Recipe for Reunion

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 50

Scripture Focus: The people of Israel and the people of Judah shall come together, weeping as they come, and they shall seek the Lord their God. They shall ask the way to Zion, with faces turned toward it, saying, ‘Come, let us join ourselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant that will never be forgotten.’ (Jeremiah 50.4-5)

Devotional Thought: "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

That seems so far away.  Not only in the passing years since I used to recite it every morning at school, but also far away from reality.  What can we do?  Is there a recipe for reunion for America or for any group that finds itself deeply divided?

God gave one for the peoples of Israel and Judah, "brothers" who had been torn apart:

·       Come together.  So much of our communication today is done behind the anonymity of Facebook, Twitter, podcasts, and blogs.  On platforms such as these, it is too easy to be vile and demeaning.

·       Weeping.  Instead of raging at the inequities and insufficiencies of "the other side," would it not be better to weep together over the state of our union?

·       Seeking.  If we all seek the same thing, we will be more united.  The obvious question is, "Who determines what we seek?"  I have a simplistic answer that will change everything.  Let us seek the Lord.

·       Turning.  Some are left-facing, others right-facing.  What if we all turned to Truth and first principles?   It's hard to turn away from what you're familiar with, but unless we do, we cannot hope to be united.

·       Joining.  Israel and Judah were to join in an everlasting covenant with the Lord.  It was to be a formal declaration.  The gravity of a covenant might help divided people to be sincere.

Pray for our nation and for other groups which are bitterly divided.

Prayer: Lord, I pray for our country and for my [family, church, community, other] which is divided.  Unite us, I pray, as we come together with weeping, seeking the blessing of God.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 125.1-5

1 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.

2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore.

3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous stretch out their hands to do wrong.

4 Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts!

5 But those who turn aside to their crooked ways the Lord will lead away with evildoers! Peace be upon Israel!