The Sunday Lectionary Readings for SUNDAY, August 9, 2020 — 10th Sunday After Pentecost

The Sunday Lectionary Readings

SUNDAY, August 9, 2020 — 10th Sunday After Pentecost

(Ordinary 19, Proper 14)

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

The Word is Near You

Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28; Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b;

Romans 10:5-15; Matthew 14:22-33

Opening Statement

Today's readings offer the familiar stories of Joseph and his amazing multicolored coat, and Peter walking on the water. Faithfulness in tough times is a common thread joining these two passages, as is the secondary theme of fear (Matthew 14:30). Joseph, betrayed by jealous brothers and sold into slavery, rose to become Pharaoh's right-hand man, saved all of Egypt from famine, and facilitated reunion with his family. Peter literally learns a lesson at the hands of Jesus when he begins to sink while walking on the water. How do disciples of Christ stay faithful to God and to each other when the going gets rough?

Opening Prayer

(adapted from Matthew 14)

God of mysterious ways, you take our fears and turn them into triumphs. You remind us that you are always with us and that we do not need to fear the wind and waves of life. Encourage us to step out of the boat; to come across these difficulties to your redeeming and transforming love. Give us courage and strength, joy and peace for all the times ahead. Amen.

Prayer of Confession

(adapted from Matthew 14)

Lord, please forgive our weakness and our lack of trust in you. We are like the disciples who, in the midst of fears and storms, could only tremble and wonder about the threatening events. Even when Jesus called to the disciples, they shook with fear. But Jesus offered words of encouragement. Impulsive Peter asked Jesus to call to him and bid him come out of the boat. Jesus complied and Peter stepped over the edge onto the waves—but fear claimed him again and he began to sink. Many of us can identify with that moment when we let go of our faith and clutch onto our fears. Help us to place our trust totally in you and your call to us. You will guide and lift us to safety—that is the promise you have given to us and we believe it. When our faith slips, scoop us up and bring us peace. Be patient with us, for we are flawed and yet loved by you. Give us strong hearts and willing spirits to be your disciples. Amen.

Words of Assurance

Keep your focus on Jesus. He is your Savior and your Guide. He will never fail you. Rejoice, dear friends, you are called precious by our Lord. Amen.

Prayer of the Day

O God our defender, storms rage around and within us and cause us to be afraid. Rescue your people from despair, deliver your sons and daughters from fear, and preserve us in the faith of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

First Reading

Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28

Joseph sold by his brothers

37:1 Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan.

2 This is the account of Jacob’s family line.

Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them.

3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. 4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

12 Now his brothers had gone to graze their father’s flocks near Shechem, 13 and Israel said to Joseph, “As you know, your brothers are grazing the flocks near Shechem. Come, I am going to send you to them.”

“Very well,” he replied.

14 So he said to him, “Go and see if all is well with your brothers and with the flocks, and bring word back to me.” Then he sent him off from the Valley of Hebron.

When Joseph arrived at Shechem, 15 a man found him wandering around in the fields and asked him, “What are you looking for?”

16 He replied, “I’m looking for my brothers. Can you tell me where they are grazing their flocks?”

17 “They have moved on from here,” the man answered. “I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.’”

So Joseph went after his brothers and found them near Dothan. 18 But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him.

19 “Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other. 20 “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.”

21 When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. “Let’s not take his life,” he said. 22 “Don’t shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern here in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father.

23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the ornate robe he was wearing— 24 and they took him and threw him into the cistern. The cistern was empty; there was no water in it.

25 As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt.

26 Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27 Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed.

28 So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.

Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b

Remembering Joseph

1  Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
     make known among the nations what he has done.
2  Sing to him, sing praise to him;
     tell of all his wonderful acts.
3  Glory in his holy name;
     let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
4  Look to the Lord and his strength;
     seek his face always.

5  Remember the wonders he has done,
     his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
6  you his servants, the descendants of Abraham,
     his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.

