July 25, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 30, 86, 123
Joshua 8:1-22
Romans 14:1-12
Matthew 26:47-56

II. Selections
Psalm 86:11
Teach me your way, O LORD,
that I may walk in your truth;
give me and undivided heart to revere your name.

Joshua 8:14
When the king of Ai saw [ Joshua and his army in the valley in front of the city], he and all his people, the inhabitants of the city, hurried out early in the morning to the meeting place facing the Arabah to meet Israel in battle; but he did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city.

Romans 14:8
If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.

Matthew 26:56
" ...But all this had to take place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled." [ Jesus to the crowds] Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

III. Meditation: An undivided heart for you

The king of Ai's attention was undivided;
he saw before him a great opportunity,
which turned into a fatal trap.

When Jesus was betrayed by Judas,
the other disciples only saw a fatal trap.
They fled, thereby missing a great opportunity.

Teach us your way, O God,
that we may walk in your truth;
and give us an undivided heart to revere your name.

Grant that all our attention may be on you-
that in our lives, we live to you;
in our dying, die to you.