The Sunday Lectionary Readings for SUNDAY, Sept 1, 2019 - Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

Humility and Hospitality
(The Parable of the Embarrassed Guest)
Luke 14:7-14

The Sunday Lectionary Readings

SUNDAY, September 1, 2019 - Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

[Ordinary 22, Proper 17]

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

Opening Prayer

As We Gather Here

(Words for the above video)

As we gather here in the harbour of your safety

We thank you for fellowship and family.

We ask that you will strengthen us, restore us and inspire us with your love.

Lord, would fill us with your peace

So that as we journey onwards

We would pour out your love and grace to others.

We ask that our souls would catch the wind of your spirit

so that we would take your promises to all the earth.

Amen.

The Collect (Book of Common Prayers)

Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayer of Confession (Based on Jeremiah 2)

Dear God, we have known you since the time you led our ancestors from bondage to freedom. We have found no fault in your promise. Yet we wander from the path that you have set and put our faith in other “gods” which lead us away from justice, compassion and hospitality. We forsake your blessing. Forgive our faithlessness and our arrogance. Restore us to right relationship with you and all those in our midst.

Assurance of Pardon

God is merciful and slow to anger. God seeks the lost and extends the invitation again and again. God welcomes us when we turn to God. Friends, believe the Good News of the Gospel, In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.

First Reading

Jeremiah 2:4-13

2:4 Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel. 5 Thus says the Lord:

   What wrong did your ancestors find in me
     that they went far from me,
   and went after worthless things, and became worthless
     themselves?
6  They did not say, “Where is the Lord
     who brought us up from the land of Egypt,
   who led us in the wilderness,
     in a land of deserts and pits,
   in a land of drought and deep darkness,
     in a land that no one passes through,
     where no one lives?”
7  I brought you into a plentiful land
     to eat its fruits and its good things.
   But when you entered you defiled my land,
     and made my heritage an abomination.
8  The priests did not say, “Where is the Lord?”
     Those who handle the law did not know me;
   the rulers transgressed against me;
     the prophets prophesied by Baal,
     and went after things that do not profit.

9  Therefore once more I accuse you,
   says the Lord,
     and I accuse your children’s children.
10 Cross to the coasts of Cyprus and look,
     send to Kedar and examine with care;
     see if there has ever been such a thing.
11 Has a nation changed its gods,
     even though they are no gods?
   But my people have changed their glory
     for something that does not profit.
12 Be appalled, O heavens, at this,
     be shocked, be utterly desolate,
   says the Lord,
13 for my people have committed two evils:
     they have forsaken me,
   the fountain of living water,
     and dug out cisterns for themselves,
   cracked cisterns
     that can hold no water.

Psalm 81:1, 10-16 Exultate Deo

1  Sing with joy to God our strength *
   and raise a loud shout to the God of Jacob.

10 I am the Lord your God,
   who brought you out of the land of Egypt and said, *
   "Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it."

11 And yet my people did not hear my voice, *
   and Israel would not obey me.

12 So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their hearts, *
   to follow their own devices.

13 Oh, that my people would listen to me! *
   that Israel would walk in my ways!

14 I should soon subdue their enemies *
   and turn my hand against their foes.

15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him, *
   and their punishment would last for ever.

16 But Israel would I feed with the finest wheat *
   and satisfy him with honey from the rock.

Second Reading

Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16

Service Well-Pleasing to God
13:1 Let mutual love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. 4 Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” 6 So we can say with confidence,

   “The Lord is my helper;
     I will not be afraid.
   What can anyone do to me?”

7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

15 Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

The Gospel

Luke 14:1, 7-14

14:1 On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely.

Humility and Hospitality (The Parable of the Embarrassed Guest)
7 When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; 9 and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give this person your place,’ and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. 11 For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

12 He said also to the one who had invited him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Here ends the Lessons

Click HERE to read today's Holy Gospel Lesson message

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Closing Prayer

Lord, thank you that we are a family in Christ. Help us to share his love and legacy with everyone that we encounter this week. May we lavish Christ’s abounding goodness upon our families, friends and colleagues. Holy Spirit, come and equip us in our workplace, guide us in our school life, and inspire us in our neighbourhood. May we be your hands and feet to the needy, your words of affirmation to the oppressed and your arms of comfort to the lonely.

