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Luke 21:5-36 - Lectionary for Pentecost 23C, Proper 28C

11/14/2019

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11/14/19
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.

I was asked recently about the timing of “doomsday.” The questioner wondered because of an encouter she had had with someone worried about plans to implant microchips in people. Our reading from Luke 21:5-36 describes events which could reasonably provoke fear. The dispensationalism which has arisen to prominence in the United States holds that all the events of tribulation will happen in a very limited time.

This is an historical aberration. Until very recently, nearly all Christians have understood the seven years of tribulation as symbolic of a filling up of years. They see the time beginning in the early Christian period, coinciding with the work of the Holy Spirit in the Church, and coming to an end when Christ returns. With that in mind, what do we make of our passage from Luke? It describes our current age. In verse six the temple is destroyed, which happened in the year 70. We have often heard of people calling themselves deliverers. There are wars, riots, and other international conflicts, just as the passage describes. This is nothing new. Famine, disease, allegations of divine signs, people receiving persecution as Christians - none of it is new. God promises to guard His people to the very end. Our role is to watch in hope.

The world is a fallen place. It acts the part. When we see the signs of the fall we take courage. God is bringing the history of the world to a good conclusion. He keeps His people from all eternal harm.

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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2 Thessalonians 3:1-13 - Lectionary for Pentecost 23C, Proper 28C

11/13/2019

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11/13/19
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.

Our Epistle reading for this week, from 2 Thessalonians 3:1-13, struck me in an unusual way as I reviewed it. I recently had a discussion with a young man who is often involved in heated debates with some people who are on the fringes of American culture. During our discussion I formed the impression that his concern for prayer could certainly be summed up in verses 1-2. In his case, some of the “wicked and evil men” would easily be seen as bearing hostile intent. In my typical settings, it is not so obvious. However, the picture the Bible paints of our world is that, since the events of Genesis chapter three, humanity as a whole has been at enmity with God, and, by extension, with God’s servants. In my country this is generally shown by an incredulity that anybody would seek out a lifestyle in conformity to the revealed will of God or that we would consider Scripture in context to be the authority for how life and culture works bets. This is ultimately as dangerous a situation as the overt hostility shown by a small number of people. It allows those ruled by a fallen nature to pass as normative and not harmed by the fall.

All unbelief in Christ is harmful. Falling prey to its deceptions is deadly in the end. How do we fight against this power of evil? Through prayer and trust that the faithful Lord will guard his creation, especially his people who believe in Him (verse 3). What is our prayer? According to verse five it is that our hearts will be conformed to God’s love and the steadfast nature of Christ’s redemption. It is this kind of stability that motivates countless people to love and serve their neighbors. It is this that sterngthens families, results in stable communities, and finally helps others find hope in God’s redeeming love through Christ.

Pray for us, that we may bring Jesus and His care to our lost and hurting world, no matter the setting we find ourselves in.

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 98 - Lectionary for Pentecost 23C, Proper 28C

11/12/2019

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11/12/19
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 98 calls all creation to sing praises to the Lord. All creation - the earth, the sea, the rivers, the hills, and all the people too. This is a mighty chorus of praise! What reason is there for such an outcry? The Psalmist provides several reasons in the first few verses of the Psalm. In verse one, God “has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him” (ESV). The salvation of God is a big thing. After all, it seems quite impossible from our perspective to remove sin from somebody, especially without that person’s works of righteousness. Here, however, God works salvation for us. For this reason, we are called to sing God’s praises.

In verse two, God has made His salvation known by showing the nations His righteousness. I was recently talking with afriend who is having a little trouble wrapping her head around how big sin and salvation are. She took issue with the idea that we all sin, because she would rather think of the fact that we all make mistakes. Sin, I explained, is anything which falls short of God’s perfection. God shows us His righteous perfection. Then he shows us how he has given his life for all our sin, for all the times we are short of God’s perfection.

Third, in verse three, God “has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel” (ESV). He has shown his salvation all around the world.

For these reasons, God’s people sing praises to Him all the time. He has shown himself to be the savior, the redeemer of all his creation. We join the chorus of earth, sea, rivers, and hills calling out with God’s praises.

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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Malachi 4:1-6 - Lectionary for Pentecost 23C, Proper 28C

11/11/2019

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11/11/19
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.

Every so often, more often than I would like, I will see or hear a line of commentary that draws a very sharp distinction between the Old Testament and the New, regularly portraying the God of the Old Testament as a grumpy old man eagerly warming up to smite all humanity. On the other hand, the commentators depict Jesus as the all loving New Testament deity who really cares.

A careful reading of our Old Testament passage for this week, Malachi 4:1-6, should dispel those ideas. Verse one warns of a terrible destruction which is coming. The “arrogant and all evildoers” (ESV) are in deep, deep trouble. They will be cut down and then burned. Yet they have been warned. For generation after generation God has called everyone to trust in Him, not in any of our human wisdom or resources. Verse two shows the comfort and safety they can have, with righteous healing resulting in joyful cavorting like young cattle, overjoyed to go play in the pasture. God’s desire is to move people from verse one to verse two. Verse three, however, soberly reminds us that not all will believe. It will be a dreadful day because of those who reject God’s calling.

What is our reasonable reaction? In verse four we are told to remember God’s commands. They are for our good, for our preservation. And God has not just left us with a warning. Verses five and six speak of God’s work to turn hearts to righteousness, not only on an individual basis, but between generations. By God’s grace, people of many generations are called to repentance and faith, moving from verse one to verse two.

In the Old and New Testament alike, God lovingly calls His people to trust in Him as their only hope. If salvation is indeed by grace through faith, that call is the only truly loving thing to do.

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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