our time. When we drift from His Word, when love grows cold, or when we forget our purpose, the vineyard suffers. Yet Jesus reminds us in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches.” True fruitfulness comes only when we remain in Him.

4. The Plea for Revival (Verses 14–19)

“Turn again, O God of hosts! Look down from heaven, and see… Then we shall not turn back from you; give us life, and we will call upon your name.”

The psalm ends with a repeated refrain:

“Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.”

This is more than a wish for better days — it’s a plea for spiritual revival. Israel longs not only for relief but for renewal of faith and purpose.

Today: Psalm 80 becomes our own prayer for revival — in our hearts, our homes, our churches, and our world. We ask God to breathe new life into His people, to restore joy, unity, and holiness, and to heal our land.

Living Psalm 80 Today

  • Personally: Ask God to restore the joy of your salvation. (Psalm 51:12)
  • In the Church: Pray for renewal — that believers would return to genuine faith, humility, and love.
  • In the World: Intercede for nations torn by conflict and sin, that God’s mercy might bring peace and transformation.

When we cry out, “Restore us, O God,” we join a long line of faithful people who refused to give up on God’s mercy — and He never fails those who turn to Him with a humble heart.

Closing Prayer

Shepherd of Israel,
Shine Your face upon us again.
Restore what is broken in our hearts and in our world.
Where we have drifted, bring us back.
Where we are weary, renew our strength.
Where we have grown cold, rekindle our love for You.
Turn our tears into joy and our weakness into worship.
Restore us, O God of hosts; let Your face shine,
that we may be saved.
Amen.

The Biblical Meaning of Justice: God’s Heart for His People and the World

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In today’s world, the word justice is often used in political debates, social movements, and legal conversations. But long before modern systems and slogans, justice was a divine idea rooted in the very nature of God. Scripture calls believers not only to understand justice, but to practice it as a reflection of God’s character.

This isn’t merely about punishment or legal fairness—it is about restoring God’s intended order, relationships, and dignity for all people.

Justice Begins With God

Justice is not invented by human society. It flows from the very nature of God Himself.

“For the LORD is righteous, He loves justice.”
— Psalm 11:7

God is the foundation and standard of all true justice. To know Him is to love what He loves and pursue what He values.

Justice as Right Relationship

Biblical justice is built on two Hebrew words that appear together throughout Scripture:

  • Mishpat — fair judgment, protection of rights, accountability
  • Tsedaqah — righteousness, right living and right relationships

Together, they describe a world where people live in right relationship with God and others, marked by peace, fairness, and compassion.

“Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”
— Amos 5:24

Justice is not just a legal principle—it is a way of life that flows from a right heart.

Justice Protects the Vulnerable

Throughout the Bible, the measure of a society’s justice is how it treats those without power. God’s heart consistently leans toward:

  • The poor
  • Widows and orphans
  • Immigrants and strangers
  • The oppressed and forgotten

“Give justice to the weak and the orphan; maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute.”
— Psalm 82:3

Biblical justice lifts up the vulnerable and refuses to ignore suffering.

Justice Is Active Faith

God calls His people to do justice—not simply admire it or talk about it.

“Seek justice, defend the oppressed, take up the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.”
— Isaiah 1:17

True justice requires action, courage, and compassion. It is faith lived in public.

Justice With Mercy and Humility

Biblical justice never stands alone. It walks hand-in-hand with mercy and humility.

“What does the LORD require of you but to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God?”
— Micah 6:8

Justice without mercy becomes harsh.
Mercy without justice becomes passive.
Humility keeps both grounded in God’s grace.

Jesus: Justice in Human Form

In the New Testament, Jesus embodies and fulfills God’s justice:

  • Confronting oppression
  • Healing brokenness
  • Restoring dignity
  • Extending forgiveness and grace

“You have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith.”
— Matthew 23:23

In Christ, justice is not domination, but redemption, reconciliation, and love.

Living God’s Justice Today

To live biblical justice means:

  • Treating every person as made in the image of God
  • Rejecting prejudice and oppression
  • Defending the hurting and vulnerable
  • Practicing fairness, kindness, and compassion
  • Living with integrity in all relationships
  • Seeking peace and reconciliation

Justice is not a social fad—it is an eternal call for God’s people.

To pursue justice faithfully is to reflect the heart of God in a broken world.

Closing Prayer

Gracious and holy God,
Fill our hearts with Your love for justice and Your passion for righteousness.
Teach us to see every person through Your eyes—beloved, valued, created in Your image.
Give us courage to defend the vulnerable, wisdom to act with mercy,
and humility to walk in Your ways.
Let Your justice roll through our lives, our communities, and our world,
until all creation reflects Your kingdom.
Amen.

Blessing

May the God of justice and compassion fill you with courage, love, and peace.
May the Holy Spirit guide your steps in mercy and righteousness.
And may the grace of Jesus Christ empower you to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God—today and always.
Amen.