Thank you for choosing to use us to bring your kingdom here on earth.

Amen.

Optional parts of the readings are set off in [square brackets.]

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.
The parable of the Embarrassed Guest is not just a piece of practical advice, but is true at a spiritual level too. Jesus himself makes this application of the parable. He says, “For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

“Christians ‘March To The Beat Of A Different Drummer’” The Sermon for SUNDAY, Sept 1, 2019 - Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

Our Gospel message comes to us today from the 14th chapter of Luke, beginning with the 1st verse.

On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely...

When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give this person your place,’ and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” He said also to the one who had invited him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” (Luke 14:1, 7-14, NRSV)

All mighty God, we thank you for your word and the way that you in it revealed to us who you are and what you've done for us in Christ. Now as we open that word we pray that your spirit may be present, that all thoughts of worry or distraction may be removed and that the Spirit will allow us to hear your voice. And so, oh God, fill us with your spirit through the reading and proclamation of your word this day. We pray in Jesus name. Amen.

“Christians ‘March To The Beat Of A Different Drummer’”

Mike was the kind of person who “marched to the beat of a different drummer.” You could see that at his place of work. Most of the people there had a very pushy, “me-first” attitude. “You’re going to have to look our for yourself here,” he was told, when he was hired. “In this company, you have to push yourself forward, sometimes step on other people, if you want to advance.” That’s how most people were, at his company. But Mike marched to the beat of a different drummer. He worked hard, and he did good work. But instead of having a pushy, “me-first” approach to things, he was humble. Sometimes he got stepped on because of his humility. Sometimes people took advantage of him. But he seemed to be at peace with all that. He was humble. And things went alright for him. He did find for himself. He was someone who “marched to the beat of a different drummer.” He had humility flowing through his veins.

Or, take Elizabeth. She was different too. She was unusually nice to other people. She was always going out of her way to help people, sometimes total strangers. She babysat for people. She volunteered. Once when she was standing in line at the store, a lady in front of her didn’t have enough money for her groceries, and so Elizabeth jumped in and made up the difference. Most of the time, Elizabeth got nothing in return for her generosity. But she seemed to be at peace with all that. She was someone who marched to the beat of a different drummer. She had charity flowing through her veins.

What is that, that can make a person be so humble, or so charitable? Jesus talks about that something in our Gospel lesson for today. It was the Sabbath, and one of the Pharisees, one of the head teachers, invited Jesus over to dinner after the Sabbath service. This Pharisee wasn’t being nice to Jesus—he invited him over because he and the other Pharisees wanted to watch Jesus and see if he would do something wrong, so they have arrest him.

The house was packed, and the time came for everyone to sit down at the table. Have you ever seen what happens on the first day of school, when students enter a classroom? Often times there’s a mad-rush for the back seats—people are diving and elbowing each other. That’s what Jesus saw at the house of the Pharisee—these grown-ups were trying to get the best seat—it was very much a “me-first” atmosphere.

Jesus noticed this, and so he told them this parable. He told them that when someone invites you to a banquet, don’t show up with a “me-first” attitude. Don’t rush to sit in the best seat. What happens if someone more prominent than you shows up, and then the host has to tell you to get up and move to a lower seat? You’d look foolish in front of all those people. Instead, when you’re invited to a banquet, be humble. Take the lowest seat. And then the host will say to you, “Friend, move up to a better place,” and you’ll be honored in front of all the other guests.

Do you know what the main point of that story is? Look at verse 11: “For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Jesus isn’t just talking about table manners here. He’s talking about our relationship with God. Everyone who is proud before God, who thinks he is better than every body else before God, who exalts himself—God will someday humble that person. Sometimes that happens here in this world. It will happen for sure, in the world to come. But the one who is humble before God, who realizes that he’s not any better than anyone else, who believes that he’s just a lowly sinner, and humbly humbly trusts in Jesus Christ for forgiveness—that person, Jesus says, will be exalted by God. Sometimes that happens here, in this world. It will happen for sure, in the world to come. Do you have that kind of humility running through your veins?

