Ordinary Time: Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Old Testament Lesson

Nehemiah 12:27-31a,42b-47

It's one thing to have to wait. We've all been there. We hate waiting. It's another thing when that thing we've been waiting for comes to pass. That is what is happening here. The people had waited for many years for Jerusalem to be restored, and starting here, things are really starting to come together.

When we are waiting for the Lord's plan to come into place, be it in our lives, or in the life of our church, or in the life of our family, or wherever, don't lose heart. It's easy to do, but we must hold on. For He is not done, and He is still at work. It may take some time, just as it did for Israelites. But, He is still at work.

New Testament Lesson

Revelation 11:1-19

Boy howdy, you have to love Revelation. I think the key thing that we always need to keep in mind when we are studying, reading, and praying over Revelation it to remember that God is at work in ways that we don't understand, and God is always at work for the good of His people. And, God always opens the door for folks to return to Him. We see it quite often in Revelation; we'll see something happen, but right before it does, the Lord give folks a chance to turn around and come back. His grace extends that far. His grace will always come, seeking us out. If we will only respond to His outstretched hand.

Gospel Lesson

Matthew 13:44-52

We see Jesus tell us that the kingdom is hidden. We see its hard to find. But, we all see that it is hidden in the common things. We see it in a pearl. We also see it in a net. Today, we will see the kingdom. We'll see in a smile. In a warm word. In a hug. In all the small and ordinary things that God uses to make our lives extraordinary. Today, the kingdom is all around. May we have eyes to see.