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Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king’s son. May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice. May the mountains yield prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness. May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor. May he live while the sun endures,and as long as the moon, throughout all generations. May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth. In his days may righteousness flourish and peace abound, until the moon is no more. May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute,may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts. May all kings fall down before him, all nations give him service. For he delivers the needy when they call,the poor and those who have no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy,and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence he redeems their life; and precious is their blood in his sight. (Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14)
King David as he reflects on his service as king and as he sees Solomon prepare to take the throne; prays for his child that God would give him justice and righteousness; no better things for a parent to pray for his/her child(ren). He asks for the child to live a life that blesses God and God's people. Then the words shift to a message that prophecies the coming King whose birth we just celebrated; Jesus our Lord, and King of kings. The vision is one of a just king who takes the side of the downtrodden and poor, again a plea for righteousness and justice to be traits lived out by the king.
What sort of things have you prayed for your children and grandchildren? It's not too late to add them to our prayer lists, and we should move away from the common, "I just want my kids to be happy." Our prayers should be that our children be good and righteous; that their lives serve God in seeking justice and righteousness for all people, and not be a journey of self-service and self-centeredness. And that prayer should include us as well. The journey of the Magi was one that no selfish or self-centered person would have made; it was a long, difficult trek of sacrifice and risk; so should our lives be.
PRAYER: Loving Father, as we pray, we pray for our children and their children, and for all the little ones around us. May our lives be examples to them of how to best live a life guided by You, to care for one another and to do our best to share life, love, hope, and compassion. May our eyes never be blinded to the needs around us, and may we do all we can to meet those needs; as individuals and as members of the Body of Christ, in Whose name we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Give of yourself to someone in need today.
Eradio Valverde
Prayer Requests and Updates: We being by thanking God for Bob Cowan, who is set to return home after his surgery in San Antonio. We ask your prayers for Pal Lester who undergoes surgery in Austin later today to remove pressure on his spine. And we give thanks for the life and ministry of Rev. Eubaldo Ponce, retired servant of the Rio Grande Conference who died last night in Dallas. Eubaldo was a dear friend and mentor to me as I started in ministry years ago in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Please pray for his wife, Susie, and their children.
