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The Ancient Lie That Still Rules Our World
Hey Friends,
I hope you've had a great week.
Today, I want to share some thoughts the Lord impressed on my heart from Psalm 16:2 during a time of Lectio Divina .
If you're not familiar with this spiritual discipline, Lectio Divina , Latin for “divine reading” is an ancient Christian practice of reading Scripture prayerfully. Unlike Bible study (which is essential and valuable), this is about communion, not analysis.
It unfolds in four movements :
Lectio (Read) – Slowly read a passage, noticing what “lights up” for you.
Meditatio (Reflect) – Read it again. Linger on what stood out and consider how God may be speaking to you.
Oratio (Respond) – Pray, journal, and respond to what God has shown you who to Rules Our World.
Contemplatio (Rest) – Quietly rest in His presence and love as He works deep in your heart.
Reflections on Psalm 16:2
“I say to the Lord, You are my Lord; I have no good apart from You.”
In a culture that tells us we are “special,” “intrinsically good,” and capable of building a utopia through science and technology, this verse confronts all of it.
I have no goodness apart from Jesus Christ . Everything I have and everything I ever will have comes from Him.
This has always been Satan's strategy: to separate “the good” from God in our minds. To convince us that being good or having good things can exist independently of a living relationship with the kindness and grace of God.
It cannot. Not in the long run.
This was the offer made to Eve: You can have wisdom, beauty, and satisfaction as separate items apart from God.
The same temptation came to Jesus in the wilderness: Take physical satisfaction, recognition, and power without the Father.
It's the same ancient lie driving our culture today. Entire economic systems train us to pursue “the good life” through products, services, and experiences apart from God.
The Way of Resistance
The psalmist resists this link with the truth:
“I have no good apart from You.”
He reinforces it in verse 5:
“You alone are my portion and my cup.”
What makes this remarkable is that David was a king when he wrote this. Surrounded by lands, servants, gold, and silver, he looked at it all and said: None of this is good in itself. It only has value because it comes from God. He alone is my true good.
Paul echoes this in Philippians 3:8:
“I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord… I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.”
Paul, like David, realized there is no good life apart from God not even a religious one.
This challenges us deeply in our age of hyper-consumerism.
And David wasn't alone in saying this:
James: “Every good gift comes from the Father of lights.” (No good things without God.)
Paul: “In my flesh dwells no good thing.” (No good character without God.)
Jesus: “No one is good but God.” (No goodness exists apart from Him.)
So let's join the resistance. Let's ask the Lord for grace to see through the lie and to say with David:
“There is no good apart from You—and I will not seek it anywhere else.”
PS If you'd like to try Lectio Divina as a spiritual discipline, here's a link to guide you. If you do, let me know how it goes I'd love to hear about your experience!
More on. : adrianreid.org
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