November 8: The Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost
The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you. –Genesis 13:14-17
The Genesis 13 story is a fascinating account of Abram believing the gospel (the promises God made to him) such that he was able to be meek (not fight for his cause and rights) to bring an end to strife. He was not ruled by his ambitions, wealth, reputation, or power. He was a man, as Isaac Watts paraphrased the beatitude, “of peaceful life who quenched the coals of growing strife.” And just think, he was in the right! He gave up his right to be right.
And so in the passage above, God takes him to a high place and shows him all that he didn’t take that was actually his.
That’s good, but there’s something better. Satan took Jesus to a high place and showed him all that was actually Jesus’, but Jesus didn’t take it. Jesus was not ruled by his wealth, reputation, or power. And he more than anyone gave up his right to be right, so that he would make us right. The meek shall inherit the earth.
And that’s the gospel. Come hear it preached and enacted in the supper with Jesus this Sunday.
The related hymns we’ll sing are:
Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty
Great is Thy Faithfulness
Be Thou My Vision
Our Community Lunch is this Sunday. For more information, contact us here.
Sunday school for children (in Genesis) and adults (on Reformed Treasures) is up and running! Coffee and other treats are served at 9:15, teaching begins at 9:30, and we break to get ready for worship at 10:15.
Visitors are always welcome!