16 He called down famine on the land
     and destroyed all their supplies of food;
17 and he sent a man before them—
     Joseph, sold as a slave.
18 They bruised his feet with shackles,
     his neck was put in irons,
19 till what he foretold came to pass,
     till the word of the Lord proved him true.
20 The king sent and released him,
     the ruler of peoples set him free.
21 He made him master of his household,
     ruler over all he possessed,
22 to instruct his princes as he pleased
     and teach his elders wisdom.

45b Praise the Lord.

Second Reading

Romans 10:5-15

The word of faith

10:5 Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.” 6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

The Gospel

Matthew 14:22-33

Jesus walking on the sea

14:22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29 “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

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

You have been embraced by the love of God, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and blessed by Jesus to go into this world to offer healing and hope. Go in peace. 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, August 9, 2020
The Word is Near You
Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28; Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b; Romans 10:5-15; Matthew 14:22-33

“We Are the Boat, Tossed by the Sea of Life” (Matthew 14:22-33)

Today, our gospel message comes to us from the 14th chapter of Matthew, beginning with the 22nd verse, “Jesus walking on the sea.”

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God” (Matthew 14:22-33).

Heavenly Father, you sent your Son to reveal your will for our lives and redeem us from sin and death. Through the power of your Holy Spirit, inspire us with confidence that you are with us in the midst of the storms of life, bring peace to our troubled souls, and lead your church throughout the ages. Enable us to live as your redeemed saints, that our lives may witness to our faith. This we ask in Christ’s holy name. Amen.

“We Are the Boat, Tossed by the Sea of Life”

Only Luke fails to record the story of Jesus walking on water. And in the other three Gospels, this story is told as having occurred immediately following the feeding of the five thousand, which was our lesson last Sunday. Thus, we might derive that the significance of these two stories follow a common theme—the revelation that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

Inherent in this revelation, is the message that God is not only physically present to us in Jesus, but that through his life, teachings, death, and resurrection, Jesus invites us to become children of God’s kingdom. As a result of our faith and baptism, we are joined together as a part of Christ’s Church, disciples of Jesus throughout the ages, who strive to live together in community with one another, according to God’s Word.

With this understanding in mind, I would like to explore this story from Matthew’s Gospel, for it is unique from the other two accounts of Jesus walking on water, in that it is the only Gospel to record Peter’s request to join Jesus on the sea. Just think about this story.

Jesus has just fed the multitude with a few loaves of bread and two small fish. It is now late in the day, and so he tells his disciples to get into a boat and set off for the other side of the Sea of Galilee, while he dismisses the crowd and seeks some quiet time for prayer.

As Jesus spent the night in conversation with his heavenly Father, in the quiet of a mountaintop, the disciples, many of whom were seasoned fishermen, found themselves in the middle of a treacherous storm, tossed about in their small boat by large waves and gusty winds. For hours they have rowed against the wind and swirling sea, becoming cold, wet, and exhausted. Blisters began to form in the palms of their hands from the chafing of the oars.

By four in the morning, desperation began to encompass them. They were frightened to death that they would not be able to survive their voyage. Those who had made their living on the sea knew of others who had gone out on the waters and had never returned. Panic began to take hold of their emotions, as they continued to struggle against the wind and waves.

As dawn was about to break, after the disciples spent all their energy rowing, they became even more terrified, as one of them spotted this figure walking toward them on the raging waters. The disciples conclude that this must be a ghost—perhaps it was Neptune or Poseidon, the mythological god of the sea, to usher them into his kingdom’s depths.

While clutching the sides of the boat so tightly that their knuckles turned white, the figure on the water speaks to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Do not be afraid!” After all that the disciples had endured, still frightened of drowning, and then seeing a mysterious figure walking on a dark stormy sea, they are not frightened? That would be enough to make even the most staunch-hearted sailor cringe. I don’t think there is a person reading this who would want to be in that boat at that time.

And if we were in that boat, I can’t believe that anyone of us would have responded to the greeting of this figure that they saw walking on the water, the way that Peter did! Peter called out to the ghost-like figure on the water and said, “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.”  And the response came, “Come!”

There is a real way to test the identity of this figure the disciples saw walking on the stormy sea. Get out of the boat, and walk over to him. If you don’t sink to your death, it must be Jesus.

