Wednesday, March 12 — Psalm 35:11-18, Exodus 18:7-19:9; Matthew 23:13-22
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S (SCRIPTURE): Exodus 19:3-7
3 Then Moses climbed the mountain to appear before God. The Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “Give these instructions to the family of Jacob; announce it to the descendants of Israel: 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. 6 And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.”
7 So Moses returned from the mountain and called together the elders of the people and told them everything the Lord had commanded him. 8 And all the people responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.”
O (OBSERVATION): The covenant agreement of Mount Sinai is established and remembered often: I will be your God and you will be my people. The promise of covenant is a two way street.
A (APPLICATION): God reminds God's people of His promise and covenant agreement....reminding the people God called to be God's own special treasure. the thing about covenant is that it IS a two way street, God cannot just opt in and out as God pleases and break His promise. And neither can the people. In this lenten journey to respond like the Israelites "we will do everything the Lord commands"....falls short almost all the time. Sure finding obedience into this covenant is easy to say with our lips but God demands full obedience. God reminds us of God's part in the covenant....remember (THE #1 word in all of the Hebrew Scriptures) that I have delivered you from the egyptians, carried you on eagles wings, brought you to myself. This covenant is all about relationship. We certainly don't earn it but that is no escuse for lack of effort or even living into the response "we will do everything the Lord has commanded." You get the feeling we are not quite sure what we are in for when these words come out of our lips. Almost ready to catch them after they are said. The Lenten journey of the Cross is a bit the same. God establishes and reminds us of participating in this relationship...even and especially if we are not sure where it goes. That is the pure trust of the covenant. God is leading and we are trusting that God will lead us, not back into slavery but into freedom, not into temptation but into salvation/deliverance.
P (PRAYER): God, we trust that you are leading us on a journey not to return to the familiar places we just escaped but into the reality of the promised land and salvation you are pulling us into.
CLICK HERE FOR THE READINGS
S (SCRIPTURE): Exodus 19:3-7
3 Then Moses climbed the mountain to appear before God. The Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “Give these instructions to the family of Jacob; announce it to the descendants of Israel: 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. 6 And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.”
7 So Moses returned from the mountain and called together the elders of the people and told them everything the Lord had commanded him. 8 And all the people responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.”
O (OBSERVATION): The covenant agreement of Mount Sinai is established and remembered often: I will be your God and you will be my people. The promise of covenant is a two way street.
A (APPLICATION): God reminds God's people of His promise and covenant agreement....reminding the people God called to be God's own special treasure. the thing about covenant is that it IS a two way street, God cannot just opt in and out as God pleases and break His promise. And neither can the people. In this lenten journey to respond like the Israelites "we will do everything the Lord commands"....falls short almost all the time. Sure finding obedience into this covenant is easy to say with our lips but God demands full obedience. God reminds us of God's part in the covenant....remember (THE #1 word in all of the Hebrew Scriptures) that I have delivered you from the egyptians, carried you on eagles wings, brought you to myself. This covenant is all about relationship. We certainly don't earn it but that is no escuse for lack of effort or even living into the response "we will do everything the Lord has commanded." You get the feeling we are not quite sure what we are in for when these words come out of our lips. Almost ready to catch them after they are said. The Lenten journey of the Cross is a bit the same. God establishes and reminds us of participating in this relationship...even and especially if we are not sure where it goes. That is the pure trust of the covenant. God is leading and we are trusting that God will lead us, not back into slavery but into freedom, not into temptation but into salvation/deliverance.
P (PRAYER): God, we trust that you are leading us on a journey not to return to the familiar places we just escaped but into the reality of the promised land and salvation you are pulling us into.
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