Serve the Lord and One Another

An Everlasting Covenant 

With God

Faithful God, Unfaithful People

Matthew 26:6-13 The Message

6-9 When Jesus was at Bethany, a guest of Simon the Leper, a woman came up to him as he was eating dinner and anointed him with a bottle of very expensive perfume. When the disciples saw what was happening, they were furious. “That’s criminal! This could have been sold for a lot and the money handed out to the poor.”

10-13 When Jesus realized what was going on, he intervened. “Why are you giving this woman a hard time? She has just done something wonderfully significant for me. You will have the poor with you every day for the rest of your lives, but not me. When she poured this perfume on my body, what she really did was anoint me for burial. You can be sure that wherever in the whole world the Message is preached, what she has just done is going to be remembered and admired.”

 Reflect

Nothing that we give to Christ out of love for him is wasted.  Christ deserves to receive our most cherished possession, ourselves.  This woman, probably Martha's sister was so taken with the love Christ had shown to her family that she honored him with anointment.

Pray

Pray that your life is lived as an expression of love for Christ and the grace of God.

God Always Faithful

An Everlasting Covenant 

With God

Faithful God, Unfaithful People

Psalm 44:1-8 The Message

A Psalm of the Sons of Korah

44 1-3 We’ve been hearing about this, God,
    all our lives.
Our fathers told us the stories
    their fathers told them,
How single-handedly you weeded out the godless
    from the fields and planted us,
How you sent those people packing
    but gave us a fresh start.
We didn’t fight for this land;
    we didn’t work for it—it was a gift!
You gave it, smiling as you gave it,
    delighting as you gave it.
4-8 You’re my King, O God—
     command victories for Jacob!
You’re my King, O God—
    command victories for Jacob!
With your help, we’ll wipe out our enemies,
    in your name, we’ll stomp them to dust.
I don’t trust in weapons;
    my sword won’t save me—
But it’s you, you who saved us from the enemy;
    you made those who hate us lose face.
All day we parade God’s praise—
    we thank you by name over and over.your

For Reflection 

Can we suspend the references to violence for a moment and perhaps look at these passages as a message for our time? The Earth is a gift from God. Not that we own it, but rather we are its caretakers, stewards of the land and the people thereon.

The enemies of God's people are and always have been us!  We tend to blame our sinfulness on everyone and everything other than our fragile hold on the promise of God. No amount of warfare, law, imprisonment, or political action has the power that trusting in God and being faithfully God-centered can yield.

God will save us from ourselves.  All we have to do is accept the powerlessness of our human condition and accept God's overtures for reconciliation. God will handle the rest. Peace and rest will surely follow.  

Pray. 

Pray so that you can rest in God. Pray for the courage to become a God--collaborator in the reconciliation of humankind to God.  

God's Kindness Leads to Repentance

Called Into Covenant with God

God's Covenant with the Returned Exiles

Romans 2:1-8 The Message 

God Is Kind, but Not Soft

2 1-2 Those people are on a dark spiral downward. But if you think that leaves you on the high ground where you can point your finger at others, think again. Every time you criticize someone, you condemn yourself. It takes one to know one. Judgmental criticism of others is a well-known way of escaping detection in your own crimes and misdemeanors. But God isn’t so easily diverted. He sees right through all such smoke screens and holds you to what you’ve done.
3-4 You didn’t think, did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract God from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard? Or did you think that because he’s such a nice God, he’d let you off the hook? Better think this one through from the beginning. God is kind, but he’s not soft. In kindness, he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change.
5-8 You’re not getting by with anything. Every refusal and avoidance of God adds fuel to the fire. The day is coming when it’s going to blaze hot and high, God’s fiery and righteous judgment. Make no mistake: In the end, you get what’s coming to you—Real Life for those who work on God’s side, but to those who insist on getting their own way and take the path of least resistance, Fire!

For Reflection

Our survival depends upon good judgment.  But judgment is not a license to be judgmental. "There, but for the grace of God, go I." is a saying worth remembering.  Believing it keeps one humble. Living it keeps one kind. A mother's firm grip on a squirming child leads the child into disciplined behavior. When God takes you firmly by the hand, leave your squirming childhood behind and follow God's lead.

