The Sunday Lectionary Readings for SUNDAY, July 12, 2020 — 6th Sunday After Pentecost

The Sunday Lectionary Readings

SUNDAY, July 12, 2020 — 6th Sunday After Pentecost

[Ordinary 15, Proper 10]

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Growing God’s Word

Genesis 25:19-34; Psalm 119:105-112; Romans 8:1-11; Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Opening Prayer

God of abundant love, we come to you this day in the midst of a season of great growth and coming harvest. All around us are signs of growth, in our earth, in our families, in our nation, in our world. We come this day, seeking your healing love and abounding mercy. Open our hearts to receive all that you offer that we may become fruitful workers for you. Amen.

Prayer of Confession

Seed-scattering God, we come to you this day with so many things on our hearts and minds. Some of the events this week have been very positive and have caused us to celebrate; but we are constantly besieged by worries, doubts and fears. These negative things crowd out your word and we become like the useless soil, unable to receive and grow. Slow us down. Continue to pour your love on us because we really hunger and thirst for it. Forgive us when we allow all the negativity to drown out your word. Scatter again the seeds of peace, love, hope and joy that we may be better disciples for you in this world which is in so much pain. Amen.

Words of Assurance

Here’s the Good News! God is never going to stop showering us with God’s love…all the time, everywhere…always for us.

Hallelujah!

The Collect

(from the Book of Common Prayers)

O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Prayer of the Day

Almighty God, we thank you for planting in us the seed of your word. By your Holy Spirit help us to receive it with joy, live according to it, and grow in faith and hope and love, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

First Reading

Genesis 25:19-34

Esau sells his birthright to Jacob

25:19 This is the account of the family line of Abraham’s son Isaac.

Abraham became the father of Isaac, 20 and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean.

21 Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. 22 The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord.

23 The Lord said to her,

   “Two nations are in your womb,
     and two peoples from within you will be separated;
   one people will be stronger than the other,
     and the older will serve the younger.”

24 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. 25 The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. 26 After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them.

27 The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents. 28 Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

29 Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. 30 He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.)

31 Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”

32 “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?”

33 But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.

34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left.

So Esau despised his birthright.

Psalm 119:105-112

Your word is a lamp to my feet

105 Your word is a lamp for my feet,
       a light on my path.
106 I have taken an oath and confirmed it,
       that I will follow your righteous laws.
107 I have suffered much;
       preserve my life, Lord, according to your word.
108 Accept, Lord, the willing praise of my mouth,
       and teach me your laws.
109 Though I constantly take my life in my hands,
       I will not forget your law.
110 The wicked have set a snare for me,
       but I have not strayed from your precepts.
111 Your statutes are my heritage forever;
       they are the joy of my heart.
112 My heart is set on keeping your decrees
       to the very end.

Second Reading

Romans 8:1-11

Living according to the Spirit

8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

Gospel Acclamation

(Deut. 30:14)

Alleluia.

The word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart.
Alleluia.

The Gospel

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

The parable of the sower and the seed

13:1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Here end the Readings

Click HERE to read today’s Holy Gospel Lesson message

The Apostles’ Creed

• I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

• I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord, who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to hell. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.

• I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Holy Communion

A nondenominational serving of bread and wine

Many churches around the world are working hard to adapt to online worship, and one challenge is how our members can celebrate communion from home. Though no video can truly replace the experience of celebrating together in our places of worship, we know that where two or more are gathered, the Lord is present.

Benediction

As you have received the seeds of faith and hope; go now into God’s world to scatter the seeds of reconciliation and peace, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. 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 Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

The Daily Lectionary for SUNDAY, July 12, 2020 — 6th Sunday After Pentecost
Growing God’s Word
Genesis 25:19-34; Psalm 119:105-112; Romans 8:1-11; Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

The Sower

Today, our gospel message comes to us from the 13th chapter of Matthew, beginning with the 1st verse, “The parable of the sower and the seed.”

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23)

Father, You sent your Word to bring us truth and your Spirit to make us holy. Through them, we come to know the mystery of your life. Help us worship you, one God in three persons, And reveal yourself in the depths of our being, by proclaiming and living our faith in you. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

“The Sower”

The Parable is the familiar Parable of the Sower. How full of imagery the story is.

The crowds are so large that Jesus gets into a boat so they can see him while he teaches.

We can see Jesus in a boat teaching, and then we can picture in our mind’s eye what he describes.

We can see the Sower of the seeds walking over his lands, sowing seeds by hand scattering them, and falling where they might. Some seeds fall on the hard, well-beaten path and lie there, and the birds come and eat them up.

Other seeds fall on rocky ground, where they do not have much soil, and in that warm soil, they spring up quickly. Yes, the soil is shallow because of the rocks beneath it. For the rock conducts heat and warms quickly. When the sun rises—and this is the intense Mediterranean sun of Israel, they are scorched; and since they have no root, they wither away.