After talking to the crowd about humility, Jesus turned to the host, and said to him, when you give a luncheon or a dinner, don’t always invite just your rich friends, or your relatives. They’ll pay you back, and you’ll get your reward, that’s true. But when you put on a luncheon—invite people who can’t pay you back—the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind. They won’t be able to pay you back, but you will be blessed. God will pay you back, at the resurrection of the righteous.

What Jesus is describing here is charity. The definition of charity, according to Jesus, is to give of yourself to someone else, and that person can’t give you anything in return. Don’t think you’re being charitable if you’re giving to someone who will eventually pay you back. Real charity, Jesus teaches here, is one-way giving. Real charity is when a believer in Christ says to himself, “I will give, and it’s OK if I get nothing back. I believe that when Christ raises me from the dead, I will be blessed. I don’t need to be paid back right now.” Do you have that kind of charity running through your veins?

Have you ever looked in the mirror and said to yourself, “I don’t look so good today.” Mirrors do that sometimes. The Bible does that too—the Bible is like a mirror, and as we read these things that Jesus says about humility, and charity, and we look at ourselves, our lives, our motives, our attitudes, we can see that sometimes, we don’t look so good. We know we’re supposed to be humble, but isn’t there a part of us that would rather say, “me-first.” Ever since we’ve been little kids, we’ve been saying, “me-first.” It’s “Me-first” in the work-place, “me-first” around our loved ones, “me-first” everywhere. We don’t like to be humble. And what about charity? Giving something, without expecting anything in return? Isn’t there a part of us that always asks, “What’s in it for me?” Why should I donate some of my money toward that? Why should I volunteer my time for that? Why should I go out of my way for that person? What’s in it for me? Humility and charity—is that really you?

God’s Word is like a mirror—we look into it and we say to ourselves, I don’t look so good. It shows us our sin. It humbles us and shames us. But God’s Word also shows us our Savior. The Bible isn’t just a book that makes us feel guilty. It’s the Word of God that brings us comfort and peace and joy, because here in the Bible, we not only see our sin, we also see Jesus, our Savior.

When you read about humility here, think about Jesus’ humility. When he came into this world, he didn’t scramble to take the highest place, did he. He took the lowest place. A humble birth. A humble life. A humble death. And there is no place more humble than the cross. That’s as humble as you can get, hanging on the cross, dying with the sins of the world piled on your shoulders. Jesus took the lowest place, and humbled himself, for you and me. And when you read about charity here, think about Christ’s charity. What he gave to this world—he didn’t just give a portion of his income that didn’t affect his lifestyle—he gave his whole life, something that you and I could never repay him for. That was his gift of charity to you—what amazing love, that Jesus would give you himself, so that you could be saved.

Do you know what happens when you ponder these things, and believe these things? God changes you. He changes you from someone who is proud, into someone who is humble. He changes you from someone who is self-centered, into someone who is filled with charity. That’s what happens every time you discipline yourself, to spend time in God’s Word—God changes you, and you become this person who marches to the beat of a different drummer.

Remember Mike the businessman, and Elizabeth, the charity-machine? They both marched to the beat of a different drummer. They marched to the beat of grace. “I’m sinful,” they would say, “no doubt about it. But God has shown me grace. Christ died for me. He humbled himself for me. And so I will be humble to others. He gave himself for me. And so I will give of myself to others.” That’s a Christian, isn’t it—someone who marches to the beat of a different drummer.

There is the story told of Booker T. Washington. He was an African American who went from being a child of slaves to the president of a college. While he was president, a woman walked up to him who didn’t recognize him, and said to him, “Why don’t you come over here and chop some wood for me.” She probably looked at the color of his skin and assumed that he was an ex-slave looking for work. Mr. Washington didn’t resist. He politely chopped wood for the lady, and after it was all over—it took awhile—she gave him a couple coins and said, “now be on your way.” A few days later this lady discovered that this man was the president of the local college. And so she went to the college and visited him in his office, and apologized for treating him in such a low manner. But Mr. Washington was humble. He said, “I don’t mind working, and I had the time, so I was happy to do it. I believe in being humble, and chopping wood was the perfect way for me to be humble that day.” That’s humility. There’s no “me-first” attitude there. Just being humble.