Pray

Pray that you remain humble and kind.  Pray that you will realize that accepting your sin and repenting will result in joy and rest from a weary world.

Redeemer of Israel's Iniquities

Called Into Covenant with God

God's Covenant with the Returned Exiles

Psalm 30 The Message

A David Psalm

30 I give you all the credit, God—
    you got me out of that mess,
    you didn’t let my foes gloat.
    gave me another chance
God, you pulled me out of the grave,
    and you put me together.
2-3 God, my God, I yelled for helplife
    when I was down-and-out.at
    a lifetime
He gets angry once in a while, but across
    Thank him to his face!
4-5 All you saints! Sing your hearts out to God!is only love.
The nights of crying your eyes out
    give way to days of laughter.there
6-7 When things were going great
    I crowed, “I’ve got it made.
I’m God’s favorite.
    He made me king of the mountain.”
Then you looked the other way
    and I fell to pieces.
8-10 I called out to you, God;
    I laid my case before you:
“Can you sell me for a profit when I’m dead?
    auction me off at a cemetery yard sale?
When I’m ‘dust to dust’ my songs
    and stories of you won’t sell.
So listen! and be kind!
    Help me out of this!”
11-12 You did it: you changed wild lament
    into whirling dance;
You ripped off my black mourning band
    and decked me with wildflowers.
I’m about to burst with song;
    I can’t keep quiet about you.
God, my God,
    I can’t thank you enough.

For Reflection

there are days of crying
there are days of laughing
there are days which should never have been
there are days which should have never ended
there are days when you gave up and
lament became joy

this is your God Story 

Pray

Pray that you remember your God Story.  Pray that you will give your life to the living God of Grace who will always come to you with salvation and freedom from fear.  Praise God! 

God Meets Rebellion with Steadfast Love

Called Into Covenant with God

God's Covenant with the Returned Exiles

Nehemiah 9:26-31The Message

26-31 But then they mutinied, rebelled against you,
    threw out your laws and killed your prophets,
The very prophets who tried to get them back on your side—
    and then things went from bad to worse.
You turned them over to their enemies,
    who made life rough for them.
But when they called out for help in their troubles
    you listened from heaven;
And in keeping with your bottomless compassion
    you gave them saviors:
Saviors who saved them
    from the cruel abuse of their enemies.
But as soon as they had it easy again
    they were right back at it—more evil.
So you turned away and left them again to their fate,
    to the enemies who came right back.
They cried out to you again; in your great compassion
    you heard and helped them again.
    This went on over and over and over.
You warned them to return to your Revelation,
    they responded with haughty arrogance:
They flouted your commands, spurned your rules
    —the very words by which men and women live!
They set their jaws in defiance,
    they turned their backs on you and didn’t listen.
You put up with them year after year
    and warned them by your spirit through your prophets;
But when they refused to listen
    you abandoned them to foreigners.
Still, because of your great compassion,
    you didn’t make a total end to them.
You didn’t walk out and leave them for good;
    yes, you are a God of grace and compassion.

For Reflection

God never gave up on Israel and God will never give up on you.  No matter what you have done, God's unconditional love follows you. When times are hard, ask, and God will come.  When times are plentiful, remember your God Story.  Keep your faith in words of praise and thanksgiving for God's gifts.

Pray

Pray praise and thanksgiving for God's bountiful grace.  Pray that in collaboration with God you will grow into grace.

God Always Faithful

An Everlasting Covenant 

With God

Faithful God, Unfaithful People

Psalm 44:1-8 The Message

A Psalm of the Sons of Korah

44 1-3 We’ve been hearing about this, God,
    all our lives.
Our fathers told us the stories
    their fathers told them,
How single-handedly you weeded out the godless
    from the fields and planted us,
How you sent those people packing
    but gave us a fresh start.
We didn’t fight for this land;
    we didn’t work for it—it was a gift!
You gave it, smiling as you gave it,
    delighting as you gave it.
4-8 You’re my King, O God—
     command victories for Jacob!
You’re my King, O God—
    command victories for Jacob!
With your help, we’ll wipe out our enemies,
    in your name, we’ll stomp them to dust.
I don’t trust in weapons;
    my sword won’t save me—
But it’s you, you who saved us from the enemy;
    you made those who hate us lose face.
All day we parade God’s praise—
    we thank you by name over and over.

