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Luke 7:18-35 - Lectionary for Advent 3C

12/13/2018

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12/13/18
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Our Gospel reading from Luke 7:18-35 has a good deal of variety. John, in prison, sends disciples to find out if Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus doesn’t answer the question, but leaves them to make up their minds. Jesus sings the praise of John. He speaks of the utter failure of the Pharisees and scribes. This passage seems to be all over the place.

It’s this last portion, though, that I would like to visit today. In our day, much of the secular world treats Jesus and His people in this same way. They have rejected Jesus without ever considering his claims (v. 30). Jesus observes that they act like children. Whatever the setting, they affirm Jesus and his children to be useless. If he fasts, he has a demon. If he eats, he is a glutton. In every instance, his response is wrong.

What answer does the Church give? I often give no answer at all. After all, it would be the wrong answer. Rather, we go on doing the good the Lord has prepared for us. Heal the sick, give people the good news, feed the poor, care for God’s creation. We let our world make up its mind about Jesus. Sure wish it would be right!

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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Philippians 4:4-7 - Lectionary for Advent 3C

12/12/2018

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12/12/18
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

It’s amazing how many things can worry us! Some of those we can take care of, or at least help care for. Some we can’t. For some, we are responsible. Others? Not so much. Yet we can worry, fret, stew. Or maybe we are simply able to acknowledge it is a concern and leave it there.

Philippians 4:6 tells us not to worry, but to present our requests to God. He is able to care for all of them. Some will work out without any more of our involvement. For some, we will find we are God’s instrument to help. Some of our requests will be resolved the way we wanted, some will not. But we can trust the Lord will work everything out. He will, additionally, guard our hearts and minds.

What do we do when we see or hear of trouble? We pray. Lord, have mercy on those who are suffering in poverty and hunger. Can I feed and clothe them all? Not by any stretch of the imagination. But if the Lord makes me able to help a few now and then, and He enables others at other times, what is the result? The hungry are fed, at least some of them. We were concerned, we prayed, and the Lord used us as part of the solution. Sometimes he may use someone else. Regardless, we worked in just the same way. What about when our family member or close friend is hurting? Lord, have mercy, help bring a restoration of our relationship. In that case, you are already part of the solution. So we let the Lord work through us, no matter what the need.

Make your requests known to God. He will work out the troubles in a way which uses you to bring glory to His name.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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Zephaniah 3:14-20 - Lectionary for Advent 3C

12/11/2018

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12/11/18
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

How many times have we decided the Old Testament prophets are full of doom and gloom? We turn to something more encouraging like Romans chapter 5. In doing so, we completely miss the delight in a passage like our Old Testament reading from Zephaniah 3:14-20. I will stop writing while you look in your Table of Contents or try to find Zephaniah rather than Zechariah.

Be glad! Why? God has taken away the judgments which convicted you. And why had they convicted you? Because you were guilty. But with God in your midst, why should you fear? He has taken away your evil and will protect you in the future. This is entirely too good news for us! God’s people, even the lame, the outcast, and the oppressed, will be rescued, even if they were in trouble justly. This is the enormity of God’s love. He is the one who restores our fortunes.

This is the sovereign love of God, who takes the people who were ot his own and makes them heirs of his kingdom. And he does it, as we read in the New Testament, by giving is Son to die in our place and grant life to all who believe him. This is a message of good news. God has prepared life. Why would we hide? Let’s press on, rejoicing and trusting in the Savior.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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Psalm 85 - Lectionary for Advent 3C

12/10/2018

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12/10/18
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Christianity is an historic faith, as is Judaism. In our Psalm this week the Psalmist reminds us of the historic roots of trust in God. In times past God has shown favor to his people. He has restored their fortunes, taken away guilg and sin, and turned away from his righteous anger. Will this happen again? When we look around and see God’s frown rather than his smile,can we actually hope for any good?

This is a historical faith. People’s sins, foolish ways (v. 8), their disobedience, all call for God’s anger. He has always insisted on perfection. That’s why sin is such a big deal. But how has the Lord dealt with sin and guilt? He awakens his people to him, or, rather, he gives his people life again (v. 6) so they can look to him. He shows his faithful love and truth (v. 10). He provides for his people. What’s our right response? Thanks, praise, love, and obedience. Work it in us, Lord.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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    About Throwing Inkwells

    When Martin Luther was dealing with struggles in his life he once saw what appeared to be an angelic being. Not trusting that he was going to be informed by someone other than the God revealed in Scripture, he took the appearance to be untrustworthy and hurled his inkwell at it. The chipped place in the plaster wall is still visible at the Wartburg Castle, though apparently the ink stain on the wall has been refreshed periodically by the caretaker.

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