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Luke 13:31-35 - Lectionary for Lent 2C

3/14/2019

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3/14/19
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 for this week shows an uncharacteristic view of Jesus. Luke portrays him as, on one level, not caring about people. Normally we are struck by how much Jesus cares. But here, we see that his care for his own people provokes his disregard for those who have rejected him. He calls Herod “that fox,” indicating he is a conniving person who shold be disappointed (v. 32). Despite what the religious leaders think, he’s going to go ahead to heal people and cast out demons. He doesn’t care what the authorities say or do, he is on his own timetable to go and die in Jerusalem (v. 33). And, although it is a matter of sorrow that Jerusalem will not receive his care, in the end he leaves it desolate (v. 35). Those who would oppose Jesus have condemned themselves. He allows them this. They will have to deal with it as well as they can.

How do we deal with this concept? The fact is, Jesus genuinely calls all people to trust in Him. He is not changing that call. Yet the call tells the world to trust in Jesus or to work out its own salvation. Do we trust in Him as he has said, and add to heavenly joy? Do we trust in ourselves and go to our destruction? Jesus has done all that is needed for life and salvation. If we depart, woe to us. Let us rather be gathered in Christ, as the hen gathers her chicks, to a place of peace, rest, and safety.

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 3:17-4:1 - Lectionary for Lent 2C

3/13/2019

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3/13/19
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.

In our Epistle reading this week the apostle Paul urges the Philippians to imitate him. This passage opens a fearful set of possible misinterpretations. Are we to try to emulate our church leaders? How do we know if they should be imitated? What of the people who are only pursuing power? In light of recent publicity which points out the sinful stiving for selfish and dictatorial influence over others, resulting in all manner of abuse, we need to proceed with caution. We don’t follow churchly authorities blindly.

While Paul tells the Philippians to follow his pattern, and the patterns of others who are similar, he makes it crystal clear how he is different from the power of this world. In verse 19, the result of the bad examples’ life is destruction. They have raised their own desires to the level of a god. Their minds are on earthly, not heavenly things. Those who are headed for destruction have pursued the things of this life only. They are trying to live in the moment, rather than considering eternity.

Sadly, there is a movement within contemporary Christianity which urges living “in the now.” It would say that true spirituality is momentary. It is also elusive. The fact is, rejecting the past and taking no thought to the future is normally seen as irresponsible and unhealthy. Much of what makes society work is an awareness of the possible consequences of our actions.

Paul is not speaking to such a radical departure. He is, however, cuationing against considering only the self and the temporal. He says there is a much better thing for the Christian. We have a heavenly citizenship, eternal and trustworthy. For this, we wait as Christ prepares to change us into His image, out of our image. This is his way of giving us a glory we wouldn’t even imagine ourselves. Yet it is where we are to stand. As we see our leaders walking in this way of glory, we imitate them. Their desire is heavenly, likewise their calling. They will lead us to hope on Christ.

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 4 - Lectionary for Lent 2C

3/12/2019

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3/12/19
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.

Psalm 4 speaks to the troubled spirit Christians can often have when they realize, yet again, that they are radically different from much of the world in their attitudes and outlook. In verse two, the honor of the godly person is portrayed as shame. He endures lies, especially about his motives and character. These lies, moreover, accuse not only the believer but also God. Critics will ask what kind of a God would allow this or promote that. They will take advantage of every instance of a Christian not living up to the standard they have imposed on Christians, and then claim that it proves the Christian is an ungodly person and, furthermore, that God is irrelevant or a force for bad in the world.

Needless to say, this is very frustrating. Then, in verse four, the response to such an outpouring from our world is to remain quiet, to ponder God’s nature and character. To the world of accusers this very response appears to be a concession. It makes the Christian look weak and it fails to defend God’s character as well. That’s the exact opposite of what we normally would like to do. But it is what God gives us to do.

In the end, though, rather than engaging in battle with accusers, we live out a Christian life without apology, without defense. Notice in verse five that we are called to make the offering that is right and to trust in the Lord. Throughout the Old Testament, that kind of trust in God involves loving and serving your neighbor. It involves living a life which brings God’s mercy to the world. Rather than taking our conflict with the world into our own hands and fighting it out, we leave it in God’s hands and live out our trust in Him. According to verse six, we show goodness to others as the outstretched hand of God. We won’t do this if we are busy arguing with someone. We let God’s mercy do the arguing for us.

The outcome of this type of a radical lifestyle is to rest in the peace of God. That’s not a bad outcome, is it? Better yet, it allows others to find God’s peace as well. Is it frustrating? Perhaps. Is it counter intuitive? Decidedly. Is God honored through it? Absolutely.

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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Jeremiah 26:8-15 - Lectionary for Lent 2C

3/11/2019

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3/11/19
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 Old Testament reading from Jeremiah 26 describes Jeremiah’s boldness in the face of opposition. His prophecies had not been favorable for the future stability of Jerusalem. The city would be laid waste unless something very significant changed. Needless to say, the city and relgional leaders were not pleased. They called for Jeremiah’s death because he was apparently opposed to Jerusalem. Jeremiah stood his ground, telling them they could kill him or not, as they wished, but that the condemnation was from the Lord. They really needed to change their ways and obey the Lord.

God’s people often appear to be almost on the lunatic fringe, or at least out of touch with cultural values. In times when much of Western society is trying to recover and emulate pre-Chrsitian mores about the dignity of human life, the individualized interpretations of marriage, and the alternatively trivial or indomitable significance of sexuality, Christians who say human life is inherently priceless, marriage of a man and a woman for life is the basic way of organizing and perpetuating society, and that the marital relationship is centered on commitment appear increasingly disconnected. The larger society may respond with disbelief, hostility, and even abuse or marginalization. Yet all we are doing is exemplifying God’s revealed principles from Scripture, encouraging peace, stability, and safety. Like Jeremiah, we may appear threatening to some.

How do we respond? We may not always be beyond criticism, we may sometimes miss the perfect application of God’s Word, yet we still need to stand for the truth. As in Jeremiah’s time, so in ours. The people who reject God’s word can expect to suffer. We warn them, firmly but lovingly, to trust in God who can save them from every trouble.

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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