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September 5, 2022

From Death to Life, Lost to Found

Beth Ludlum   |   Read Psalm 14:1-6

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Lectionary Week
September 5–11, 2022
Scripture Overview

Jeremiah’s warning of coming judgment continues. The children of Israel have become foolish, have ignored God, and have become good mainly at doing evil. God is going to respond to this situation. The psalmist describes the state of all who are foolish: They deny God and follow their own corrupt desires, including oppressing the poor. The author of First Timothy, traditionally Paul, says that this was also his former way of life. He has been foolish and ignorant, a persecutor of the followers of Christ. In fact, he had been the worst of all sinners; yet Christ has shown him mercy, not judgment. Jesus tells two parables to reveal God’s heart. Rather than neglecting the ignorant, the foolish, and the lost, God searches to find each one of us.

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection

Read Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28. How do your actions show others that you know God?
Read Psalm 14. When have you, like the psalmist, felt that no one knows God? How did you have faith that God would restore God’s people?
Read 1 Timothy 1:12-17. Recall a time when you felt unworthy of Christ’s full acceptance. How has that experience made you more grateful for Christ’s mercy?
Read Luke 15:1-10. In a world full of death and violence, how do you rejoice when God finds one lost person?

Respond by posting a prayer .

Psalm 14:1-6

1 Fools say in their hearts, There is no God. They are corrupt and do evil things; not one of them does anything good. 2 The LORD looks down from heaven on humans to see if anyone is wise, to see if anyone seeks God, 3 but all of them have turned bad. Everyone is corrupt. No one does good not even one person! 4 Are they dumb, all these evildoers, devouring my people like they are eating bread but never calling on the LORD? 5 Count on it: they will be in utter panic because God is with the righteous generation. 6 You evildoers may humiliate the plans of those who suffer, but the LORD is their refuge.

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

It’s tempting to read this psalm with an “us and them” attitude. The psalmist complains about “fools” who denounce God and do terrible things, and it’s easy to think, like the Pharisee’s prayer in Luke 18, Thank God I’m not like those people! But the psalmist quickly strips us of...

God, help me see how I place my autonomy over your priorities, my well-being over that of others, and perpetuate injustice in our world. Help me turn toward you so that my life professes your goodness. Amen.


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