For Reflection 

Can we suspend the references to violence for a moment and perhaps look at these passages as a message for our time? The Earth is a gift from God. Not that we own it, but rather we are its caretakers, stewards of the land and the people thereon.

The enemies of God's people are and always have been us!  We tend to blame our sinfulness on everyone and everything other than our fragile hold on the promise of God. No amount of warfare, law, imprisonment, or political action has the power that trusting in God and being faithfully God-centered can yield.

God will save us from ourselves.  All we have to do is accept the powerlessness of our human condition and accept God's overtures for reconciliation. God will handle the rest. Peace and rest will surely follow. 

Pray. 

Pray so that you can rest in God. Pray for the courage to become a God--collaborator in the reconciliation of humankind to God.  

Israel Gathers for National Confession

Called Into Covenant with God

God's Covenant with the Returned Exiles

Nehemiah 9:1-6 The Message

9 1-3 Then on the twenty-fourth day of this month, the People of Israel gathered for a fast, wearing burlap and faces smudged with dirt as signs of repentance. The Israelites broke off all relations with foreigners, stood up, and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their parents. While they stood there in their places, they read from the Book of The Revelation of God, their God, for a quarter of the day. For another quarter of the day they confessed and worshiped their God.
4-5 A group of Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Kenani—stood on the platform and cried out to God, their God, in a loud voice. The Levites Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah said, “On your feet! Bless God, your God, for ever and ever!”
5-6 Blessed be your glorious name,
    exalted above all blessing and praise!
You’re the one,
    God, you alone;
You made the heavens,
    the heavens of heavens, and all angels;
The earth and everything on it,
    the seas and everything in them;
You keep them all alive;
    heaven’s angels worship you!

For Reflection

During the feast of the tabernacles, eight days were filled with the reading of the law and remembrances of previous sins about which during that time they were not permitted to mourn.  On the first day following the feast, the people isolated themselves from the society and rested. The next day, filled with grief over the awakened realization of their sins, they repented mourned their sin in solemn fasting and humiliation.

How often have you spent time with the scriptures and reflected upon those things which separate you from God?  How have you fasted and repented?


Pray
Pray that you will become informed by the Scriptures.  Pray that you will discover in them your sinfulness and the bounty of God's salvation.  Pray to mourn your sin and rejoice in God.

Forgive Fellow Believers Repeatedly

Called Into Covenant with God

God's Covenant with the Returned Exiles

Luke 17:1-4 The Message

A Kernel of Faith

17 1-2 He said to his disciples, “Hard trials and temptations are bound to come, but too bad for whoever brings them on! Better to wear a millstone necklace and take a swim in the deep blue sea than give even one of these dear little ones a hard time!
3-4 “Be alert. If you see your friend going wrong, correct him. If he responds, forgive him. Even if it’s personal against you and repeated seven times through the day, and seven times he says, ‘I’m sorry, I won’t do it again,’ forgive him.”

For Reflection

We are human. And even with the Holy Spirit residing in our souls, we will be seduced by our human condition to stray from our faith. Compassion and humility among believers insist that we counsel each other and forgive. The act of forgiveness will help us to overcome the most significant difficulties. With God all is possible. Respond to our brothers and sisters with the humility Christ has shown us. Speak kindly and offer hope.           

Pray

Pray for those who have known Christ and strayed from His way. Pray for those who have never known Christ that they shall see the truth of God's intention for full human life. Pray that you will seek to build not raze the souls of those with whom you encounter. Pray that you will speak kindly and offer hope.