Still, other seeds fall among the thorns, and the thorns grow up and choke them.

Some seeds do fall on fertile soil and bring forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

So Jesus teaches from the boat, and he ends, “Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

Then Jesus leaves the people and goes on with the disciples, and this part is not part of our lesson, but the disciples ask Jesus why he teaches in parables, and he says that the people are not ready to hear what he has to say.

But then he says to the disciples that they are ready, so he says:

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:

When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.

The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.

But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

The Word of God is something powerful to behold. Jesus says he sows the seeds in our hearts because He loves us. Through His word this day and each day we hear or read that word, he opens the keys to the kingdom of heaven. He sows the word so that we might know the love that the Father has for each of us. He sows that He might claim each of us for eternal life.

In this sense, this is a parable of hope, of grace, and of mercy. It is a parable about the love of God through Jesus to all people everywhere. He sows, period.

It is like the man in the following:

In 1918, a notorious criminal named Tokichi Ichii was sentenced to hang.

While in prison in Tokyo, he was sent a New Testament by two missionaries, Miss West and Miss McDonald. After a visit from Miss West, he began to read the story of Jesus and the crucifixion. When he reached the point where Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” something “clicked” within his heart. He wrote:

“I stopped: I was stabbed to the heart, as if by a five-inch nail. What did the verse reveal to me? Shall I call it the love of the heart of Christ? Shall I call it His compassion? I do not know what to call it. I only know that with an unspeakably grateful heart I believed.”

Tokichi was sentenced to death and accepted it as “the fair, impartial judgment of God.” Now the word that brought him to faith also sustained his faith in an amazing way. Near the end, Miss West directed him to the words of 2 Corinthians 6:8–10 concerning the suffering of the righteous. The words moved him very deeply, and he wrote,

“‘As sorrowing, yet always rejoicing.’ People will say that I must have a very sorrowful heart because I am daily awaiting the execution of the death sentence. This is not the case. I feel neither sorrow nor distress nor any pain. Locked up in a prison cell six feet by nine in size I am infinitely happier than I was in the days of my sinning when I did not know God. Day and night… I am talking with Jesus Christ.”

When Tokichi stood on the scaffold with the noose around his neck, with great earnestness, he spoke his last words: “My soul, purified, today returns to the City of God.”

The word was sown into this man’s life, and he was changed.

Jesus sows, period to everyone. Grace, Gospel, Salvation is brought to everyone through the word that is sown.

And it is a comfort to all preachers to know that the Word is sown to everyone by Jesus. So as you read this sermon, I am comforted by the fact that if you fall asleep or your mind wanders or is distracted, the word is still sown by Jesus.

But then there is a part of this parable that strikes us in the heart as we realize that we are the soil. How do we receive the word that is sown? Are we like the path, or the shallow ground? Are we filled with thorns? Or are we the fertile soil in which the Word that is sown is allowed to grow?

And if we are the fertile ground, will the Word grow, 100 fold, 60 fold, 50 fold, 10 fold? How do you and I receive the Word of God in our hearts?

There is a sense in this parable that Jesus is asking each of us to look inside and see how we receive his Word. If we had read the chapter preceding this one in Matthew’s gospel, we would have seen that the Scribes and Pharisees attacked Jesus, was denounced by some of the crowd, and was even mocked by his family. He was rejected by the nation of Israel.

Why was he rejected? Why is the Word rejected today? Why does it grow 100 fold in some while the cares of this world smother others?

In one sense, this parable asks this question: Why has the Word of God so often been rejected, repudiated?

The closing story speaks about the kind of soil the Word of God might find.

Which woman would you be?

Two women were hired by a man to make custom-tailored dresses for his clothing store. They were told that not only would they be paid a flat hourly wage for their work, but would also receive a bonus for each dress they completed which was sold. Each week they were given equal amounts of materials to use.

The first woman was not a very careful seamstress and made numerous mistakes, which she had to go back and correct. She also wasted a lot of time taking unnecessary breaks and daydreaming on the job. The second woman was a skilled dressmaker and a very conscientious worker. She worked hard and efficiently and quickly turned the fabric and materials supplied to her into beautiful finished products. She would use up her weekly allotment of material before the week was up, while the other woman never used up the material assigned to her.

It soon became apparent to the man who hired them what he needed to do. He began cutting back on the material given to the first woman and started giving it to the second. The first woman didn’t think this was fair because the second woman was already earning a lot more than she was in bonuses from sales of the dresses she’d made. She became so resentful about this situation that she soon quit her job. The material was then given to the other woman who remained on the job and was able to earn a very good income.

