e-Devotions from Bob Dannals

Wednesday, August 29

Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. James 1:22

The Apostle James must have had a reason to speak so forcefully about the works of faith. We assume that his community needed to hear about spiritual discipline and putting their faith to good use for others. In essence he wants believers to show the substance of their faith by real action, every day... in short, "walk your talk."

Challenge and Opportunity:

We've heard the adages for many years: "his words are empty;" "she is just hot air!"; "all hat and no cattle." We've all had our moments when we were caught short of substance -- we talked big, but we didn't follow through. And we can usually catch it easily in others; some have a very keen radar on empty promises or that which is fake. Each day we can make our words and promises count by our actions, by following through.

 

Daily Devotionals - Based on RCL Proper 17, Year B:

Song of Solomon 2:8-13; Psalm 45:1-2, 7-10; James 1:17-27; Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

e-Devotions from Bob Dannals

Monday, August 27

My beloved speaks and says to me: 'Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away ...' Song of Solomon 2:10

The "wedding songs/poems" in the Song of Solomon are intended as analogous to humanity's relationship to God. They are a series of "love notes" between a woman and her beloved. This particular text depicts a springtime environment during the mating season. Scripture often takes the feelings and passions in human relations and places them as allegory for divine love. We shouldn’t place too much emphasis on any literalism in these descriptions.

Challenge and Opportunity:

Very often we see our relationship with God as nothing more than another compartment of living ... that is, we call upon the Lord when in trouble or merely open our "drawer" of religion on Sunday, and we don't rely on God's love and guidance in all aspects of our life, every day. These notes from Song of Solomon underscore that our relationship with God is to be just that, a two-way daily encounter with the living Lord whereby we are strengthened by God's Spirit and guided and directed by grace. By its very nature, then, it fosters all of the expressions and emotions of human relationships.

 

Daily Devotionals - Based on RCL Proper 17, Year B:

Song of Solomon 2:8-13; Psalm 45:1-2, 7-10; James 1:17-27; Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23