Extolling the Majesty of the Lord

Called Into Covenant With God

God's Covenant with David

Psalm 89:1-18 The Message 
An Ethan Prayer
89 1-4 Your love, God, is my song, and I’ll sing it!
    I’m forever telling everyone how faithful you are.
I’ll never quit telling the story of your love—
    how you built the cosmos
    and guaranteed everything in it.
Your love has always been our lives’ foundation,
    your fidelity has been the roof over our world.
You once said, “I joined forces with my chosen leader,
    I pledged my word to my servant, David, saying,
‘Everyone descending from you is guaranteed life;
    I’ll make your rule as solid and lasting as rock.’”
5-18 God! Let the cosmos praise your wonderful
    the choir of holy anthems to your faithful ways!
Search high and low, scan skies and land,
    you’ll find nothing and no one quite like God.
The holy angels are in awe before him;
    he looms immense and august over everyone around him.
God-of-the-Angel-Armies, who is like you,
    powerful and faithful from every angle?
You put the arrogant ocean in its place
    and calm its waves when they turn unruly.
You gave that old hag Egypt the back of your hand,
    you brushed off your enemies with a flick of your wrist.
You own the cosmos—you made everything in it,
    everything from atom to archangel.
You positioned the North and South Poles;
    the mountains Tabor and Hermon sing duets to you.
With your well-muscled arm and your grip of steel—
    nobody trifles with you!
The Right and Justice are the roots of your rule;
    Love and Truth are its fruits.
Blessed are the people who know the passwords of praise,
    who shout on parade in the bright presence of God.
Delighted, they dance all day long; they know
    who you are, what you do—they can’t keep it quiet!
Your vibrant beauty has gotten inside us—
    you’ve been so good to us! We’re walking on air!
All we are and have we owe to God,
    Holy God of Israel, our King!

For Reflection

The psalmist can not contain his awe of God.  He is overwhelmed with joy and praises his God.  His calling is to proclaim the power of God and God's will for justice, truth, and love.  When God is in you, you cannot hide your infectious righteousness.  

Pray

Pray that your soul overflows with righteousness in such bounty that it flows over all who come in contact with you.  Let your light shine.


Forward to a friend

Solomon's Temple

Called Into Covenant With God

God's Covenant with David:

Samuel Anoints David King of Israel

1 Chronicles 22:6-10 The Message

5-6 David was thinking, “My son Solomon is too young to plan ahead for this. But the sanctuary that is to be built for God has to be the greatest, the talk of all the nations; so I’ll get the construction materials together.” That’s why David prepared this huge stockpile of building materials before he died. Then he called in Solomon, his son and commanded him to build a sanctuary for the God of Israel.
7-10 David said to Solomon, “I wanted in the worst way to build a sanctuary to honor my God. But God prevented me, saying, ‘You’ve killed too many people, fought too many wars. You are not the one to honor me by building a sanctuary—you’ve been responsible for too much killing, too much bloodshed. But you are going to have a son and he will be a quiet and peaceful man, and I will calm his enemies down on all sides. His very name will speak peace—that is, Solomon, which means Peace—and I’ll give peace and rest under his rule. He will be the one to build a sanctuary in my honor. He’ll be my royal adopted son and I’ll be his father, and I’ll make sure that the authority of his kingdom over Israel lasts forever.’

For Reflection
One must have great sympathy for David. He has fulfilled his role God's plan and has to give up his deepest dream. He now prepares for his son, Solomon to build the temple, a blessing that David has been denied.  David has prepared his son well for the task and has done much of the prep work.  But Solomon, not he, will be honored for building God's temple.

How have you felt when your dearest dream is denied? Would you be able to hand it over to someone else to finish? 

Pray
Pray that you will fulfill God's call and accept the limited role you are given as a blessing.  Pray for the grace to hand off God's blessing to others to complete their parts.  Pray that you will have no regrets in your service to the Lord.

Forward to a friend

God to Build a House of David

Called Into Covenant With God

God's Covenant with David:

Samuel Anoints David King of Israel

1 Chronicles 17:9-15 The Message

7-10 “So here is what you are to tell my servant David: The God-of-the-Angel-Armies has this word for you: I took you from the pasture, tagging after sheep, and made you prince over my people Israel. I was with you everywhere you went and mowed your enemies down before you; and now I’m about to make you famous, ranked with the great names on earth. I’m going to set aside a place for my people Israel and plant them there so they’ll have their own home and not be knocked around anymore; nor will evil nations afflict them as they always have, even during the days I set judges over my people Israel. And finally, I’m going to conquer all your enemies.
10-14 “And now I’m telling you this: God himself will build you a house! When your life is complete and you’re buried with your ancestors, then I’ll raise up your child to succeed you, a child from your own body, and I’ll firmly establish his rule. He will build a house to honor me, and I will guarantee his kingdom’s rule forever. I’ll be a father to him, and he’ll be a son to me. I will never remove my gracious love from him as I did from the one who preceded you. I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will always be there, rock solid.”
15 Nathan gave David a complete and accurate report of everything he heard and saw in the vision.

