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 146:1-10. Verses 3-5, how am I to balance my unconditional trust in God with my apprehension about civil government? Assuming the worst for politics in coming weeks and years, is all lost?
Isaiah 65:17-25. What possible relevance do these alluring promises and prophecies have for our troubled times? To believe them at all, am I a realist or a fantasist?
Revelation 22:1-11. Verses 1 and 2, how can I partake this very day of the river of life and the tree of life? What will they do for me? What will they cost me?
Matthew 25:14-30. As of now, which of God’s gifts to me have I invested wisely and which have I hoarded or wasted? Entering a new year, what shall I do differently? What is the motive, other than avoiding punishment?
To receive this in your inbox every day, sign up here.
To go deeper, see interpretive notes by Bible scholar Patrick Reardon for many of this week's readings.