Studying this morning's four readings from the St. James Daily Devotional Guide (click to subscribe), I examined myself with these questions. Where is your self-examination leading today?
Psalms 45:1-17. Verses 3-5, asking King Jesus to do battle for me today, what is the foe? The weapons? The desired outcome? My role?
Isaiah 53:1-12. Verse 6, exactly how have I been, or am I still, a straying sheep? Verse 7, why would Jesus willingly take the punishment I deserved? How can I thank him?
Revelation 17:7-18. Verse 14, if a Christmas visitor at my church heard this read or sung and asked me to briefly explain, could I?
Luke 23:44-56. As Jesus dies, the centurion, the counselor, and the women all take risks for him. What have I risked for Jesus in 2018? Shall I risk more for him in 2019?
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To go deeper, see interpretive notes by Bible scholar Patrick Reardon for many of this week's readings.