For Reflection

God has always been active in the history of Israel.  Here God has selected and prepared David for the task that God sets before him. Now God, in a vision, reveals his intention for the Chosen and the role David is to play.  As God has prepared David, God has also prepared you for your part in the Kingdom of God.  Have confidence in God and follow the lead of Christ.

Pray

Pray that you will remember all that God has done for you.  Pray that you will reflect on the gifts that you have to share with others. Pray for the confidence to trust in God and follow the lead of Jesus Christ fearlessly.

Forward to a friend

Samuel Anoints David as King of Israel

Called Into Covenant With God

God's Covenant with David:

Samuel Anoints David King of Israel

1 Samuel 16:11-13  The Message

11 Then he asked Jesse, “Is this it? Are there no more sons?”
“Well, yes, there’s the runt. But he’s out tending the sheep.”
Samuel ordered Jesse, “Go get him. We’re not moving from this spot until he’s here.”
12 Jesse sent for him. He was brought in, the very picture of health—bright-eyed, good-looking.
God said, “Up, on your feet! Anoint him! This is the one.”
13 Samuel took his flask of oil and anointed him, with his brothers standing around watching. The Spirit of God entered David like a rush of wind, God vitally empowering him for the rest of his life.
Samuel left and went home to Ramah

For Reflection

David was smaller than his brothers.  His hair was a different color.  His skin was lighter than theirs. David was the youngest son.  His father and the men in the village thought less of him.  Jesse thought so little of him that he did not present him to Samuel as a member of the family.

Why is it that God most always makes an unexpected selection in choosing people for special tasks? Here God decides on a lowly shepherd, one whom almost everyone thinks less of, as the future King of Israel? God is not like us who see superficially.  God sees not how others see us.  God sees our hearts and rushes into our souls to empower us to do God's will.

Pray

Pray that you will have vision far beyond the customary.  Pray to see with God's eyes.  Pray that you will seek God's mission for you.  Pray that you will let go of the conventional wisdom and judge with the uncommon understanding of God.

Forward to a friend

Lust Leads to Adultery

Covenant with God

Called into Covenant with God

Obeying God's Law 

Matthew 5:27-32 The Message

Adultery and Divorce

27-28 “You know the next commandment pretty well, too: ‘Don’t go to bed with another’s spouse.’ But don’t think you’ve preserved your virtue simply by staying out of bed. Your heart can be corrupted by lust even quicker than your body. Those leering looks you think nobody notices—they also corrupt.
29-30 “Let’s not pretend this is easier than it really is. If you want to live a morally pure life, here’s what you have to do: You have to blind your right eye the moment you catch it in a lustful leer. You have to choose to live one-eyed or else be dumped on a moral trash pile. And you have to chop off your right hand the moment you notice it raised threateningly. Better a bloody stump than your entire being discarded for good in the dump.
31-32 “Remember the Scripture that says, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him do it legally, giving her divorce papers and her legal rights’? Too many of you are using that as a cover for selfishness and whim, pretending to be righteous just because you are ‘legal.’ Please, no more pretending. If you divorce your wife, you’re responsible for making her an adulteress (unless she has already made herself that by sexual promiscuity). And if you marry such a divorced adulteress, you’re automatically an adulterer yourself. You can’t use legal cover to mask a moral failure.

For Reflection Pray

As I write this Harvey Weinstein, a Hollywood producer, is reaping the seeds of uncontrolled lust that he sowed during his highly acclaimed career.  How often have we seen a highly successful person be consumed by a fatal amoral flaw?  The Scriptural passage encourages a moral life, a life rooted in the Holy Spirit, a righteous life. One can mask moral failure for a short time, but that failure will eventually become public and the sin will topple the sinner.  It is not a God delivered punishment but rather the natural outcome of spiritual failure.

The good news is that even if one sins, one can repent.  One never loses the promise in God's covenant, that salvation is always there for the asking.