This is the kind of person that God is making you to be—humble. And charitable. Christians give and give and give. And often times, we don’t get anything in return. But we’re OK with that, because Jesus says in verse 14 that you will be blessed. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. There will come a time when God will exalt the humble, lift them up, and bless them beyond their wildest imaginations. And there will come a time when God will repay those who give so generously, while they’re on this earth. Jesus tells us that a time will come, when God will honor all those acts of love, on the last day, when he raises you from the dead.

Do you believe these things? If you do, then you are someone who marches to the beat of a different drummer. This week, look for ways, to be humble. Let God be the one that exalts you. And look for ways to be charitable. Let God be the one who pays you back. May God bless you to be a person who marches to the beat of a different drummer.

O Lamb of God, who, both by your example and precept, instructed us to be meek and humble, give us grace throughout our whole lives, in every thought, and word, and work, to imitate your meekness and humility. Mortify in us the whole body of pride; grant us to feel that we are nothing and have nothing, and that we deserve nothing but shame and contempt, but misery and punishment. Grant, O Lord, that we may look for nothing, claim nothing; and that we may go through all the scenes of life, not seeking our own glory, but looking wholly unto you, and acting wholly for you.

Let us never speak any word that may tend to our own praise, unless the good of our neighbor requires it; and even then let us beware, lest, to heal another, we wound our own souls. Let our ears and our hearts be ever shut to the praise that comes from men.

Give us a dread of applause, in whatsoever form, and from whatsoever tongue, it comes. Deliver our souls from this snare of hell; neither let us spread it for the feet of others. Whosoever perishes thereby, let their blood be upon their own head, and let not our hand be upon them.

O giver of every good and perfect gift, if at any time you please to work by our hands, teach us to discern what is our own from what is another’s, and to render unto you the things that are yours. As all the good that is done on earth you do it yourself, let us ever return to you all the glory. Let us, as a pure crystal, transmit all the light you pour upon us; but never claim as our own what is your sole property. Amen.

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Scripture taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)® Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Sermon contributed by Rev. Don Schultz.
We live in a society obsessed with being number one, while following Jesus who calls us to humble, faithful service. To meet the challenge of Jesus’ call, we must “march to the beat of a different drummer” starting from the foot of the cross.

The Daily Prayer for SUNDAY, Sept 1, 2019

The Daily Prayer

for SUNDAY, September 1, 2019

Seventh-century monk and bishop Isaac of Syria said, “Do not fall into despair because of your stumblings, for you should not consider them incurable. There is indeed a healer: he who on the cross asked for mercy on those who were crucifying him, who pardoned murderers as he hung on the cross. Christ came on behalf of sinners, to heal the brokenhearted and to bind up their wounds.”

Lord, you are a God who heals and calls forth life. Keep us from the pitfalls of self-pity and despair, lest we ridicule your grace and power, and forsake our own healing. Amen.

Verse of the Day SUNDAY, Sept 1, 2019

Proverbs 22:6 (NIV) Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

Read all of Proverbs 22

Listen to Proverbs 22

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Un dia a la Vez - Sunday, Sept 1, 2019

Un nuevo día

¡Despierten, arpa y lira! ¡Haré despertar al nuevo día! [...] Te alabaré, Señor [...] Pues tu amor es tan grande que rebasa los cielos.

~ Salmo 108:2-4, NVI

Cada día trae su propio afán. Entonces, ¿por qué nos vamos a afanar por el día de mañana? Hasta la Biblia nos recomienda que dejemos el estrés y vivamos cada día como si fuera el último.

Eso no significa que no te proyectes al futuro y que no planifiques. Estas cosas son buenas. Lo que no es bueno es que te dejes robar la bendición al preocuparte antes de tiempo.

