Today’s scripture: Galatians 6:1-18 (NRSV) (The Message)
As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me in this passage? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two before reading on.
My thoughts (Deb Doty):
Have you ever walked across a parking lot on a frosty evening, hurrying to your car, eager to escape the wind? You notice your boots leave a fresh path in the snow dust as you scurry across the last few feet to your car. You’re fumbling in your pocket with your gloved hands to find your keys when BAM! Suddenly another part of your anatomy is making an impression in the snow.
It’s too late, but you notice the patchy black ice and its crazy quilt pattern peeking out here and there from under the snow. If you’d only stepped an inch to the right, you wouldn’t be sitting in the middle of a parking lot feeling foolish. But you made a false step.
The Greek word translated “transgression” or “sin” in verse 1 could also be translated “false step.” Isn’t sin like that sometimes? You’re walking along, feeling fine, everything’s under control and BAM! Suddenly you’ve taken a tumble. It was that doggone false step on the ice. If only….
Any one of us can take a false step at any time and land on our backside. When we think we’re immune, we’re walking across that icy parking lot in the dark with sunglasses on. It’s almost a sure thing we won’t see the ice until we suddenly see it up close and personal—and painfully so.
Since even the most sure-footed of us can fall, it isn’t unusual to come across someone sitting in the parking lot, wondering how on earth they will ever get back to their feet with all the hidden ice just waiting to bring them back down. That’s when we fight the urge to lecture them about being more careful and we go over and help them up, being careful not to fall ourselves. When we remember our pain and realize our vulnerability, we will be gentle with them. And together we’ll make it to the car.
Thought for the day: Don’t leave someone sitting in the cold — help them up!
Today, let’s join together in prayer for: The Monday and Tuesday Couples Oasis Groups, and their leaders, Stan Lyford-Jones (Tuesday) and Paul Hancock (Monday) and the new Singles Oasis, and that group’s leaders, Les Prout and Kim Opsahl.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. Use the item above as a starting point, or consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.