Pray
Pray for the sinner to humble himself or herself and repent.  Pray that you will remember that your God will always welcome you back like the prodigal son with joy and celebration.  Pray that you will accept the reconciled into the household as God has.  Pray that you will find the courage to welcome the sinner as God has welcomed you, who is also a sinner.

Anger Leads to Murder

Covenant with God

Called into Covenant with God

Obeying God's Law

Matthew 5:21-26 The Message

Murder

21-22 “You’re familiar with the command to the ancients, ‘Do not murder.’ I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.
23-24 “This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.
25-26 “Or say you’re out on the street and an old enemy accosts you. Don’t lose a minute. Make the first move; make things right with him. After all, if you leave the first move to him, knowing his track record, you’re likely to end up in court, maybe even jail. If that happens, you won’t get out without a stiff fine.

For Reflection

Here is an excellent example of how Christ honors the Messianic law and extends it.  Not only is murder a sin but so is character assassination,  Even a hateful thought toward another is sinful.  Why?  It is a form of idolatry to place yourself at the center of your universe. In doing so you set yourself higher than God.  Being a Christian requires a great sacrifice.  That sacrifice is your avoidance of self-centeredness.

Pray

Pray for humility.  Pray so that you place God above yourself.  Pray so that you may be filled with the wisdom of righteousness.

The Law Finds Fulfillment in Jesus

Covenant with God

Called into Covenant with God

Obeying God's Law

Matthew 5:17-20 The Message 

Completing God’s Law

17-18 “Don’t suppose for a minute that I have come to demolish the Scriptures—either God’s Law or the Prophets. I’m not here to demolish but to complete. I am going to put it all together, pull it all together in a vast panorama. God’s Law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God’s Law will be alive and working.
19-20 “Trivialize even the smallest item in God’s Law and you will only have trivialized yourself. But take it seriously, show the way for others, and you will find honor in the kingdom. Unless you do far better than the Pharisees in the matters of right living, you won’t know the first thing about entering the kingdom.

For Reflection
Some people ignore the Old Testament erroneously thinking that the New Testament replaces it.  However, the Gospel Good News is not a superordinate series of writings.  Rather it is the extension of the story of God and God's creation. We are still bound by the law. But, the Christ event has changed the way we interpret our faith.  Let the Hebrew Bible inform the New Testament and the New Testament inform the Hebrew Bible.

Pray
Pray that you will be able to apply the law in service to God with compassion and grace.  Pray that you will teach through your action the loving relationships tha invites others to live in the household of God

God's Exclusive Claim

Covenant with God

Called into Covenant with God

Obeying God's Law

Exodus 20:1-12 The Message 

20 1-2 God spoke all these words:
I am God, your God,
    who brought you out of the land of Egypt,
    out of a life of slavery.
3 No other gods, only me.
4-6 No carved gods of any size, shape, or form of anything whatever, whether of things that fly or walk or swim. Don’t bow down to them and don’t serve them because I am God, your God, and I’m a most jealous God, punishing the children for any sins their parents pass on to them to the third, and yes, even to the fourth generation of those who hate me. But I’m unswervingly loyal to the thousands who love me and keep my commandments.
7 No using the name of God, your God, in curses or silly banter; God won’t put up with the irreverent use of his name.
8-11 Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Work six days and do everything you need to do. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to God, your God. Don’t do any work—not you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your servant, nor your maid, nor your animals, not even the foreign guest visiting in your town. For in six days God made Heaven, Earth, and sea, and everything in them; he rested on the seventh day. Therefore God blessed the Sabbath day; he set it apart as a holy day.
12 Honor your father and mother so that you’ll live a long time in the land that God, your God, is giving you.

For Reflection Pray

The root of all sin is idolatry, placing oneself above God. When one places the possession of things, accomplishment or evokes the name of God as though God was at one's servant or a frivolous entity which one trivializes. God saves you from yourself, physically and spiritually. God recommends that one sets aside time for the development of one's soul to reflect on the story of God in one's life.  God asks that we have trust and confidence in God and not depend wholly on individual achievement.

Pray
Give some time in Sabath to God. Pray and listen to God's call, to.God's encouragement, to God's comfort.  Pray and rest in God.

