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Matthew 6:24-34 - Lectionary for Trinity 15

9/17/2020

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9/17/20
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 historic one-year lectionary.

A time of plague and pestilence is naturally a time that will provoke at least some level of anxiety. In the early Spring of 2020 I, along with millions of others, faced a genuine question. When there were runs on grocery stores and all other sorts of retail outlets, we did have to ask what we would eat, what we would drink, what kind of clothing would be available. In fact, as I write this in September of 2020, knowing that some of my country’s textile manufacturing was interrupted and some has turned quickly to making face coverings, I have some small question whether I will be able to replace some pieces of clothing this year. It might be delayed. 

What does Jesus say about our anxiety in Matthew 6:24-34? He says we shouldn’t be anxious about what we will eat, drink, or wear. Excellent! This is a command from our Savior! What’s even better is that he gives a reason. God cares for the things of our world, including birds and flowers. He certainly cares for us. As long as the flowers don’t have to worry about what their blooms will look like, we don’t have to worry either. God cares for us more than he does for them.

With this in mind, we do need to be aware that people, Christians and  non-Christians alike, have suffered from want over the generations. Some have starved. Some have been without basic necessities, such as clothing. There is certainly privation in this world. Times of drought have taken away the wild flowers, along with some of the people, in different places and at different times.

What is the good news, then? Jesus tells his disciples to seek His kingdom and His righteousness and we will see his hand of provision. This doesn’t necessarily mean we will not run into hardship and even death. But it does mean that our Lord, who has cared for us, will always continue to deliver forgiveness, life, and salvation to all who believe on Him. There’s no need to fear. God in Christ has taken care of our needs.

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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Galatians 5:25-6:10 - Lectionary for Trinity 15

9/16/2020

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9/16/20
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 historic one-year lectionary.
We remember as a matter of history that the chapter and verse divisions found in the Bible are not original to the text. They are generally helpful and normally come in appropriate locations. Yet reading the context of a passage does sometimes (often!) require crossing a chapter line. This happens in our Epistle passage for this week, Galatians 5:25-6:10. And this is a really good move.

The apostle warns us to walk in the Spirit and to avoid conceit, provoking and envying one another. This is immediately followed at the start of chapter 6 by an application. If we see someone caught in sin, those who are spiritual are to rescue him. The text is clear. Christians, very genuine Christians, become trapped in sin. It entangles us, like a net used in combat. The one trapped in the net may be a very fine fighter, but becomes entirely helpless when wrapped up. Likewise, the Christian who is entangled in sin can’t find a way out, at least not alone.

What does this idea of chapter 6 have to do with the last verse of chapter 5? There’s a connection in Paul’s mind. Very simply, when we become conceited, when we envy one another, when we decide to provoke others to anger and sin, we ourselves become entangled in sin. The very trap we try to set for someone else traps us.

There are two fairly obvious pieces of counsel to be had here. First, walk in the Spirit. This takes away our desire to sin against our neighbors. If we wonder whether we are walking in the Spirit, we need only to examine our hearts. A heart walking by the Spirit is a repentant one. Are we sorry for sin, and dependent on Jesus’ forgiveness? Then we are far less likely to exercise our old sinful man by conceit, provocation, and envy.

Second, when we find someone entrapped in sin, we don’t consider it a cause for rejoicing. It’s a reason for sorrow. We mobilize the rescue party and try to release our brother or sister who has become entangled. And we do it right away. The person wrapped up in the net may face death as a result. 

The Christian lives a life of repentance and mercy. Thanks be to God that we have been shown mercy. Thanks be to God that we can also show mercy to others.

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 146 - Lectionary for Trinity 15

9/15/2020

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9/15/20
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 historic one-year lectionary.

Our Psalm reading for this week is Psalm 146. A lot of Christians will say they are interested in “doing the Lord’s work.” It isn’t always clear what they mean by that. Are they planning to pursue ordained pastoral ministry? Are they planning to join with a parachurch organization that tries to bring Christian ministry to groups outside traditional church bodies? Are they engaging in some sort of social activism coated with a veneer of Christianity?

