Today's Reading August 13

Happy Monday! The local school system starts up today, and I hear parents everywhere with prayers of thanksgiving.
This morning, continuing in the Psalms, we turn to Psalms 96, 97, and 98. We do well to sing praises to the Lord, Here are some good examples of that.

Chapter 98
1 O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.
2 The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.
3 He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
5 Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.
6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.
7 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
8 Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together
9 Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.

See what I mean?

This evening we get more into the letter to the Romans, all of chapter 12.
One of the common, and reasonable questions that a new believer (and more than a few of those who are not so new either) is ''How now shall I live?'', ''How should my faith play out in my life?''. These are reasonable questions. While the Christian life is not defined by rules but by faith and grace, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the character of Christ, nonetheless we do look for some guidelines. (and yes, I know the subject is a minefield). Paul addresses this in general terms. Here's a good start:

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

or

9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

these are just excerpts, look through it all. These are, as I said, not steps towards salvation, but signs of it.