Aprender a descansar en el Señor nos trae muchas ventajas, pues vives en paz y afrontas tus problemas confiando en que tendrán solución. Aun estando en aprietos financieros, conoces quién es Dios que no te desampara ni de día ni de noche. Cuando descansas en Dios, es porque has entendido en realidad que tu Padre que está en los cielos cuidará de tus hijos aun cuando partas de este mundo.

Comencemos entonces a darle gracias a Dios por el día de hoy. Además, vivamos a plenitud y saquemos el mejor provecho del mismo aunque venga con cosas que no esperábamos.

Ora cada mañana y encomiéndale tu camino al Señor. Preocúpate por los negocios de Dios y Él se preocupará por los tuyos.

Gracias, Señor, por este nuevo amanecer. Lo entrego en tus manos. En el nombre de Jesús, amén.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Cada día trae su propio afán. Entonces, ¿por qué nos vamos a afanar por el día de mañana? Hasta la Biblia nos recomienda que dejemos el estrés y vivamos cada día como si fuera el último.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Sunday, Sept 1, 2019

MARTYRDOM

Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.

~ Revelation 2:10 (NIV)

In Ambon, Indonesia, a Christian youth camp was held in early 1999 with the theme “Soldiers of the Cross!” The camp was attacked by an angry group of Muslim extremists and a 15-year-old boy named Roy Pontoh was singled out for carrying his Bible and interrogated.

When asked, “Who are you?” he replied, “I am a soldier of Jesus Christ.” The angry mob chopped at his left arm with a machete. The questioning continued, “Who are you?” And again Roy answered, “I am a soldier of Jesus Christ.” Then they chopped at his right arm.

When they tried to force him to say, “Allahu Akbar,” he replied, “As far as I know, Jesus Christ is the only Lord.” Now the seething angry crowd cut open his stomach and demanded again, “Who are you?” With his last breath, Roy gasped, “I am a soldier of Jesus Christ.” The mob cut off his head and threw his body in a ditch.

Martyrdom may be the end result of those who endure. In addition to Jesus, three martyrs are named in the New Testament—John the Baptist, Stephen and James. Some of the unnamed heroes of the faith mentioned in Hebrews 11:37 were also martyred.

Martyrdom is described as a legitimate response to persecution. This is not easily understood in our day and in our culture that specializes in personal “rights” and the avoidance of suffering. But a special crown is awaiting those who lay down their lives for their faith.

The appropriate response to persecution that one chooses depends on that person’s intimate relationship with God the Holy Spirit and openness to His direction.

No doubt if you and I had talked to Roy Pontoh before his death, we may not have detected such bravery and loyalty to Jesus. Roy passed the hot water test with flying colors. He graduated to a special place with his Lord as a victorious overcomer.

Overcomers are like tea bags. You have to put them in hot water to know how strong they are!

RESPONSE: Today I will live in faith and assurance that even in the test and threat of death I can be a victorious overcomer.

PRAYER: Pray that all those who may face physical death today for the cause of Christ will walk in faith and realize they will never die.

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.
Martyrdom is described as a legitimate response to persecution.

LHM Daily Devotions - Sept 1, 2019 - Rejoice, O Pilgrim Throng

"Rejoice, O Pilgrim Throng"

Sep. 1, 2019

"Rejoice, O pilgrim throng! Rejoice, give thanks, and sing; Your festal banner wave on high, The cross of Christ your King, Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice, give thanks, and sing!

"Still lift your standard high, Still march in firm array, As pilgrims through the darkness wend, Till dawns the golden day. Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice, give thanks, and sing!"

When we think of pilgrims, a ship called the Mayflower and the early Puritan settlers may come to mind, or perhaps the medieval pilgrims who traveled across Europe to visit sacred shrines. But we are pilgrims, too, the people of God on the move. Together with our fellow believers we "march in firm array," like an army advancing with and under the banner of the cross.

Like the pilgrims we remember at Thanksgiving, we are on the way to a new place, a new home. Like the medieval pilgrims, we are marching toward a sacred place, a place of glory. As these earlier pilgrims walked the dusty trails on this earth, we too travel the road of life, the path on which God has placed us. Saved by His grace through faith in Jesus Christ, we are on our way to our eternal home, to live forever in our Savior's presence.