Yet, according to Matthew, that is what Peter did! He stood up in the rocking boat and stepped into the raging sea—first one step, then another. Peter was walking on water, just like Jesus. And we can imagine his thoughts. “Isn’t this great! What a miracle! What Power! Amid this Wind! What huge waves! I must be nuts! That’s real water swirling around my ankles! I’m sinking. “Lord, save me!”

Of course, Jesus did. He reached out his hand and caught Peter by the arm, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the winds immediately ceased, the waves calmed, and the disciples worshiped Jesus, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

So, what are we to make of this fantastic story? First of all, I believe that since it directly follows the feeding of the five thousand, it is intended to help us understand that Jesus is indeed the Christ, the Son of God. Not only could Jesus multiply the bread and fish to feed the multitude, with plenty to spare, he could also walk on water and still the wind and sea.

According to Michael A. Turner, in his commentary on our text, [Pulpit Resource, Logos Productions Inc., 2008] “That Jesus walks out to them on top of the waves is an indication not only of his love for them but also of his divine power over the forces of nature and chaos. Only God Almighty has such power, so it is not surprising when Jesus announces, “It is I,” The original text reads “ego eimi,” in Greek, which translated literally should be “I am, I am.” Any Jewish reader of Matthew’s Gospel would immediately think back to the story of the burning bush in Exodus when God told Moses God’s name: “I am who I am.” Jesus is none other than the incarnation of the living God, who has dominion over the seas and the storm.” End quote.

There are two other points that Turner makes in his commentary that I would like to share with you, one of which had brought some insight into my struggle to understand why Peter would make such a crazy request to prove the identity of Jesus when he came walking toward them on the sea.

Turner states, “To understand Peter’s request, I think you have to understand a little about the background of Jesus’ world. See, Peter was Jesus’ disciple. When we think of the word disciple, we generally equate it with the word student… A disciple, in its true sense, was someone who strove to know what his master knows.

Thus, a disciple wanted to do what his teacher did. A disciple wanted to talk like his teacher talked. A disciple wanted to walk like his teacher walked. A disciple devoted his entire life to be just like his teacher…” So, if it is Jesus walking on water, Peter asks to do what his master is doing…

But notice that Peter doesn’t just jump out of the boat and start walking. He’s smart enough to know that if he’s going to do something as impossible as walking on water, it would be because Jesus calls him to do it. And if Jesus calls him, then it is understood that Jesus would make the impossible possible. Peter knew that if he hopped into the sea on his own, he would sink to his death. In essence, Peter is saying, “Jesus, call me to do what you are doing. Call me to be like you.” End quote.

The fact that Peter got out of the boat and was actually able to walk on water should be an inspiration to all of us, even though none of us would ever attempt such a feat. And I certainly would not encourage any of you to do so, unless you know how to swim.

But it does tell us that Jesus invites us to walk, what many might call an impossible journey—that of living as children of God’s kingdom, as those opposed to merely acquiescing to our world’s ways and desires. As a result of our baptism, we are a part of a community that is called to reflect, in the way we live our lives, a boldness to follow the will of God, even when the call of God goes against what our society would have us believe to be correct.

And finally, I have learned from Turner’s commentary that the early church came to understand the imagery of the disciples, in a boat tossed by the wind and waves of the sea, to be symbolic of the early church. Drawing on the imagery of Noah’s “ark,” that saving vessel from yore, the church has continued to see itself as a ship amid the changing currents of society. According to Turner, “The Latin word for “ship,” navis (from which we get the words navy and navigate) is also the root of the noun, “nave,” which is the name for the main part of the interior of a church building from the entry to the chancel. It is where the laity sits to worship. Many naves are even architecturally designed to look like ships. Look up into the vaulted ceilings of some churches, and you will see what looks like the hull of an upside-down boat.” End quote. Well, what can we say?

