Ordinary Time: Thursday, September 13, 2007

Old Testament Lesson

1 Kings 18:1-19

We see in this passage the beginning of the great showdown between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. It is coming when he will stand before the false prophets as one man, and face them down. But, one man with God on his (or her) side can do great things. Another thing we see in this text is that there are always folks working for good that we don't always see. We see Obadiah today hiding other prophets so to see them. We don't know much about him, other than what this text tells us; but here he is, hiding the people of God and keeping them safe. He simply did what was right.

And, that is all the Lord asks of us, that we do what is right.

New Testament Lesson

Philippians 2:12-30

There is that great verse of scripture that so many of us have quoted before in times of conversation (or even an argument or two); work out your salvation with much fear and trembling. I'm not going to make today's thoughts a great theological lecture, but I simply put forth this thought. Perhaps the goal of salvation is not simply to accept and believe in Jesus Christ, but perhaps the goal of salvation is to follow Him and become more like Him each day.

Perhaps what God has for us is that we grow in grace daily. That we become more loving, more caring, more faithful, more obedient. Perhaps what He wants for us is that we become changed; we become different. And that we are to work on it each, through His grace working in us. Maybe that's what Paul is talking about today.

May we, through God's grace, be changed and transformed today. May today, we work out our salvation with much fear and trembling.

Gospel Lesson

Matthew 2:13-23

These were dangerous days for Jesus and for His family. But, each step of the way, God was there. God was leading. When there were choices to make, decisions that had to happen, each step, God was there. God was leading them where they need to be. He was placing there where they needed to be. God was leading. They had to listen.

Today, God is leading us somewhere. There is somewhere He wants us to be; somewhere He wants us to go. May we listen. May we listen for His voice and go where it leads. He will take us where we need to be. And, where He needs us to be. Listen. He will lead.