Let us pray: Jesus, you sow yourself—the Word of Truth, generously, the Word of Life, graciously. Defend us from the Evil One who seeks to snatch us away. Fortify us for hard times and costly discipleship that we may endure. Deliver us from distraction from worldly desires and all that would lure us and choke us with false promises. Till us. Turn us. Enrich us with every blessing of your Spirit that we may be good, good soil forever faithful and fruitful for you. Amen.

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Scripture is taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Sermon contributed by Tim Zingale.
The Parable is the familiar Parable of the Sower. How full of imagery the story is.

The Daily Prayer for SUNDAY, July 12, 2020

The Daily Prayer

SUNDAY, July 12, 2020

Desert father John Cassian said, “It is a bigger miracle to eject a passion from your own body than it is to eject an evil spirit from another’s body. It is a bigger miracle to be patient and refrain from anger than it is to control the demons which fly through the air.”

Lord God, you gave us your Holy Spirit to teach us and to remind us of your words. We claim your Spirit’s power today to convict us of our sin, to call us to repentance, and to remind us that your mercy enables us to choose you again and again. Amen.

Verse of the Day SUNDAY, July 12, 2020

Matthew 4:4

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Read all of Matthew 4

Listen to Matthew 4

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 - Domingo 12 de julio de 2020

Semana de pacto con Dios: Las manos

Te bendeciré mientras viva, y alzando mis manos te invocaré.

— Salmo 63:4

Sin duda, Dios creó las manos a la perfección. Sus funciones son específicas como tomar y sostener objetos. Junto con los dedos, son utensilios para comer. Con las manos también se expresan saludos, aunque no todos los hacemos como es debido. A veces hacemos señales que no son las más decentes. ¡Huy! Ja, ja, ja.

Para las personas que no pueden hablar, las manos son un tremendo instrumento para hablar con señales. Sirve como instrumento de medida y herramienta de trabajo. Piensa por un momento todo lo que hacemos con nuestras manos para trabajar, jugar y hacer deportes. En fin, podríamos seguir trayendo a nuestra mente infinidad de cosas.

Sin embargo, las manos mal usadas entristecen a Dios. Con ellas muchas personas roban y toman un arma para herir a otros o matar.

Con las manos se maltratan miles y miles de niños, de hombres y mujeres.

Sé que muchas personas que hoy leen este libro tienen sus manitos enfermas o les falta partes de las manos por accidentes o por nacimiento. Aun así, no se quejan y hacen lo que pueden para salir adelante.

Señor, hoy me comprometo a guardar mis manos y honrarte a ti.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Sin duda, Dios creó las manos a la perfección.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Sunday, July 12, 2020

THE POOR IN SPIRIT

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

— Matthew 5:3

Acknowledging our poverty in spirit is humility. It occurs when a man or woman realizes his or her own utter lack of resources to meet life and finds his or her strength in God. Such an attitude leads one away from attachment to things to attachment to God and heaven. The word for poor here means absolute, abject poverty. We can thus paraphrase the first Beatitude this way:

Blessed are those who have realized their own utter helplessness and inadequacy and who have put their whole trust in God. Such a person will humbly accept the will of God and thus become a citizen of the kingdom.

Christians especially in countries like Pakistan find this a great comfort, for the majority of them are road sweepers and do menial jobs that others will not do. They are denied better jobs often because they are illiterate. Their children have no access to higher education and so the cycle of poverty continues with little hope of a break. Surely this message is also for them. As they put their complete trust and hope in the Lord, they are assured of a place in the Kingdom of God.

A Chinese Christian woman, a leader in her church, was arrested and put in prison. Led by the Lord, she volunteered to do hard labor, cleaning the filthy prison cells on her knees. This humble work gave her the opportunity to sing and share Jesus with the prisoners in each cell. Through her words and actions, many prisoners came to know the Lord in a personal relationship.

RESPONSE: Today I acknowledge my helplessness and inadequacy and place my complete trust in God.

PRAYER: Lord, help me express true humility in practical ways today and show that my trust is in You alone.

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.

LHM Daily Devotions - July 12, 2020 - "'Come, Follow Me,' the Savior Spake"

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"'Come, Follow Me,' the Savior Spake"

July 12, 2020

♫ "Come, follow Me," the Savior spake, All in My way abiding; Deny yourselves, the world forsake, Obey My call and guiding. O bear the cross, whate'er betide, Take My example for your guide.

"Then let us follow Christ, our Lord, And take the cross appointed. And, firmly clinging to His Word, In suff'ring be undaunted. For those who bear the battle's strain, The crown of heav'nly life obtain." ♫

"Deny yourselves, the world forsake." That may not be popular advice. Contemporary culture is not necessarily known for self-denial. Yet in a world of self-gratification and self-centeredness, there stands Jesus, calling to us, "Come, follow Me ... Deny yourselves, the world forsake ... bear the cross." It is not a cross of our own making, a cross created out of our own invented piety and pride. The cross we are to take up is more like that borne by Simon of Cyrene on the first Good Friday. Simon was quite literally the first to take up the cross and follow in Jesus' steps. It was not Simon's idea; Scripture tells us that soldiers "seized" him and "compelled" him to take up Jesus' cross and carry it to Golgotha.

