CHETH. Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words. I entreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word. I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments. The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law. At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments. I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.

Shouldn't those precious companions of my past be my companions of today? Well, yes, but we have let time and distance and careers and worst of all, faith, interfere with our friendships. Given today’s communication capability, the only excuse is carelessness. I’ve got a gadget laying beside me on the arm of my chair with connects me effortlessly a grandson in Australia or a cousin in the Netherlands.

But why do I let differences in my interpretation of the Scriptures break a friendship? Shouldn’t I be willing to pick up a phone and and engage one of those friends from an earlier life is a discussion of a passage of Scripture? Hummm, am I not inviting the criticism of the Holy Spirit that I’m ignoring His suggestions? Shouldn’t I be willing to pick up a phone and call a brother, called to the same prison ministry, and encourage each other even though we disagree on the interpretation of a passage?

Join the Ailbe Community

As a member of the Ailbe Community you join a movement of men working for revival, renewal, and awakening, built upon prayer, sharing, and mutual edification. The Ailbe Community is devoted to practicing the Kingship of Jesus in every area of our lives. Go to www.ailbe.org/about to learn more.

Reading

Morning Psalm 123, Noon Psalm 119:145-152, Psalm 18

An alternate Reading Plan is based on 7 chapters/day from 7 sections of the Scriptures. My groupings are: Genesis-Joshua, Judges to Esther, Job to Song of Solomon, Psalms breaking 119 into convenient sets, Isaiah to Malachi, Matthew to Acts, Romans to Revelation.

Or set your own reading schedule up in convenient groupings as fits your study habits. But a daily time in the Word of the LORD is an absolute.