Daily Lectionary for September 19, 2010
Psalm 105:1-22
Esther 3:1-4:3
James 1:19-27
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
James 1:19-27
"let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God's righteousness."(v.19) More than a word of advice - listen, don't rush to speak, be slow to anger - but also a rationale - our anger does not produce God's righteousness. What would I stop doing if I ran it through the lens of what produces God's righteousness?
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
Follows the James passage nicely. Words about piety and giving and fasting. Do these things because they are growth producing spiritual disciplines between us and God. Don't do these things to be observed doing these things and congratulated for it. Do these things seeking to experience God's righteousness in our lives.
Sermon this morning...
I have been absolutely loopy in my reading of the calendar the past few days and inverted the lectionary from the 19th and 26th so today's sermon wound up being from the 26th lectionary because it was too late to turn back by the time I realized what I had done. The congregation seemed not irreperably damaged by hearing the wrong scripture passage for the day.
Preached on Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15 and 1 Timothy 6:6-19. Paul speaks to Timothy about the trouble we get into when we trust in wealth rather and riches rather than trusting in God's rich provision. Jeremiah makes an interesting case study in light of Paul's words - Jeremiah is called upon to trust in God's provision and wisdom rather than on prudent financial decision making. God's instruction? Buy land in a country that is about to be completely taken over by Babylon. The reason? To make the prophetic statement that one day the people would return to their land. It doesn't make good sense. It's not logical. It is obedient. This is what Paul is talking to Timothy about I believe. We follow Jesus, we seek to be obedient and we trust in God's rich provision.
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