"Take My example for your guide." The apostle Peter writes, "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps" (1 Peter 2:21). As Simon of Cyrene no doubt learned, to follow closely in the steps of Jesus may well mean that cross-bearers will be splattered with the dust and blood of suffering. Jesus left us His example of suffering, but His death on the cross was much more than an example to follow. "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed" (1 Peter 2:24).

Healed and forgiven by His wounds, we take up the cross and follow. In many places around the world, cross-bearers suffer the loss of homes and employment, imprisonment, or death. In other places, those who follow Jesus may only endure the ridicule or disdain of others. But in every place, taking up the cross calls for self-denial and the forsaking of the world's temptations. Our sinful and self-centered demands are to be laid aside so that we might better love our neighbor as ourselves. In this, too, we follow Jesus: "Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written, 'The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me'" (Romans 15:2-3).

In the strength of the Spirit, we take up the cross and follow Jesus, bearing up under the strain of battle against the temptations of the devil, the world, and our own sinful self-centeredness. By faith we cling firmly to the Word—to Jesus, the Word made flesh, and to the written Word of Scripture. Undaunted in suffering and in service, one day we will bear, not a cross, but a crown. "Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life" (Revelation 2:10b).

THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help us to deny ourselves and forsake the things of the world, so that we might more closely follow You. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. Following someone can require a lot from us. How do you do with following someone else?

2. How important is it to be well versed in understanding Jesus' words to us?

3. Is it harder now or when you were younger to keep your focus on doing something to completion?

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, "'Come, Follow Me,' the Savior Spake," Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Is it harder now or when you were younger to keep your focus on doing something to completion?

Unser Täglich Brot - In Trennung vereint

In Trennung vereint

Lesung: 1. Mose 13,1-9 | Die Bibel in einem Jahr: Psalm 4-6; Apostelgeschichte 17,16-34

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Dieser Streit zwischen dir und mir muss ein Ende haben . . . schließlich sind wir miteinander verwandt.

— 1. Mose 13,8

Beauftragt mit seinem Kollegen Tim in einem Projekt zu arbeiten, stellte Alexander vor eine große Herausforderung: Er und Tim hatten sehr unterschiedliche Vorstellungen davon, wie es weitergehen sollte. Während sie die Meinungen des anderen respektierten, waren ihre Ansätze so unterschiedlich, dass ein Konflikt unausweichlich war. Doch ehe der Konflikt ausbrechen konnte, einigten sich die beiden Männer darauf, ihre Differenzen mit ihrem Chef zu besprechen, der sie in getrennte Teams setzte. Es stellte sich heraus, dass dies eine kluge Entscheidung war. An diesem Tag lernte Alexander diese Lektion: Einheit bedeutet nicht immer, Dinge gemeinsam zu tun.

Abraham muss diese Wahrheit erkannt haben, als er vorschlug, dass er und Lot in Bethel getrennte Wege gehen (1. Mose 13,5-9). Als Abraham sah, dass es nicht genug Platz für ihre beiden Herden gab, schlug er klugerweise vor, dass man sich trennte. Aber zuerst betonte er, dass sie „nahe Verwandte“ seien (V. 8) und erinnerte Lot an ihre Beziehung. Dann ließ er mit größter Demut seinem Neffen die erste Wahl (V. 9), obwohl er, Abraham, der Ältere war. Es war, wie ein Pastor es beschrieb, eine „harmonische Trennung“.

Weil jeder von uns einzigartig von Gott gemacht wurde, erkennen wir manchmal, dass es besser ist, getrennt zu arbeiten, um das gleiche Ziel zu erreichen. Es gibt eine Einheit in der Vielfalt. Mögen wir jedoch nie vergessen, dass wir immer noch Brüder und Schwestern in der Familie Gottes sind. Wir mögen die Dinge anders angehen, aber wir bleiben bewusst vereint.

Wie kann Demut bei einer „harmonischen Trennung“ helfen? Wie kann man in Einheit ein Ziel verfolgen, selbst wenn du mit der Meinung eines anderen nicht einverstanden bist?

(Römer 14,1-10)

Herr, hilf uns, mit anderen in Einheit zu arbeiten und uns erkennen zu lassen, wann es besser ist, dir getrennt voneinander zu dienen.

Von Leslie Koh

© 2020 Unser Täglich Brot
Während sie die Meinungen des anderen respektierten, waren ihre Ansätze so unterschiedlich, dass ein Konflikt unausweichlich war.