The Lutheran concept of vocation deals with this challenge. Put very briefly, a Lutheran view of vocation says that God has given us our work to do, and that as we do it we are bringing honor to God, being used as his instruments in the world.

Back to Psalm 146. Let’s see how it tests this view of vocation. In verses 7 and following, it’s either the blessed person or the Lord who does all these listed activities. I’m going to suggest it is the Lord doing them, but frequently using the blessed person as his instrument.

Want to do God’s work? In verse 7, execute justice for the oppressed, feed the hungry, and set prisoners free. Do we have the opportunity to help people who are downtrodden, poor, hungry, and in bondage to bad thinking or the evil actions of others? Or, for that matter, can we ease the life of our fellow humans who are in the prison of this fallen world? Perhaps we can lighten their load of troubles. Doing it in the name of the Lord, and because we trust in God, we are doing God’s work.

What about verse 8? Opening the eyes of the blind, lifting up those bowed down, and loving the righteous? While I don’t think this verse is particularly talking about physical aid, it could be used to advocate the Christian practice of opthalmology or orthopedics. Those are certainly good and valuable ways of caring for people. Yet I think this is meant in more of a metaphoric manner. We open blind eyes by helping them see in the light of the Gospel. We raise up those who are bent over struggling to carry their burdens in this world. And we do it especially among the righteous. Yes, Christians need their eyes open too. And, as one fellow pastor pointed out to me every so poetically one morning, bearing the cross is tiring, and some days we can really feel the splinters in our shoulders. 

How about verse 9? Here the Psalmist is clearly speaking of the Lord doing the work. But again, as before, we can participate in the work of the Lord. He watches over people who are traveling or displaced, the sojourners. We also, when we find people who are away from their support networks, can provide care and compassion. God upholds the widow and the fatherless. Sometimes he does it through us. In fact, normally he does it through his people. Whether through marriage and adoption or through friendship, we participate in the Lord’s work of taking care of widows and orphans. 

All this works together for the good of the world. The last line of verse 9 says that God brings the way of the wicked to ruin. He does it by bringing good into the world. So in the end God is the one who is magnified. He is the exalted one. If we want to do the work of the Lord, we simply need to follow him and care for what He’s given us to do. This is vocation. This is Christian ministry.


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 Kings 17:8-16 - Lectionary for Trinity 15

9/14/2020

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9/14/20
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 historic one-year lectionary.

It shouldn’t surprise us too much that God would use a miraculous means to care for His prophet. In 1 Kings 17, God cares for Elijah by sending him to Zarephath in Sidon and having him stay with a widow and her son. This is God’s means of keeping Elijah safe. 

He does a few other things as well, though. Let’s notice some of them. First, during this time of famine, the widow is aware that she is going to starve. The crops had failed and there was no more food. We don’t know this for certain, but apparently the woman was poor and could not buy more, or else there was simply nothing to be had. However it happened, the woman had no resources. Her life was going to come to an end, along with that of her son. Yet, as God provided his prophet to bring words of life for Israel, he also provided for the woman and her son to have food. This is a very common biblical scenario. God provides for his people’s physical and spiritual needs together.

The image of bread shouldn’t escape our notice. In the New Testament we learn that Jesus is the “bread of life” and that He plans to feed his people, even giving them eternal life. As a foreshadowing of this, bread, grain, and other foods are routine parts of the offerings of Israel.

Finally, for today, the woman showed her need. She was aware that she could not care for her need or the need of her son. Likewise, when we turn to our Lord for help, we confess that we are unable to take care of the trouble which will ultimately bring our lives to an end. We have no other recourse but to throw ourselves on God’s mercy. Thanks be to God, He is the merciful Lord who provides for our needs according to His riches, not according to ours.

When God speaks through His ministers, whether prophets, priests, or others who are bearing His Word, and particularly whe He speaks to those who are aware of their own frailty, He speaks words of life and hope. 

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

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