You men, how long will you try to turn my honor into shame?
How long will you love what is worthless
and search for what is deceptive? (Selah)
In this day, during this hour in which we live, if we measure men and measure ourselves by their honors, their loves, their panting search for deceptive things, we will crumble. Of course we will! Their quests leave us empty and their loves leave us shamed.
We are those who lie upon our beds and think of the Lord Jesus Christ; in repose, in confusion, when we are hurting beyond description, we turn our faces, not to the wall, but to the Lord, in whom we will “lie down in peace and sleep, because He makes us to dwell securely.” (Psalm 4:8)
Now, shall we not ask such a protection, such grace, such strong help for those who have known shame and worthless loves and whose every hunt has deceived them? We have changed course. Ours is a righteous path, as righteous as theirs is barren and brambled. One cannot find gold searching for peat, wanting it supremely. We will not abandon them. There may yet be time enough for them to turn, repent, and live again!
Remember, o my soul! – the Lord has done a new thing, and those who were enemies have become friends, and those from whom we would have hidden our faces, they are become the objects of our deep caring, our prayerful concern, and our FAITH in the mercies of Christ. Local gang members, abortionists, absent fathers (and mothers,) political charlatans … yes, them, too, no matter their persuasion.
3 Realize that the Lord shows the godly special favor;
the Lord responds when I cry out to him.
4 Tremble with fear and do not sin!
Meditate as you lie in bed, and repent of your ways! (Selah)
This special favor has been shown to us: we are privileged to care, to console, to offer life, to cry for those in need instead of weeping when they wound us. When we cry out, we are heard! On our beds, we remember those rushing headlong to disaster, and we repent of our cold love and pray!, so that they may repent of their sin and shameful ways.
United States Army M8 “Greyhound” armored tank, at the Arc de Triomphe following the liberation of Paris, World War II, August, 1944
Public domain, U.S. Army personnel or employee, work of the Federal Government, Wikipedia
Marketplace Monastics 