Today, we are in this boat with the disciples. And our boat, the church of Christ, struggles against the waves and winds of a society that would have us believe that we are sinking, that we are irrelevant, and against the forces of nature. But the truth is that to be a disciple of Christ, we must follow and live our lives emulating the one who has demonstrated that he is above the winds and waves of our world. As baptized people of faith, we are called to resist the storms of life, and cling to our faith in God’s Word, manifest in Jesus the Christ.

And it is only through the power of God’s Spirit, at work in his ship, the church, that we are able and empowered to stay the course. Let us all pray that God might grant us the faith to keep his ship afloat and plying the oars, even when we hurt and are scared, for our risen Lord will not leave us to flounder long.

Prayer: Dear God, encourage us, strengthen us, embolden us, and bless us with the promise that you will never let us go. In Jesus’ name, 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 Ronald Harbaugh.
God is not only physically present to us in Jesus, but through his life, teachings, death, and resurrection, Jesus invites us to become children of God’s kingdom.

The Daily Prayer for SUNDAY, August 9, 2020

The Daily Prayer

SUNDAY, August 9, 2020

Franz Jägerstätter (1907—1943)

Franz Jägerstätter was a humble Catholic peasant born to a poor German farm maid in the small town of Radegund, Upper Austria. He was baptized, married, and worked as a sexton in the same small parish. Though he was never part of any formal resistance groups, Franz was his village’s sole conscientious objector to the annexation of Austria to Germany under Hitler. He felt deeply that his Christian faith could not permit him to fight in Hitler’s army. Even under pressure by local priests and bishops to conform and serve in the military, Franz refused. He was imprisoned and beheaded for his refusal to serve in the Nazi army.

A quote from Franz Jägerstätter: “Through his bitter suffering and death, Christ freed us only from eternal death, not from temporal suffering and mortal death. But Christ, too, demands a public confession of our faith, just as the Führer, Adolf Hitler, does from his followers.”

Sovereign Lord, forgive us for choosing violence instead of grace. Give us the courage to trust that the cross is more powerful than the sword. We thank you for the assurance that, in the end, love wins. Help us to live without fear in the light of your promise. Amen.

Verse of the Day SUNDAY, August 9, 2020

Luke 12:6-7

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Read all of Luke 12

Listen to Luke 12

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 09 de agosto de 2020

La recuperación por una pérdida

El Señor [...] restaura a los abatidos y cubre con vendas sus heridas.

— Salmo 147:2-3

Hace unos meses llegó la triste noticia de la pérdida de la bebita de la cantante Shanna en un embarazo ya avanzado. ¡Cómo entristecen esas noticias! Nadie lo puede experimentar más que la madre que lo sintió en su vientre y tuvo la esperanza de recibirle.

Me sorprendió mucho y admiré el valor con el que nuestra Shanna recibió esta prueba. Desde el hospital en que se recuperaba, declaró: «Solo Dios sabe por qué evitó que naciera la bebita. Ya sabrá Él de qué la guardó. Yo seguiré adelante».

Les cuento esto porque se necesita estar muy lleno de nuestro Dios para recibir una noticia de tal envergadura con tanta madurez espiritual. Podemos ver una vez más que nuestro Padre cuida de nosotros y nos da su amor. Sé que muchas mujeres han pasado por esta misma situación y aún hay heridas abiertas que quiere sanar nuestro Señor.

Escuché a un predicador que enseñaba que para recuperarse debemos llorar lo perdido, fortalecernos en Dios y consultar con Él cuál es el paso a seguir.

Cuando entregamos esa carga tan pesada y ese dolor tan grande, Dios de seguro que va a actuar a nuestro favor.

Aunque en medio del dolor no vean una salida, recuerden que Él es su fortaleza y el único que les da la paz «que sobrepasa todo entendimiento» y que, además, «cuidará sus corazones y sus pensamientos en Cristo Jesús» (Filipenses 4:7).

