[ Today's Readings ]
They suppressed their consciences;
they would not allow their eyes to look to heaven,
and did not keep in mind just judgments.
LORD, never let us suppress our consciences. Help us to keep our gaze fixed on the things above.
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth (see Colossians 3:2).
Those who don't look to you and suppress their consciences keep no secrets from you. Whereas those who keep their eyes on you have nothing to fear.
“O eternal God, you know what is hidden
and are aware of all things before they come to be:
you know that they have testified falsely against me.
When we refuse to look to you we refuse the salvation you want to offer to us. No good comes of it. Even though we don't want to face up to our sins and the condemnation which we know is just we don't actually hide from it by hiding from you. And whereas the voice of the enemy keeps us from you by condemnation if we just turn to you you offer us mercy.
We may begin more like the two elders in the story of Susanna, slaves to our own passions. But if we allow our gaze to be lifted from the things of this earth we find an offer of mercy which can make us as innocent as Susanna. We find an offer of protection that can keep us safe from future works of the enemy.
We imagine that these two men were innocent once. The temptation to sin pushed itself upon them just as they now push themselves on Susanna. Where they yield she does not. We learn from Susanna that you, LORD, will supply help so that we need not yield.
The help which you provide is your own light.
I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life.
The men walk in darkness, hiding from the light. But the reason you give testimony to yourself, Jesus, testimony which can be verified, is so that we can turn to you and trust your judgments. We may not know the Father but you want to reveal the mercy of the Father to us.
LORD, stir up our spirits to desire your justice. Rather than indulging our selfishness help us to burn with a love like that of Daniel which is willing even to butt in and intrude if need be.
As she was being led to execution,
God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel,
and he cried aloud:
“I will have no part in the death of this woman.”
If we are willing to look to heaven for help we can be brave like Daniel. If we are willing to stand in your light, LORD Jesus, we can be innocent like Susana. And we are grateful that even when we fall if we just look up again, if we just come back into the light, we find mercy rather than condemnation.
The dark valley is all around us. But it doesn't need to define who we are if you are at our side.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
Help us to leave darkness and sin behind us. The evils that beset us cannot follow us if we truly follow you, Jesus.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
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