3/19/18
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.
Sunday of the Passion is also frequently called Palm Sunday. It’s the day when the Church remembers jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, his entry into the climactic events which led to his death, burial, and resurrection.
Our Psalm reading is from Psalm 118:19-29. Here the Psalmist depicts a very joyful atmosphere. He prays the Lord would open up the way to righteousness. It’s clear from the context that the way of righteousness is the way to God. He’s the one who has made contact with His people (v. 21). He’s the one who is utterly reliable (v. 22).
The faithfulness of God is God’s invitation not only to trust in Him, but to be glad. Every day which God has made is, at heart, a good day. Let me repeat that, with a little more context that I borrow from a wide mentor of mine some years ago. Every day is made by the Lord. It’s a good day. It doesn’t mean it is an easy day. It doesn’t mean it is pleasant. But every single day, before God, is good.
The larger question is how we respond to God’s goodness. How do we work within His creation? How do we treat our neighbors? How do we recognize God’s sovereign grace? How are we instruments of his redeeming love?
When we realize our failure in all these measures, we can look to verse 27. The Lord is God. So what do we do? We continue with the sacrifice. We do what God has given us to do. And we also, as Christians, can look to the New Testament fulfillment of this passage.
Where’s the gate of righteousness? Who is the cornerstone who was rejected by the builders? Who is the one who created everything in the first place? Who is himself the high priest and the sacrifice? It is Jesus, the one who has reconciled us to God. It is Jesus, who has worked forgiveness for all who believe. It is Jesus, through whom we can safely approach the Almighty in hope and confidence. It is Jesus who makes the day good. And by his grace, we might just manage to recognize it asa very good day.
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.
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.
Sunday of the Passion is also frequently called Palm Sunday. It’s the day when the Church remembers jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, his entry into the climactic events which led to his death, burial, and resurrection.
Our Psalm reading is from Psalm 118:19-29. Here the Psalmist depicts a very joyful atmosphere. He prays the Lord would open up the way to righteousness. It’s clear from the context that the way of righteousness is the way to God. He’s the one who has made contact with His people (v. 21). He’s the one who is utterly reliable (v. 22).
The faithfulness of God is God’s invitation not only to trust in Him, but to be glad. Every day which God has made is, at heart, a good day. Let me repeat that, with a little more context that I borrow from a wide mentor of mine some years ago. Every day is made by the Lord. It’s a good day. It doesn’t mean it is an easy day. It doesn’t mean it is pleasant. But every single day, before God, is good.
The larger question is how we respond to God’s goodness. How do we work within His creation? How do we treat our neighbors? How do we recognize God’s sovereign grace? How are we instruments of his redeeming love?
When we realize our failure in all these measures, we can look to verse 27. The Lord is God. So what do we do? We continue with the sacrifice. We do what God has given us to do. And we also, as Christians, can look to the New Testament fulfillment of this passage.
Where’s the gate of righteousness? Who is the cornerstone who was rejected by the builders? Who is the one who created everything in the first place? Who is himself the high priest and the sacrifice? It is Jesus, the one who has reconciled us to God. It is Jesus, who has worked forgiveness for all who believe. It is Jesus, through whom we can safely approach the Almighty in hope and confidence. It is Jesus who makes the day good. And by his grace, we might just manage to recognize it asa very good day.
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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