Daily Lectionary Readings for August 26, 2010
Psalm 116
Job 8:1-10, 20-22
Acts 10:17-33
John 7:14-36
Psalm 116
"Return, O my soul, to your rest, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you." (v.7)
Another verse making the obvious, but still often overlooked in the midst of challenges/trials/difficult times, point that God has always been faithful. Our souls leave their rest on a regular basis and go visit places that get them all stirred up, apprehensive, angry, out of kilter - everywhere, but at rest. God hasn't walked away and has promised repeatedly to be faithful. Praying that my memory can grow to be a little longer than whatever is presently problematic.
Acts 10:17-33
In the midst of yet another story of a disciple following a very demanding call without a moments hesitation we have an illuminating moment with Peter. He arrives at the home of a Roman centurion, Cornelius who has summoned Peter so he can learn more about The Way. Cornelius meets him and falls at his feet and begins to worship Peter (v.25). This can't be all that uncommon. Whether it is Peter or Paul or any of the other Apostles, this tendency to elevate them and to worship them must have been a fairly regular occurrence. Peter is having none of it. "Stand up; I am only a mortal."(v.26) It could have been easy for one of those early leaders to stop pointing beyond themselves and begin pointing to themselves and accepting the accolades of the masses they spoke to. Their practice led to the church of Jesus Christ, rather than the Church of Peter or the Church of Paul, and their example is a reminder to each of us to be pointing beyond ourselves to Christ.
John 7:14-36
A point in Jesus' words in this passage that touches on the point above from the Acts passage. Jesus says, "Those who speak on their own seek their own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and there is nothing false in him."(v.18) Again, it's not about our glory, but letting God's glory show through.
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