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August 1, 2019

Be the Gospel

DeVonna R. Allison   |   Read Psalm 107:1-9

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Lectionary Week
July 29—August 4, 2019
Scripture Overview

Hosea relates a further message from God. Israel has repeatedly ignored God’s teachings, even though God continues to reach out with love and kindness. Although a just response would be wrath, God will respond instead with mercy to restore the people. The psalmist echoes this teaching about God’s enduring love. Although some have gone through periods of distress, when they call out to God, the Lord responds with steadfast love. We then explore guidance for the life of a Christian. In Colossians we read that we should focus on heavenly realities, not the physical world. Rather than pursuing our own pleasure, we should put on a new self and behave more like God desires. The parable that Jesus tells reinforces this point. We should focus on storing up heavenly treasures, not earthly ones.

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection

Read Hosea 11:1-11. How have you suffered the consequences of turning away from God? How has God welcomed you back?
Read Psalm 107:1-9, 43. What stories of God’s goodness does your family tell to the next generations?
Read Colossians 3:1-11. How has Christ renewed you? How do you see Christ in others?
Read Luke 12:13-21. How has greed shown up in your life—as racism, wealth-mongering, or myths of scarcity? How do you combat greed in all its forms to live out of a mentality of abundance?

Respond by posting a prayer .

Psalm 107:1-9

1 “Give thanks to the LORD because he is good, because his faithful love lasts forever!” 2 That’s what those who are redeemed by the LORD say, the ones God redeemed from the power of their enemies, 3 the ones God gathered from various countries, from east and west, north and south. 4 Some of the redeemed had wandered into the desert, into the wasteland. They couldn’t find their way to a city or town. 5 They were hungry and thirsty; their lives were slipping away. 6 So they cried out to the LORD in their distress, and God delivered them from their desperate circumstances. 7 God led them straight to human habitation. 8 Let them thank the LORD for his faithful love and his wondrous works for all people, 9 because God satisfied the one who was parched with thirst, and he filled up the hungry with good things!

Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations are from the Common English Bible. Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible. Used by permission.

I feel fortunate to come from a family of storytellers, men and women who keep our family’s history alive by recounting to younger generations the tales of days gone by. Each old story inevitably holds a valuable lesson for today. We learn a lesson in honesty from the story of...

Take a moment to ponder all the times the Lord has answered your prayers, delivered you from distress, and met your needs. How can you share your stories? With whom?


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