We march under the sign of the cross and, at times, we also bear the cross as we wend our way "through the darkness." But through light and darkness we follow our living Lord Jesus. He carried His cross for our sake and for our salvation and now—having overcome the darkness of sin and death—He always goes before us; He's always with us. As pilgrims often do, while we march we rejoice, "singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in our hearts to God" (Colossians 3:16).

We are on our way to a sacred place, our heavenly home, and to a time when time will end as "dawns the golden day," the eternal day lived in the presence of our God and Savior. He has created for us this beautiful earthly home in which we now live, through which we now travel. Even though we feel at home here, and rightly so, we know that we are not yet truly home, because we are "strangers and exiles on the earth" (Hebrews 11:13). We are strangers and exiles—pilgrims always moving forward—because like the saints of old we "desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one" (Hebrews 11:16). So we continue on our way, lifting high the standard of the cross. And as we go, we rejoice, give thanks, and sing, because we are homeward bound, under the banner of Christ our King!

THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, go before us and guide our steps on this pilgrim way. We pray, too, that You would bless our witness so that others might join us on the journey. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

• Do you have favorite songs to sing when you praise and worship God?
• Have you ever written a song of devotion or reflection about spiritual things?
• Have you ever shared a Christian song with someone who was surprised at the song's melody or lyrical content?

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, "Rejoice, O Pilgrim Throng." Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Do you have favorite songs to sing when you praise and worship God?

Unser Täglich Brot - Unverändert

Unverändert

Lesung: Psalm 103,13-22 | Die Bibel in einem Jahr: Psalm 135-136; 1. Korinther 12

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Jesus Christus gestern und heute und derselbe auch in Ewigkeit. Hebräer 13,8

Kürzlich reisten meine Frau und ich nach Santa Barbara, Kalifornien, in die Stadt, in der wir uns vor 35 Jahren trafen und verliebten. Dort wollten wir an einem Ehemaligentreffen teilnehmen. Wir hatten vor, etliche der Orte zu besuchen, an denen wir einige der besten Stunden unserer Jugendzeit gemeinsam verbracht hatten. Aber als wir dort ankamen, wo einst unser Lieblingsrestaurant stand, fanden wir anstelle des mexikanischen Restaurants einen Eisenwarenladen vor. Eine Eisenplakette hing an der Wand und erinnerte an das Restaurant und sein 40-jähriges Bestehen in dieser Nachbarschaft.

Ich betrachtete den öden und doch vertrauten Bürgersteig, der einst mit kunterbunten Tischen und farbigen Schirmen übersät war. So vieles hatte sich um uns herum verändert! Aber inmitten der Veränderung, verändert sich Gottes Treue nie. David brachte es auf den Punkt: „Ein Mensch ist in seinem Leben wie Gras, er blüht wie eine Blume auf dem Felde; wenn der Wind darüber geht, so ist sie nimmer da, und ihre Stätte kennet sie nicht mehr. Die Gnade aber des Herrn währt von Ewigkeit zu Ewigkeit über denen, die ihn fürchten, und seine Gerechtigkeit auf Kindeskind“ (Psalm 103,15-17). David schließt den Vers mit folgenden Worten: „Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele“ (V. 22).

Der antike Philosoph Heraklit sagte: „Du kannst nie zweimal in den gleichen Fluss steigen.“ Das Leben verändert sich ständig um uns herum, aber Gott bleibt derselbe und man kann ihm immer vertrauen, dass er seine Versprechen hält! Auf seine Treue und Liebe können sich alle Generationen verlassen.

Tröstet es dich zu wissen, dass sich Gott nie verändert? Wann hast du diese Zusicherung gebraucht?

Allmächtiger und ewiger Gott, danke, dass du dich nie änderst und immer vertrauenswürdig bist. Hilf mir, mich heute auf deine Liebe und Treue zu verlassen.

Von James Bank

© 2019 Unser Täglich Brot
Kürzlich reisten meine Frau und ich nach Santa Barbara, Kalifornien, in die Stadt, in der wir uns vor 35 Jahren trafen und verliebten.