the God who wants to be found
lection reflection for 12 June 2019 / reading the bible daily with the church
In contrast to yesterday's Old Testament reading, today's (Isaiah 65.1-12) shows us another facet of God's character--his desire to be sought and found. Yesterday, we read about God's hiddenness, especially as a result of sin. Our encouragement in times like those, from Martin Luther, was to seek God and pursue him. . . .
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a God who hides himself
lection reflection for 11 June 2019 / reading the bible daily with the church
Today's Old Testament reading (Isaiah 63.15-64.9) speaks of God in an interesting and (perhaps) unusual way. In response to Israel's turning away from God, Isaiah cries out:
You have hidden your face from us.
You have let us be ruined by our sins.
--Isaiah 64.7 GW
We don't often think . . .
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on Pentecost...not a tame lion
In addition to the traditional Pentecost text from Acts, our pastor called a bit of an audible yesterday and added John 3.6-8:
Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again.The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its . . .
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Mary's focus and Martha's distraction... in a smartphone world
lection reflection for 7 June 2019 / reading the bible daily with the church
Today's Gospel reading is the familiar account of Mary and Martha from the Gospel according to Luke. We have all read and heard this many times, and yet as with all of Scripture, each reading is God speaking to us if we will only listen.
While they were traveling, he entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed . . .
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"The strength of Christ is the strength of your salvation..."
Anselm on salvation, Christ, and resurrection
O Christian soul, soul raised up from grievous death, soul redeemed and freed by the blood of God from wretched bondage: arouse your mind, remember your resurrection, contemplate your redemption and liberation. Consider anew where and what the strength of your salvation is, spend time in meditating upon this strength, delight . . .
on God's loving discipline
lection reflection for 5 June 2019 / reading the bible daily with the church
Today's Old Testament lesson is Ezekiel 11.14-25. As we read it, we doubtless focus on the most well-known verses in the passage, verses 19-20:
Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh,that they may walk in My . . .
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"Unless we had this hope we should long ago have been sunk..."
lection reflection for 4 June 2019 / reading the bible daily with the church
Today's New Testament reading is from Hebrews 6, where we are taught / reminded of the certain hope of God's promises in Christ Jesus:
God wouldn’t change his plan. He wanted to make this perfectly clear to those who would receive his promise, so he took an oath. God did this so that we would be encouraged. God cannot . . .
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