ripples in the water

Psalm 120:1-2, "I call on the Lord in my distress, and He answers me.  Save me, O Lord, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues."

God's will is for us to live peaceably with one another.  If we follow His greatest commands...to love Him with all our heart, soul and minds and we love our neighbors as ourselves...THIS would be the result.  But in our flesh, we somehow manage to get this all messed up. 

The psalmist sets a great example we can use.  He cries out to God for God to deal with them knowing God's will for us to live peaceably and His promise to love His people.  In a time when the Israelites were scattered in different gentile nations, the would make a pilgrimage to Mount Zion for their annual feasts and would sing these songs as they ascended Mount Zion.  They cried out to God for deliverance.

It's a good reminder for us all...on both ends.  To live at peace with others, and to cry out to God to handle us when trouble comes.  In my classroom at the top of my white board I write a verse that remains their all year to remind my students of something similar.  Romans 12:18, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."  Someone once told me this as they were holding me accountable to behave in this way during a rough patch with someone.  Even then, I am to live at peace with them/him/her.  I learned to trust God that He would save me in my distress.  Funny thing is I received the peace...which led me to live in peace.  It's a wonderful ripple effect that can go without end.  Can you see the ripple throughout the world if we all did it?