Dearest e-votees-
Our texts appointed texts for this week have a strong theme of repentance and restoration.
Old Testament Lesson:
Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32 speaks of death as a consequence of sin and of God taking no pleasure in death but wanting rather transgressors to turn and live.
Psalm:
Psalm 25:1-9 (see below)
New Testament/Epistle Lesson:
Phlippians 2:1-13 speaks of taking our eyes off of ourselves and looking out for the welfare of others as was first and best shown in the work of Jesus on the cross. 2:5-11 is also known as the “Christ hymn” and is thought to have maybe existed outside of Paul and was folded into this letter.
Gospel Lesson:
Matthew 21:23-32 Jesus sidesteps a trap laid by the chief priests and elders questioning his authority. He goes on to talk about the kingdom as like a repentant son and one unwilling to change his ways. It brings to mind the Pharisee and the Publican in Luke 18:9-14.
May God bless these words to us and draw us to places of repentance and restoration.
Peace,
Karl
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Prayer for Guidance and for Deliverance
Of David.
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.
Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.
Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!
Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
Psalm 25:1-9, NRSV
The prayer here is an earnest one from David seeking truth and salvation and mercy. David is full aware (as is Bathsheba and Uriah and short-lived baby) of his human frailty and his failings. Nathan reminded David and reminds us of how we stray. Psalm 51 was a response to Nathan’s rebuke.
Psalm 25 seeks after a God who transcends our failings. That is the hope of the son in Jesus’ parable who does as his father requests even after initially denying the request. That is the hope of those flocking out to see John the Baptist in the wilderness looking for cleansing and rebirth.
That God who transcends our failings is shown in words through the text in Ezekiel. There are consequences for the things we do and the things we opt not to do. Beyond that, however, is a God willing and able to grant life and newness to transgressors.
The God who transcends our failings is shown in deed on the cross as Jesus puts aside deity and enters into our world with compassion. Jesus suffers with (literal meaning of compassion) us and makes right what we could not.
Jesus took on the shame that David was so want to avoid in the psalm. Jesus opened up a way to new life and new hope and new chances. As we grow in taking that truth into our souls we grow into new life and new hope and new chances. As we truly live that restored life we find ways to offer new life and new hope and new chances to those that have transgressed against us.
We learn to pray with Jesus from the cross “Father, forgive them” and we learn to pray with Jesus on the Mount of Beatitudes “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors”—and we find freedom in the releasing of others.
God, we need you to transcend our failings this very day. Shape us into people who know you and love you. Thank you that your faithfulness trumps our faithlessness. Amen.
Our texts appointed texts for this week have a strong theme of repentance and restoration.
Old Testament Lesson:
Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32 speaks of death as a consequence of sin and of God taking no pleasure in death but wanting rather transgressors to turn and live.
Psalm:
Psalm 25:1-9 (see below)
New Testament/Epistle Lesson:
Phlippians 2:1-13 speaks of taking our eyes off of ourselves and looking out for the welfare of others as was first and best shown in the work of Jesus on the cross. 2:5-11 is also known as the “Christ hymn” and is thought to have maybe existed outside of Paul and was folded into this letter.
Gospel Lesson:
Matthew 21:23-32 Jesus sidesteps a trap laid by the chief priests and elders questioning his authority. He goes on to talk about the kingdom as like a repentant son and one unwilling to change his ways. It brings to mind the Pharisee and the Publican in Luke 18:9-14.
May God bless these words to us and draw us to places of repentance and restoration.
Peace,
Karl
---------------------
Of David.
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.
Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.
Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!
Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
The prayer here is an earnest one from David seeking truth and salvation and mercy. David is full aware (as is Bathsheba and Uriah and short-lived baby) of his human frailty and his failings. Nathan reminded David and reminds us of how we stray. Psalm 51 was a response to Nathan’s rebuke.
Psalm 25 seeks after a God who transcends our failings. That is the hope of the son in Jesus’ parable who does as his father requests even after initially denying the request. That is the hope of those flocking out to see John the Baptist in the wilderness looking for cleansing and rebirth.
That God who transcends our failings is shown in words through the text in Ezekiel. There are consequences for the things we do and the things we opt not to do. Beyond that, however, is a God willing and able to grant life and newness to transgressors.
The God who transcends our failings is shown in deed on the cross as Jesus puts aside deity and enters into our world with compassion. Jesus suffers with (literal meaning of compassion) us and makes right what we could not.
Jesus took on the shame that David was so want to avoid in the psalm. Jesus opened up a way to new life and new hope and new chances. As we grow in taking that truth into our souls we grow into new life and new hope and new chances. As we truly live that restored life we find ways to offer new life and new hope and new chances to those that have transgressed against us.
We learn to pray with Jesus from the cross “Father, forgive them” and we learn to pray with Jesus on the Mount of Beatitudes “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors”—and we find freedom in the releasing of others.
God, we need you to transcend our failings this very day. Shape us into people who know you and love you. Thank you that your faithfulness trumps our faithlessness. Amen.
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