A Chosen Race, a Holy People

Covenant with God

Called into Covenant with God

God's Covenant with Israel

1 Peter 2:1-10 The Message

2 1-3 So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk. You’ve had a taste of God. Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God’s pure kindness. Then you’ll grow up mature and whole in God.

The Stone

4-8 Welcome to the living Stone, the source of life. The workmen took one look and threw it out; God set it in the place of honor. Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you’ll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God. The Scriptures provide precedent:
Look! I’m setting a stone in Zion,
    a cornerstone in the place of honor.
Whoever trusts in this stone as a foundation
    will never have cause to regret it.
To you who trust him, he’s a Stone to be proud of, but to those who refuse to trust him,
The stone the workmen threw out
    is now the chief foundation stone.
For the untrusting it’s
. . . a stone to trip over,
    a boulder blocking the way.
They trip and fall because they refuse to obey, just as predicted.
9-10 But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.

For Reflection Pray

Salvation in the here and now is not an end state, but, rather, a process of maturing in your response to God's love.  The Stone, once rejected, lives. Christ is the cornerstone of our Christian faith. Upon Christ is placed the anchor for all belief and action.  A stumbling block for the Godless, Christ is the stepping stone into righteous living.

Pray

Pray so that you will live up to the priestly work with which God has entrusted you.  Pray and feed on the word of God. 

Revealed in a New Way

Covenant with God

Called into Covenant with God

God's Covenant with Israel 

Luke 9:28-36 The Message

Jesus in His Glory

28-31 About eight days after saying this, he climbed the mountain to pray, taking Peter, John, and James along. While he was in prayer, the appearance of his face changed and his clothes became blinding white. At once two men were there talking with him. They turned out to be Moses and Elijah—and what a glorious appearance they made! They talked over his exodus, the one Jesus was about to complete in Jerusalem.
32-33 Meanwhile, Peter and those with him were slumped over in sleep. When they came to, rubbing their eyes, they saw Jesus in his glory and the two men standing with him. When Moses and Elijah had left, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, this is a great moment! Let’s build three memorials: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He blurted this out without thinking.
34-35 While he was babbling on like this, a light-radiant cloud enveloped them. As they found themselves buried in the cloud, they became deeply aware of God. Then there was a voice out of the cloud: “This is my Son, the Chosen! Listen to him.”
36 When the sound of the voice died away, they saw Jesus there alone. They were speechless. And they continued speechless, said not one thing to anyone during those days of what they had seen.

For Reflection Pray

In Deuteronomy God appears in a cloud. Here, God appears in human form.  The unseen God, the god whos countenance is so brilliant that to gaze upon God or just to seek a quick glance would be to invite death, assumes a form that is visible, approachable, and the source of all life. To know Christ, to touch His robe, to follow his example is to invite God to inhabit your soul so that in knowing you, others could be reborn into the household of God.

Pray

Pray so that God's light-radiant cloud envelops you in the holy armor of righteousness.

The Triumphant Glory of God

Covenant with God

Called into Covenant with God

God's Covenant with Israel
Isaiah 60:1-7 The Message

People Returning for the Reunion

60 1-7 “Get out of bed, Jerusalem!
    Wake up. Put your face in the sunlight.
    God’s bright glory has risen for you.
The whole earth is wrapped in darkness,
    all people sunk in deep darkness,
But God rises on you,
    his sunrise glory breaks over you.
Nations will come to your light,
    kings to your sunburst brightness.
Look up! Look around!
    Watch as they gather, watch as they approach you:
Your sons coming from great distances,
    your daughters carried by their nannies.
When you see them coming, you’ll smile—big smiles!
    Your heart will swell and, yes, burst!
All those people returning by sea for the reunion,
    a rich harvest of exiles gathered in from the nations!
And then streams of camel caravans as far as the eye can see,
    young camels of nomads in Midian and Ephah,
Pouring in from the south from Sheba,
    loaded with gold and frankincense,
    preaching the praises of God.
And yes, a great roundup
    of flocks from the nomads in Kedar and Nebaioth,
Welcome gifts for worship at my altar
    as I bathe my glorious Temple in splendor.

For Reflection Pray

I have always had a soft spot for a good marching band.  I remember standing teary-eyed, at the curb in Athens Ohio as the Ohio University (Yes, there is another university besides OSU in Ohio!) marching band danced by, trumpets blaring to the drummer's jazz beat. I then imagine how God must feel when we return to the household with praise and thanksgiving.

