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Matthew 21:23-27 - Lectionary for Pentecost 17A

9/28/2017

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9/28/17
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.

We all like to cover our tracks sometimes. We don’t like to be found out as the pragmatists we are. We would prefer to ignore our inconsistencies. In Matthew 21:23-27 Jesus confronts some of the chief priests and elders who would like to trap him. Where did his authority come from? Jesus’ response tells them to come clean on their attitude about John’s baptism.

On the surface, these two issues seem unrelated. However, they are both related to God’s authority. Is God the one who is bringing repentance and forgiveness through John? Is it the same God who is healing people through Jesus’ hands? Is this kingdom of God which Jesus proclaims the very presence of the true God of Israel?

The chief priests don’t want to admit that the people are right. John seems to be a genuine prophet sent from the true God with a message of repentance which is completely in line with Moses and the prophets. Yet if they admit John they will be forced to admit Jesus. They have no desire to do this. What will they do?

Sadly, the chief priests do what most of us do. Not wanting to admit that Jesus is acting in the authority of God the Father, they choose not to pursue the question at present. It’s tabled. And it will remain tabled until it fits their pragmatic purpose to bring it out again, after Jesus has been arrested and is headed for his death sentence.

The question this passage raises for us is whether we are willing to have our attitudes changed by the truth claims of Scripture. Is Jesus really who he seems to be? Then we need to allow God to be God. Our role becomes that of a repentant sinner who looks to the Lord for mercy and grace in our time of need. We will surely find him faithful as the Lord who restores us to the right relationship with the Father.


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 2:1-4, 14-18 - Lectionary for Pentecost 17A

9/27/2017

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9/27/17
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 Epistle reading for this week, from Philippians 2, is often used almost like a motivational speech. If we have any fellowship in Christ, we should find unity, love, and purpose. We just need to get along. And we do it without grumbling!

What’s all this predicated on? It is all dependent on fellowship in Christ. We’re consoled by His love, not by our own. We look to the Holy Spirit for our unity. We don’t look at our own spirit. That will only lead us to trust ourselves and enter into strife and animosity. No, we trust in the Lord. He’s the one who has reconciled us to God the Father. He’s the one who reconciles us to one another.

At every point, as we look at the Epistle lesson, we can ask ourselves how we are doing. We realize that we fall short of the perfect obecience the Lord would require. And we turn to him in repentance to find his forgiveness and grace. Then we see that all of the characteristics the apostle mentions are those of our Lord and Savior. He, in turn, has given his nature to us. We live in him and he lives in us. Thanks be to God.

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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Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32 - Lectionary for Pentecost 17A

9/26/2017

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9/26/17
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 this week is from Ezekiel 18. In the beginning of the passage God forcefully rejects the idea that we are merely a product of our ancestry. Rather than allow for the younger generation to be ruined by the troubles of the older generation, God says he is the owner of each generation. The young do not have to be condemned by the judgment lodged against the old.

This alone may raise the hackles of many in our day. We certainly understand that our ancestors had a good bit to do with the way things are for us. And truly we shouldn’t be dismissive of those troubles. A family may be ravaged for several generations by the suffering of one. Yet God’s perspective is that we are not entirely ruled by our forbears. God is able, by his mercy and grace, to redeem us from even the dysfunctional upbringing we may have had.

The passage then speaks to a different situation. Most of us have said, or at least we have thought, “That person will never change. Why bother?” God has a different perspective in the matter. He shows that while we might not be ready to allow for people to change, He is not limited in the same way. He is the God who allows for repentance,  forgiveness, and restoration.

No person is an island. However, each of us is able to stand or fall before God in just the same way. He has made his forgiveness available to each in Christ. In him we can stand.

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 25:1-10 - Lectionary for Pentecost 17A

9/25/2017

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9/25/17
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 25:1-10 speaks of our dependence on the Lord and the Lord’s compassion for his people. There’s an underlying question we should ask. Why does the Lord show his care for us? Is it because of our obedience? Our goodness? Is it entirely from the Lord’s compassionate nature?

There are Christian groups who will affirm that God’s grace operates with no reference to the Christian’s obedience. If God’s grace depends on our good works in any way, it is not grace at all. This is true in matters of redemption. God saves his people regardless of their sin. He saves his people regardless of what he knows they will or will not do in the future. Salvation is not dependent on our obedience.

That is not what the Psalmist is talking about. Here the Psalmist is reflecting on the interaction between God’s gracious salvation and a life of godliness in line with God’s law.  The text acknowledges that God makes demands on his people and that his people try to live in accord with those demands. it also confesses that we fail. We are, by our very nature, sinful. we need God’s redemption.

What’s the good news here? God delights to save his people from sin and shame. He has revealed his desires for them, for their good. The people of God respond by trying to live a life which is pleasing to God. He continues to forgive them.

There’s the right balance. God saves his people regardless of their sin. His people live in him, trying to please God simply because it’s good. God sustains his people even when they fail. It’s all part of God’s grace in this world.

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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