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Matthew 22:1-14 - Lectionary for Pentecost 19A

10/12/2017

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10/12/17
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.

In Jesus’ parable of the wedding dinner we find a culture of disrespect. Matthew 22:1-14 depicts a king, who is a figure of God. He is having a wedding celebration. It is a big one. There have been multiple cattle prepared. This event had plenty of advance notice and preparation. The guests had certainly been notified, and the king, as courtesy, sends someone to collect the guests. Yet, disrespecting the generosity of the king, the guests refuse to come. He calls out to others, who also refuse to come. We can easily imagine in this the work of God calling his people Israel to himself in faith. He sent Moses, he sent the prophets, and the guests would not come. They ignored him, harmed the servants, and insulted the King.

Finally an assortment of people are gathered together. There’s a feast. It’s food fit for the table of a king. And we can easily imagine that some of those guests don’t look all that great. They are peasants, workers, homeless people, maybe some criminals, maybe even the odd IRS agent or sociology professor. Yet they have been invited and they have come.

God the king has prepared a feast, a feast of life, a feast of redemption. He calls people from every part of society, from every nation, from every background to come. All they have to do is show the respect due to a fancy occasion and come. In some families from my background, they would say you wear your best and make sure it is clean. It doesn’t matter if your best doesn’t look as new or fit as well as some other people’s. It is your best.

What happens to the person who disrespects the king at this point? Someone has come in without attempting to clean up. Although all the guests are certainly dressed differently, and although there are sure to be differences in what people have and can wear, there is someone present who is noticeably not in appropriate clothing. Really? You went to the king’s son’s wedding dinner and wore the t-shirt with a picture of the king’s opponent in the last war? The person is rejected out of hand.

When God calls people to receive his blessings, he calls them according to his rules. He calls them to approach him in trust, in sorrow for their wrong, in hope that he is who he says he is, expecting that he is the one who will redeem them from all their sorrows. He openly showsh imself to be the one true God. He doesn’t put up with substitutes. Do you want to come to his dinner? Come as he has invited you. He will take care of the rest.

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 4:4-13 - Lectionary for Pentecost 19A

10/11/2017

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10/11/17

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.

It’s very easy, when reading our Epistle reading, to pile a bunch of commands onto ourselves. There are certainly a lot of demands from God. We are to rejoice, be gracious, confident, prayerful, thankful, and peaceful. We are to spend our time and energy thinking about things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy. We, like Paul, are to be content whether we have little or much. We’re told that Paul can do all things, and we ought to do the same.

It would be a natural step to feel inferior. It would be perfectly normal to despair. Yet that isn’t the purpose of this passage. Philippians is one of the most encouraging books of the New Testament! Why is that?

Let’s notice the promises. In verse seven we see that God’s peace will guard our hearts and minds. In verse nine we see that God will be with us. How is Paul content? He is content because in Christ he has all he needs.

Maybe we need to be sure we are thinking of God’s demands in light of his promises. What’s the source of our rejoicing? It’s the Lord who is near (verse 5). Where do we find graciousness, confidence, a desire to prayer, thanksgiving, and peace? It’s from the Lord who has rescued us from sin, death, and the power of hell. When we are burdened, when we are troubled, whatever our circumstances, we can call upon the Lord Jesus, who gives us all we need. When we see our failure, we look to him as the forgiving and restoring Lord. When we see our weakness, we look to him as our strength. When we think nobody cares, we look to him and realize that he cared for us when we didn’t even know who he was. All 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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Isaiah 25:6-9 - Lectionary for Pentecost 19A

10/10/2017

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10/10/17
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.

Isaiah 25:6-9 is one of my favorite passages to use at a funeral. It speaks to the great care of God for his people. His invitation to his people in verse six shows that he is the mighty Lord. He is involved in caring not only for his special people but for all the peoples. He gives them abundance, a feast. It is not only a lot of food, but it is special food. The menu is repeated as if in wonder.

What is the meal all about? When we look at the passage, at first glance we think it is a funeral meal, a feast at the time of death, commemorating the end. But that takes the passage backwards. Verse seven depicts a people who are already dead. They need to be brought to life. All the nations are dead.

In verse 8 we read that God is going to destroy death. How can this be? Jesus, in his death, becomes like us. In his resurrection, he kills death itself. With that victory over deat Jesus takes away our sorrow. He takes away the disgrace that we endure because we couldn’t overcome death. He commands life and then he makes it happen.

The final result is joy. God’s people have looked to him for salvation. He gives life and joy. This is all by God’s gracious decree, not based on any of our merit. After all, in verse seven, we were dead. Life comes from the Lord, not from us. We look to him in faith as the one who delivers life.

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 23 - Lectionary for Pentecost 19A

10/9/2017

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10/9/17
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 Psalm for this week is Psalm 23. This is probably one of the best known Psalms throughout history. It’s typically used to bring comfort and encouragement, especially to those who are sick or dying.

I’d like to take a quick walk through the Psalm and notice the things the Lord gives to his people. I’ve extrapolated a little bit, pulling ideas out. In verse 2 God gives us rest, food, and peace. Verse 3 shows restoration, guidance, and purpose. Verse 4 shows confidence even in times of danger. It also shows there is comfort in God’s correction. Verse 5 speaks of the safety which comes from God’s presence. He gives abundant care, not only guarding his people but giving them his anointing and supplying their needs beyond their abiity to contain it.

The New Testament describes Jesus as the good shepherd. As we are led by Jesus we receive all the grace and comfort we need. Are there troubles in our lives? There certainly are. The Psalm speaks of a valley of death and danger. It speaks frankly of enemies being present. But even more so, it speaks of the Lord’s ability to care for his people, no matter what troubles they face.

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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