Greetings on the fifth Sunday after Pentecost – another step on our continuing summer’s journey of faith.
Our invitation to worship is a prayer from us and for us, to call upon God and to have knowledge and understanding of our part of God’s plan, and to faithfully do those actions. Our first lesson from Amos, as he witnessed to God’s plumb line and the distance from where Israel was and where they were supposed to be in relationship to God. The Psalmist’s refrain voices the human concern that the wicked seem to go unpunished, yet God will continue to function as promised. The New Testament reading Colossians relates the efficacy of our life of prayer as we pray for wisdom and recognition of God’s grace, to be shared with others around us. Our Gospel from Luke tells the story of the lawyer who wants to ensure they get eternal life and Jesus’ response in the parable of the Good Samaritan.
Our lessons lead us to reflect the simple standard offered by God which can both point out the deviation from God’s plan and provide a guide for restoration. Coupled with the lawyer’s proper response about who was the injured man’s neighbor, the one who showed him mercy (or kindness). Our job is to not make our opinion more important that God’s direction and to measure each person’s interaction with God’s plan according to God’s standard, the “plumb line” of mercy, and to help all restore themselves to God’s standard, not human standards.
How will you let God do God’s job so you can do your job in God’s kingdom? I invite your comments,
Les+
Readings: Amos 7:7-17; Psalm 82; Colossians 1:1-14; Luke 10:25-37
Sermon link: https://audiomack.com/fatherles-2/song/pentecost-5-sermon-1
