PTSD

Daily Reading:  Luke 20

Scripture Focus:  And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, “Beware of the scribes..." (Luke 20.45-46)

Devotional Thought: Recently, I was talking with a friend about a new acquaintance of mine.  She told me that this person suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  She wanted to warn me, so that I would know how best to interact with him.  I appreciated that.

Jesus warned his disciples about PTSD, too.  Not Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, but another PTSD: Pharisees, Teachers (of the law), and Sadducees Derangement.  Luke 20 is a warning to us about those who suffer from this type of PTSD.

Pharisees were legalists.  They insisted that everybody live just as they did.  Salvation to them meant following a bunch of rules.

Teachers of the law (scribes) were literalists.  They insisted that everybody interpret the Law just as they did.  To them, salvation came by dotting i's and crossing t's in just the right way.

Sadducees were rationalists.  They insisted in taking the supernatural out of religion.  No angels.  No demons.  No resurrection.  No heaven.  Salvation really didn't mean that much to them.  If anything, it meant earthly power and benefit.

Derangement happens when these philosophies are substituted for a vital relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  God wants us to be moral, but he has not called us to moralistic piety.  God has given us the Bible, but he does not save us by our superior intelligence of scriptures.  God is a rational being and has made us rational beings, but he knows that our human enlightenment will not save us.

We would do well to heed and expand Christ's warning in verse 46: "Beware of PTSD."

Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for giving me the warnings of scripture.  Help me to heed them and to follow your way of salvation.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 143.7-12

7 Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit.

8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord! I have fled to you for refuge.

10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!

11 For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!

12 And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies, and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant.