Saturday, February 21
Read: Psalm 51; Isaiah 58:1-12; Matthew 18:1-7
Perhaps the 51st Psalm best captures the essence of the season of Lent. David in a time in his life of deep remorse and repentance cries out in this prayer: “Create in me a clean heart O God and put a new and right spirit within me…Restore to me the joy of your salvation”. Here is voiced the longing of every follower of Christ and his ways.
In recent years since my retirement, I have discovered meaning and enjoyment in participating in the Rotary Club. Here in these weekly meetings, I am greeted by community leaders throughout our city trying to do the best for the Pensacola community in their professional relationships and in their personal opportunities. Each meeting commences with a recitation of “The Four Way Test,” during which participants collectively affirm: “Of the things we think, say, or do: IS IT THE TRUTH? IS IT FAIR TO ALL CONCERNED? WILL IT BUILD GOOD WILL AND BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? WILL IT BE BENEFICIAL TO ALL CONCERNED?” What a better world we will have if all of us from time to time slow down in the rush of daily living and examine our lives in the light of what we have known to be best and hit the restart button.
Prayer:
This season and the scripture of today helps us voice our prayer: “Create in me a clean heart O God and put a new and right spirit within me. Heavenly Father, Forgive our sins and restore us to your desires and your purpose for our life, through Christ our Lord we pray. Amen.
The Reverend Henry Roberts ’65 is a former member of the Huntingdon College Board of Trustees and a retired elder in the Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.
