Rhetoric, the title of today’s “My Psalm 323” has to do with the art of writing or speaking–of choosing how to express a thought. The book of Proverbs has many statements such as: “The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the sinner will rot.” (See chapter 10) These are balanced statements. Here’s another: “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But, if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” See how contrasting elements fit together? It has to do with how thoughts are expressed.
In my Psalm 323, I use this technique, and other writing techniques to help us balance our lives in Christ as we live in a corrupted world. It is not easy. Our witness is on the line. We cannot live like others live and walk the walk of discipleship. The choices we make either advance our sanctification or inhibit it.
Our words matter. But even more so, our heart attitude which fosters our speech, must be aligned with God’s will. It requires constant surveillance, constant maintenance, if you will. This week, before we take the Lord’s Supper in church tomorrow, we, as a congregation were told, as is our practice, to prepare our hearts to take the Lord’s Supper. The scriptures warn that if we have anything against a neighbor, for instance, or if we are harboring chronic sin, we are to deal with those before taking Communion in an unworthy manner. It is a time of self-examination, discipline, and petitional prayer, and sometimes, might even involve interaction with that person, or steps to redeem our lives from sinful activities or thoughts.
That’s what Lent is all about. It is all too easy to say to ourselves: “Jesus has paid the price for my sins, so I can repent every once in a while and live life as I want.” Or, “I can be a Christian because I’ve never murdered anyone, or I go to church every Sunday, or I tithe, or I’m a pretty good person.” No, No No. That’s called cheap grace, and Jesus says such people are empty sepulchers. Faith is dead and buried, and just because a person “joined” a church at thirteen, it means he/she will go to heaven. Scripture says the Lord will say at judgment, “I never knew you!”
Let us in this season of Lent, and indeed every day, pray for the Holy Spirit to guide and direct our thoughts and our actions so that we may witness to Christ’s redemptive power and His control of our very existance.
MY PSALM 323 RHETORIC
O Lord of the Universe,
I come with humble heart before Your throne,
Knowing that in Your mercy, You hear my pleas,
Prepare my paths, provide for my every need.
You created the heavens and the earth
And pronounced them good
And I echo that,
Admiring the light that shines by night
And the sun that warms the day.
I thank you for Jesus, the Light of the World
And the Light of eternity,
For without You in my life,
I would know darkness and despair.
Precious Holy Spirit,
I ask You to be part of every conversation in this day,
To guide me in pathways of Your choosing,
To provide a barrier
Against sin of thought, of motive, of speech, of action,
Keeping my mind, body, soul, and spirit pure in Your sight.
Almighty God, Three in One,
Through the mercy of Christ’s sacrifice,
Thank you for Your provision and protection for me
And for my loved ones, the hedge that surrounds us all.
Be present at every conversation.
Be alive in every Word of Scripture
In every lyric of music today
To strengthen my faith.
Be ahead of my every pathway,
Leading me to those You want me to touch
With Your hands of mercy,
Influence through my words,
Bring to Your Throne in prayer,
And love through my actions.
Protect those who need You in a special way today,
The poor, the insensitive, the sick in body, mind, and soul,
And help me to be a beacon of light in dark places,
Soften my rhetoric,
Call to my mind songs of praise and thanksgiving
And passages from Your Word
For You are the source of my strength,
And in You I have my being, my purpose, my mission.
In Jesus’ Name. Amen
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