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Hace unos meses llegó la triste noticia de la pérdida de la bebita de la cantante Shanna en un embarazo ya avanzado. ¡Cómo entristecen esas noticias! Nadie lo puede experimentar más que la madre que lo sintió en su vientre y tuvo la esperanza de recibirle.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Sunday, August 9, 2020

THE PROCESS OF PERSECUTION-4: MISTREATMENT

For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him…

— Philippians 1:29

When the process gets to persecution (mistreatment following disinformation and discrimination), no one will do anything because “You know they are bad people anyway,” says Rev. Dr. Johan Candelin referring to his three-step process of persecution model.

Once the first steps in the process occur, mistreatment can be practiced without normal protective measures taking place. Persecution can arise from the state, the police or military, extremist organizations, paramilitary groups, anti-Christian sub-cultures, and even representatives of other religious groups. The irony is that in many parts of the world, the accusations of the attackers turn the victims into the villains.

This stage is the end result and includes the “big three”: torture, imprisonment, and martyrdom which are most often the examples used for persecution. A specific example would be the imprisonment of hundreds of evangelical Christians in Eritrea without formal charges—many kept in metal shipping containers.

In Iran, a Christian couple was detained and physically and psychologically tortured for four days. The authorities even threatened to lock up their four-year-old daughter in an “institution.” Twenty-eight-year-old Tina Rad from Teheran was accused of “activities against the holy religion of Islam,” because she was reading the Bible with Muslims. Her thirty-one-year-old husband, Makan Arya, was accused of having endangered national security. Both of them had only been Christians for three months. Muslim converts meet together in small groups to talk about the gospel, to grow in the Christian faith, and to encourage one another. They have made a vast transition from Islam to Christianity and they have a great need for training, security, and a sense of belonging. The Church tries to provide for this need and becomes the new “family.”

When they were released, the threats started. “If you don’t stop with your Jesus, next time we will charge you with apostasy,” Tina was told. In Iran, this can mean the death penalty.

Jamaa Ait Bakrim in Morocco is also serving time for his faith. Moroccan Christians and advocates question the harsh measures of the Muslim state toward a man who dared speak openly about Jesus. An outspoken Christian convert, Bakrim was sentenced to fifteen years prison for “proselytizing” and destroying “the goods of others” in 2005 after burning two defunct utility poles located in front of his private business in a small town in south Morocco.

Advocates and Moroccan Christians said, however, that the severity of his sentence in relation to his misdemeanor shows that authorities were determined to put him behind bars because he persistently spoke about his faith. “He became a Christian and didn’t keep it to himself,” said a Moroccan Christian and host for Al Hayat Television who goes only by his first name, Rachid, for security reasons. “He shared it with the people around him. They will just leave him in the prison so he dies spiritually and psychologically,” said Rachid.

RESPONSE: Today I will do everything possible to represent my persecuted brothers and sisters.

PRAYER: Pray for Christians experiencing mistreatment and persecution around the world today.

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 August 9, 2020 - "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence"

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence"

August 9, 2020

♫ "Let all mortal flesh keep silence, And with fear and trembling stand; Ponder nothing earthly-minded, For with blessing in His hand, Christ our God to earth descending, Comes our homage to demand.

"King of kings yet born of Mary, As of old on earth He stood, Lord of lords in human vesture, In the body and the blood, He will give to all the faithful, His own self for heav'nly food." ♫

People often want a "god" they can control, a god who doesn't ask too much of them. Such an arrangement allows people to assert their independence and be their own gods; no one can tell them what to do! But such an invented god is not the God we worship, the God who has revealed Himself to us in Holy Scripture and through His Son Jesus Christ. Our God declares, "I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides Me there is no God" (Isaiah 45:5a). "I am the LORD; that is My Name; My glory I give to no other" (Isaiah 42:8a).

In our hymns we often call on one another to praise God, singing out, "Alleluia!" that is, "Praise the Lord!" But our hymn today calls for a different kind of worship. Here we are told to "keep silence" and stand "with fear and trembling." We are to set aside all thoughts of earthly things as we anticipate the presence of our God and Savior. Christ our God is coming among us. He will be present in His body and blood in the Sacrament of Holy Communion, and He "comes our homage to demand." This is no make-believe god; Christ will receive our honor and reverence.

