In the lessons for this coming Sunday, God’s promises are
given and the Lord remembers those promises while man might not. The Lord
promises Noah and his family that He will never again destroy the earth by a
flood. In the Epistle lesson, Paul thanks the Lord for the richness of grace
which the Lord has established in Christ. In the Gospel, Christ comes walking
to His frightened disciples on the sea. They do not recognize Him because of
fear and hardness of heart. The sermon hymn reminds us that it is the Lord
Himself that orders our days. Faith calls for us to recognize the Lord working
in our life especially when we cannot see His hand at work. God will not
abandon us to the world we create for ourselves. God does not withdraw to a contamination-free
zone and leave us to get on with it, but enters into the darkness, seriousness
and consequences of human wrong-doing in order to save us.
Monday, 20 July 2015—Psalm 145:1-3, 6-7, Antiphon, Psalm
145:5—On the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I
will meditate. This is a hymn
summarizing the characteristics of God. It is in acrostic form, making it easy
to memorize: each verse in Hebrew begins with a successive letter of the
alphabet. Verses 1-3 are the psalmist’s personal expression of praise. In verse
4, he expands to speaking of descendants, of passing on knowledge and
experience of God. God is known for his “wondrous works” (verse 5). In verses
8-20, he expands still further, to “all people” (verse 12). Verses 8-9 mention
his love, verses 10-13a his kingship over all, verses 14-20 of his care of all
in need.
Responsiveness to his call brings protection (verse 20a) but
those who oppose his ways will be destroyed. Finally, verse 21 combines the
personal commitment to God with that of “all flesh.”
Tuesday, 21 July 2015—Psalm136:1-9; key verse, verse 26— The
phrase “the God of heaven” (verse 26) is a Persian title for God found
frequently in Ezra, Nehemiah, and Daniel. The Psalm is a liturgy of praise to
the Lord as Creator and as Israel’s Redeemer. Its theme and many of its verses
parallel much of Psalm 135. Most likely a Levitical song leader led the recital
while the choir or worshipers responded with the refrain. The Psalm recounts
God’s mighty acts as the psalmist devotes three verses as a call to praise
(verses 1 -3), six verses to God’s creation acts (verses 4-9), six to His
deliverance of Israel out of Egypt (verses 10-15), one to the desert journey
(verse 16), and six to the conquest (verses 17-22). The four concluding verses
return to the same basic themes in reverse order; God’s action in history on
behalf of His people (verses 23-24), God’s action in the creation order (verse
25), and a closing call to praise (verse 26).
Wednesday, 22 July 2015— Genesis 9:8-17—We need to recognize
the reality and depth of human resistance to God that is seen in killing Jesus. What we call “sin” is not just the naughty
things we do that make the tabloid headlines.
Sin can be deadly and destructive.
It has consequences. And it
offends. There is a deep seriousness to human wrong-doing – sin – that means
that consequences cannot simply be bypassed.
We can either turn away from them, or we can wrestle with
them. Here we see God’s refusal to be marginalized. The next time instead of
destroying the world through a flood, He will turn His wrath on His own
Son.
Thursday, 23 July 2015—Ephesians 3:14-21—This section of the
letter offers a bit of relief from the heavy theological portions that have
been read up to this point. It presents a moment of tenderness, in which the
author speaks directly to his readers about his care for them. He speaks of his
prayer for his readers, which he does on bended knee.
Paul, like other apostles, had been entrusted with
revelations by the Spirit. Specifically, it had been revealed to him that
Gentiles, who receive the gospel in faith, are fellow heirs of the promises of
God. They too are members of the body of Christ, and, therefore, they have
access to God. "For this reason," the author prays that his readers
may be strengthened in spiritual power, love, and knowledge.
Friday, 24 July 2015—Mark 6:45-56—In Mark 1:16-20 when Jesus
called Simon, Andrew, James, and John without any apparent previous knowledge
of Jesus, they left everything immediately and followed him. What had they
recognized in Jesus? It is remarkable that none of the gospels provide a
physical description of Jesus. We will never be able to pin him down by virtue
of his appearance. Rather, we will always have to recognize Jesus for who He is
and what He does. It is more than the miracles and healings Jesus performed or
the things He taught. It may actually take the gift of faith to recognize the
One who died on the cross as the Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of the
world.
Saturday, 25 July 2015—Psalm 37:5—Sunday’s hymn of the day
is Entrust Your Days and Burdens, (LSB 754).
In the midst of our busy and hurried lives, it is easy to lose sight
that it is the Lord who orders our days and directs our path. Thus, the hymn
writer will remind us, “For He who guides the tempests along their thunderous
ways will find for you a pathway and guide you all your days.” Place you
confidence in Him. He can be trusted at His word. We can rely on Him as we
recall what He has done.
Prayer in time of affliction and distress: Almighty and most
merciful God, in this earthly life we endure sufferings and death before we
enter into eternal glory. Grant us grace at all times to subject ourselves to
Your holy will and to continue steadfast in the true faith to the end of our
lives that we may know the peace and joy of the blessed hope of the
resurrection of the dead and of the glory of the world to come; through Jesus
Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Prayer for Home and Family: Visit, we implore You, O Lord,
the homes in which Your people dwell, and keep far from them all harm and
danger. Grant us to dwell together in peace under the protection of Your holy
angels, and may Your blessing be with us forever; through Jesus Christ, our
Lord. Amen.
Prayer the Unemployed: Heavenly Father, we remember before
You, those who suffer want and anxiety from lack of work. Lead us so to use the
wealth and resources of this rich land that all persons may find suitable and
fulfilling employment and receive just payment for their labor; through Your
Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Prayer for Peace: O God, whom come all holy desires, all
good counsels, and all just works, give to us, Your servants, that peace which
the world simply cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey Your
commandments and also that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may
live in peace and quietness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who
lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.
Collect for this Sunday Proper 12: Almighty and most merciful God, the protector
of all who trust in You, strengthen our faith and give us courage to believe
that in Your love You will rescue us from all adversities; through Jesus
Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen
Sources:
Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 and Lutheran
Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House and from Lutheran Worship © 1980
Concordia Publishing House.
No comments:
Post a Comment