Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
August 23, 1998
Unifying Theme: |
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| Scripture | Theme | Hymns |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah
1:4-10 --or-- Isaiah 58:9b-14 |
You are qualified to do whatever the Lord asks you --or-- Joy in the Lord comes in following His will |
388: O Come and Dwell in
Me 398: Jesus Calls Us 438: Forth in Thy Name, O Lord |
| Psalm
71:1-6 --or-- Psalm 103:1-8 |
The Lord, our refuge and our hope --or-- Praise the Lord! |
362: Nothing but the
Blood 526: What a Friend We Have in Jesus 662: Stand Up and Bless the Lord |
| Luke 13:10-17 | The Sabbath--a day for freedom from bondage | 358: Dear Lord and Father
of Mankind 599: Break Thou the Bread of Life |
| Hebrews 12:18-29 | Worship God acceptably with reverence and awe | 410: I Want a Principle
Within 723: Shall We Gather at the River |
Feelings of inadequacy. Feelings of joy. Feelings of hope. Feelings of freedom. Feelings of awe and reverence. You might conclude that the lectionary passages this week have something to do with feelings. And they do. But they mean so much more than that. Look at them again. Jeremiah felt inadequate, and then God told him the truth--Jeremiah was appointed over nations and kingdoms. Isaiah felt joy, and then God told him the truth--there was a covenant to fulfill. The Psalmist felt full of praise, and then he talked about the truth--God does great things for His people. In Jesus' time the people felt delighted, and it was all because of the truth--Christ was doing wonderful things. Do you see a pattern? We often have feelings; God always has truth.
Feelings are good things. God created them in us, and God said that His creation was "very good." But those feelings don't work all by themselves. They are triggered and influenced by the facts that we know and perceptions that we have. How do we know the difference between genuine facts and unreliable perceptions? How can we know if the feelings we have are based on the truth? Sometimes it is hard to tell. But there is one thing that is beyond doubt--God's Word is true! All of the joy that we feel in God's Word, all of the hope that we feel in God's Word, all of the excitement that we feel in God's Word, all of the awe and reverence that we feel in God's Word, all of these feelings are based on the truth.
This week's featured hymn was written by Robert Lowry (1826-1899). It was originally introduced during a camp meeting in New Jersey. The song "caught on," and is frequently used during revival meetings. The words go to the very heart of the message of salvation. What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Do these words talk about feelings? No. They talk about facts. They talk about the truth. But do these words evoke feelings? Yes! Don't they feel good? Take a minute to read them--or say them--or even sing them! Enjoy the feelings, and know they speak the truth.
| 1. What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. (Refrain) |
2. For my pardon this I see: nothing but the blood of Jesus. For my cleansing this my plea: nothing but the blood of Jesus. (Refrain) |
| 3. Nothing can for sin atone: nothing but the blood of Jesus. Naught of good that I have done: nothing but the blood of Jesus. (Refrain) |
4. This is all my hope and peace: nothing but the blood of Jesus. This is all my righteousness: nothing but the blood of Jesus. (Refrain) |
O precious is the flow that makes me white as snow; no other fount I know; nothing but the blood of Jesus. |
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Know the truth of salvation in your life; feel the joy of salvation in your life, too!
God bless you--
Lection@HymnSite.com
God bless you!
| Passages suggested are from The Revised Common Lectionary: Consultation on Common Texts (Abingdon Press, 1992) copyright © by the Consultation on Common Texts (CCT), P.O. Box 340003, Room 381, Nashville TN 37203-0003. Reprinted with permission of CCT. |