The King of kings, born of Mary, did not first come dressed in rich and royal garments of velvet and silk. Jesus, the Lord of lords, God from all eternity, came among us clothed in "human vesture, in the body and the blood." This is our Savior, who is worthy of all praise. He came among us to lay down His life for us so that we might live. What other so-called "god" has done that? Jesus took our sin and guilt onto Himself and in exchange gives us His own righteousness. By God's grace, through faith in Jesus, our sins are forgiven, and we are placed into a right relationship with God.

The crucified and risen Lord, in human vesture, is exalted to rule at the right hand of God. This is Christ our God, who rightly demands the homage due Him. Yet our mighty Savior still gives "His own self for heav'nly food." In the Lord's Supper, Jesus feeds us with the gracious gift of His body and blood, given and shed for the forgiveness of our sins. What can we say in the presence of such a precious, holy gift? We can only "keep silence, and with fear and trembling stand" in the presence of our God and Savior, who gives Himself to us in this heavenly feast.

THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You are King of kings and Lord of lords. With humility and joy we receive Your gifts and praise Your holy Name. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. What would be an example of a contemporary "god" that people put their faith in?

2. What didn't Jesus come to earth as a king, full of pomp and circumstance? Wouldn't that have made more of an impression on us?

3. Does praising the Lord in silence lead to a different kind of reverence and devotion?

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence." Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
What would be an example of a contemporary "god" that people put their faith in?

Unser Täglich Brot - Zeit-Reise

Zeit-Reise

Lesung: 1. Johannes1,1-8 | Die Bibel in einem Jahr: Psalm 77-78; Römer 10

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Das Leben wurde uns offenbart, und wir haben es gesehen. Und jetzt bezeugen und verkünden wir euch das ewige Leben. Es war beim Vater, und dann wurde es uns offenbart.

— 1. Johannes 1,2

Über eine Million junger Menschen nehmen jedes Jahr am internationalen Wettbewerb im Briefeschreiben teil. 2018 lautete das Thema: „Stell dir vor, du bist ein Brief, der durch die Zeit reist. Welche Botschaft willst du deinen Lesern übermitteln?“

In der Bibel haben wir eine Sammlung von Briefen, die—dank der Inspiration und Leitung des Heiligen Geistes—ihren Weg durch die Zeit bis zu uns gefunden haben. Als die christliche Gemeinde wuchs, schrieben die Jünger Jesu Briefe an die einzelnen Gemeinden in Europa und Kleinasien, um ihnen zu helfen, das neue Leben in Christus besser zu verstehen. Viele dieser Briefe wurden gesammelt und befinden sich in der Bibel, wie wir sie heute lesen.

Was wollten die Briefschreiber ihren Lesern sagen? Johannes erklärt es in seinem ersten Brief: „Wir haben es gehört und mit unseren eigenen Augen gesehen, wir haben es betrachtet und mit unseren Händen betastet; das Wort des Lebens.“ Er schreibt von seiner Begegnung mit dem lebendigen Christus (1. Johannes 1,1). Und er schreibt, „damit ihr Gemeinschaft mit uns habt . . . und mit dem Vater und mit Jesus Christus, seinem Sohn“ (V. 3). Wenn wir diese Gemeinschaft haben, so schreibt er weiter, wird unsere Freude immer größer. Die Briefe der Bibel ziehen uns in eine Gemeinschaft, die die Zeit überdauert—die Gemeinschaft mit dem ewigen Gott.

Wenn Gott dir heute einen Brief schreiben würde, was würde wohl darin stehen? Und was würdest du einem Freund schreiben, wenn du berichten wolltest, wie du dem lebendigen Gott begegnet bist?

Himmlischer Vater, danke für die Gemeinschaft mit dir.

Von Amy Peterson

© 2020 Unser Täglich Brot
Über eine Million junger Menschen nehmen jedes Jahr am internationalen Wettbewerb im Briefeschreiben teil. 2018 lautete das Thema: „Stell dir vor, du bist ein Brief, der durch die Zeit reist. Welche Botschaft willst du deinen Lesern übermitteln?“