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Luke 15:1-10 - Lectionary for Pentecost 14C, Proper 19C

9/12/2019

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9/12/19
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.

Hunting for hidden treasure is an exciting proposition. Most people would love to find a treasure map with instructions for finding a treasure trove. In reality, it isn’t that easy, but for a different reason than we might expect. Our Gospel reading has two parables which seem rather unrelated to the introductory complaint of the Pharisees. In Luke 15:1-2 the Pharisees were bothered because Jesus would eat with sinners. In response, Jesus told two illustrative stories about someone going to a lot of trouble to find something which had been neglected and misplaced.

I think in our society the lost coin illustrates this very well. Then again, we may want to consider the coin more carefully. A silver coin at the time of Jesus was normally a very small coin. Those I have seen are mostly about one-fourth the size of a dime. It’s really a little piece of something. If a woman had several silver coins it would probably be a dowry or something she wanted to save back for her children. This would be put away somewhere safe and possibly not be touched for years. Over time the silver would tarnish. In dim lifht it would be easy for a small, tarnished coin to appear like a bit of dirt or something else which could be tracked into a house. To find the lsot coin, the woman would have to examine any number of things which were worthless. The treasure is there, but it looks like trash.

Jesus was criticized for visiting with “sinners.” Maybe the town drunk, maybe the arrogant and abusive people, maybe a prostitute or a government official. It makes little difference who. These people appear lost and may seem to belong on the refuse heap. Yet Jesus treats them as treasures. This should give us great encouragement. We are among those sinner with whom Jesus would dine. He calls us a treasure worth seeking, finding, and even worth giving his life so we could be reconciled to God. Jesus has sought us out. 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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1 Timothy 1:5-17 - Lectionary for Pentecost 14C, Proper 19C

9/11/2019

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9/11/19
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 Epistle reading for this week, found in 1 Timothy 1:5-17, speaks to the purpose of God’s Law. It is there for the lawless (v. 9). Who are these lawless people? Paul gives a list of several types of lawbreaking, and the fact is that most of us would say we don’t fit into those categories, at least not normally.

Before we breathe too big a sigh of relief, we should notice Paul’s self-assessment, in verse 15. He considers himself to be among the sinners, and those of the worst kind. We would normally want to disagree. After all, this is Paul, God’s apostle, the man who dedicated his life to spreading the Gospel! He’s one of the good guys!

We have to look not only at our history but also at our internal attitudes to sort this out. We want to make our own laws (v. 9), ignore some of God’s lawful character, we find ourselves curious about and even delighting in that which disrespects God. We become angry with others and wish ill even on our family. We wish to use other people and even the truth itself for our own selfish purposes (v. 10). While we don’t often act on these attitudes we have them, and they condemn us before God. Paul is condemned by God’s law, and it condemns us as well.

What hope do we have? Only this. In verse 15 we read that Jesus came to save sinners. In verse 16, Jesus delights in showing his patience and mercy to those who believe in Him. This is a hope that will not perish or diminish. It burns brighter day by day, casting off the shadows of our sin, skulking in the corner, trying to hide from God’s law.

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 119:169-176 - Lectionary for Pentecost 14C, Proper 19C

9/10/2019

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9/10/19
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 Psalm 119 the Psalmist has filled stanza after stanza with expressions of praise to God for His Law. Of all people, surely this godly poet is committed to God’s Word. He longs for the Word. What is the startling statement in this week’s selection? It’s in verse 176. “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments” (ESV).

Though the Psalmist praises God’s commands and testifies to keeping them and remembering them, at the same time he acknowledges that he has gone astray and needs God to come find him. That’s a description of every person who values God’s Word and assesses himself honestly. We stray from the truth. We wander or scurry away. Once that is done, we can’t even figure out where God is, or maybe we are too scared to face His displeasure, so we run the opposite direction.

We need God to come rescue us, to drag us kicking and screaming back to His words of comfort and forgiveness. This is our hope. Do you love God and His Word? Know that He is still there to rescue you also. he is the living Word of God who reconciles his people with the majestic, triune God. He does it himself. Nobody else will.

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 34:11-24 - Lectionary for Pentecost 14C, Proper 19C

9/9/2019

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9/9/19
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.

The Bible describes all sorts of divisions among people, and this week’s reading from Ezekiel 34:11-24 is no exception. Here God pictures people assheep, with some goats mixed in, not an unusual scenario. God is the one who gathers his scattered sheep together, bringing them healing and putting them in good pasture.

Why do some of the sheep need healing? They need healing because the other sheep, those who have become greedy and powerful, not only eat and drink, but also trample the food, pollute the water, and attack the weaker sheep. To combat this situation, God states his intention to gather the needy sheep, strengthen them, rebuke the powerful, and place them all under the care of a good shepherd, who will come from the line of King David.

Christians confess that this good shepherd is Jesus the Christ, and that by his mercy he brings forgiveness and grace to all who believe him. There will still be selfish and sinful divisions even within the Church. However, we are not left to our own devices to seek restitution. This merely continues the pattern of the strong enforcing their own victory. Rather, at the call of Jesus, we who have strength and resources give preference and care to those who cannot help themselves. In this way we make the provision of the Lord available to all. We make sure there is fresh water and good grazing for all.

You will notice that I have spoken entirely in the context of those who are trusting in Christ. While we can urge those outside of Christianity to love and serve their neighbors and to protect those who are defenseless, history has shown that those encouragements almost never work. The best we can hope for is that in Christ those who have been tormented by our unbelieving world can find a refuge, the pure water of the Word of God, and the good food for their souls found only in Christ. God’s people provide a safe place for those who have suffered at the hands of their larger society. Jesus himself calls all people to come to him for rst. This is the good news of God’s Word.

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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