Having offered sanctuary to all who recognize God's sovereignty, God greets all peoples with joyous acceptance.  Beneath the poetry of Isiah, lies profound unconditional love which wipes away the soot of profane human obligations. In the household of God, we are free to follow the unconventional wisdom of righteousness.

Pray

Sing praises to God's holy name.  Shout Hallelujah, free at last!

Prepare to Meet Your God

Covenant with God

Called into Covenant with God

God's Covenant with Israel

Exodus 19:9-15 The Message 

9 God said to Moses, “Get ready. I’m about to come to you in a thick cloud so that the people can listen in and trust you completely when I speak with you.” Again Moses reported the people’s answer to God.
10-13 God said to Moses, “Go to the people. For the next two days get these people ready to meet the Holy God. Have them scrub their clothes so that on the third day they’ll be fully prepared, because on the third day God will come down on Mount Sinai and make his presence known to all the people. Post boundaries for the people all around, telling them, ‘Warning! Don’t climb the mountain. Don’t even touch its edge. Whoever touches the mountain dies—a certain death. And no one is to touch that person, he’s to be stoned. That’s right—stoned. Or shot with arrows, shot to death. Animal or man, whichever—put to death.’
“A long blast from the horn will signal that it’s safe to climb the mountain.”
14-15 Moses went down the mountain to the people and prepared them for the holy meeting. They gave their clothes a good scrubbing. Then he addressed the people: “Be ready in three days. Don’t sleep with a woman.”

For Reflection Pray

In a thick cloud, God speaks through Moses to Israel.  God commands Moses to sanctify the people. God commands that they purify themselves by washing their clothes and themselves and by abstaining from sexual intercourse.  Since it is God's will that the people are free to choose, God has left the spiritual insight into the cleansing ritual for people to perceive and recognize the purity symbolized and required for inward sanctification as its counterpart. No external command can ensure personal sanctification. The essential preparation for approach to God is inward sanctification;

Pray

Pray that you will see beyond your religious rituals into their deepest meaning, the path to inner sanctification. Prepare yourself by cleansing your soul and enable yourself for righteousness.

You Are God's Choice

Covenant with God

Called into Covenant with God

God's Covenant with Israel
Deuteronomy 10:12-22 The Message (MSG)
12-13 So now Israel, what do you think God expects from you? Just this: Live in his presence in holy reverence, follow the road he sets out for you, love him, serve God, your God, with everything you have in you, obey the commandments and regulations of God that I’m commanding you today—live a good life.
14-18 Look around you: Everything you see is God’s—the heavens above and beyond, the Earth, and everything on it. But it was your ancestors who God fell in love with; he picked their children—that’s you!—out of all the other peoples. That’s where we are right now. So cut away the thick calluses from your heart and stop being so willfully hardheaded. God, your God, is the God of all gods, he’s the Master of all masters, a God immense and powerful and awesome. He doesn’t play favorites, takes no bribes, makes sure orphans and widows are treated fairly, takes loving care of foreigners by seeing that they get food and clothing.
19-21 You must treat foreigners with the same loving care—
        remember, you were once foreigners in Egypt.
    Reverently respect God, your God, serve him, hold tight to him,
        back up your promises with the authority of his name.
    He’s your praise! He’s your God!
    He did all these tremendous, these staggering things
        that you saw with your own eyes.
22 When your ancestors entered Egypt, they numbered a mere seventy souls. And now look at you—you look more like the stars in the night skies in number. And your God did it.

For Reflection Pray

God expects no more or less from you than God expected from Israel; to walk in God's ways and to serve God in response to God's boundless love. God is the householder of all things in the universe and God has singled you out and make you a member of God's household, an heir to God's estate.

When you feel as though God has forgotten you and you begin to drift into Godless ways, remember who you are and return, like the prodigal son, without judgement, into the loving arms of the Householder. Love God because God first loved you.

Remember, also, your God story and be humbled by it.

Pray

Pray that you will love God with all your heart and soul.  Pray so that you remain a humble servant of God. Pray so that you will always walk in the light of God's radiance.