Beyond Living Right
BRD REFLECTION 2026
Genesis 19:1-13 and Psalm 79:1-8 (NIV)
(David Foo, Strangely Warmed Retreat Committee)
READ:
Genesis 19:1-13 (vv. 4-5, 9-11); Psalm 79:1-8 (vv. 4, 9)
Genesis 19: “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out…”
“But they said, ‘Stand back!’…”
Psalm 79: “How long, Lord? Will You be angry forever?”
“Help us, O God of our salvation…”
OBSERVE:
I gleaned two contrasting responses shaped by how people relate to God in these 2 passages.
Genesis 19 shows a life where God’s standards are no longer considered. Actions occur without reflection on what is right before Him, and even God’s messengers are resisted rather than received. It reflects a posture where obedience and accountability to God are absent.
Psalm 79 shows the opposite response. The people recognise their situation, do not defend themselves, and turn to God in humility, seeking mercy and restoration.
The contrast is clear: when God is not the reference point, life drifts away from honouring Him; but when He is acknowledged, there is a posture that seeks to return and live in a way that honours Him.
APPLY:
This contrast challenges my evaluation of life.
Instead of stopping at the question, “Is this a sin?”, I need to ask myself a deeper question, “Is this glorifying to God?”
So the shift is not just about avoiding sin, but about actively orienting my thoughts, habits, and decisions around what honours Him. Anything that dulls that focus, even if it feels neutral, needs to be reconsidered in light of that aim.
DO:
I need to identify areas where I tend to ask what is ‘allowed’ instead of what is God-glorifying and bring it before God honestly. I need to let God teach me to be obedient so I can be led to have clear and practical steps to realign and adjust my choices that better reflect Jesus.
PRAY:
Lord, keep my heart anchored to You as the reference point for how I live.
Help me not to settle for simply avoiding what is wrong, but to actively pursue that which will reflect and honour You. Where my thinking has drifted into minimal obedience, reorient me toward what truly pleases You. Give me clarity and courage to change when needed. Amen.
