Where we have come from - readings for Sunday 18th August
Jeremiah 23.23-29
Psalm 82
Hebrews 11.29 - 12.2
Luke 12.49-56
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Readings for today
psalm 32
Jeremiah 25.15-29
Acts 7.44-53
thought for today
Are we comfortable with God's word to jermemiah about the cup of wrath? I for one am not; it is not the way of Jesus. But we need to remember that this word was before the time of Jesus, before the new covenant. God does not overlook the folly of human sin. As the psalmist knows, once confessed before God it can be forgiven - but it cannot just be ignored. As the people of Judah heap unconfessed sin upon unconfessed sin, God warns that there will be consequences. What is interesting here is that Judah is neither let off the hook, nor singled out for punishment. The surrounding nations must take responsibility for their actions too. In the community of sinful nations, Judah is first amongst equals. But God is not washing his hands of these communities; he will stick with them. And when God's promises are fulfilled - they will be for the nations too.
Revised Common Lectionary copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. Used by permission
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