Pentecost: Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Old Testament Lesson

Ezekiel 34:1-16

Two things of great importance here. First we see God speak for the fact that He is going to protect His sheep. He is going to stand for His sheep; make sure they are taken care of, make sure they are looked after. Even if they don't have a good shepherd, He will be their Good Shepherd.

Second, we see that the shepherds were not looking after the sheep, but looking after themselves. The shepherds were the priests of Israel and we see that the priests were only interested in themselves, not in the others. If we have been placed in a position of authority, be it in church, in work, in our families; if others are entrusted to our care, then we must remember at that point, our primary consideration is not ourselves. It is those entrusted to our care. Leadership is sometimes taking care of those that that are entrusted to you. Not using them for your own gain. The priests of Israel were doing that, and because of it they were judged.

New Testament Lesson

1 John 2:12-17

We see John say that he is writing to each group, each "demographic" in the church. And each group matters; and each group can learn from the others. The young can learn from the old, the old can learn from the young. We can each lean from one another, for we are all part of the same body.

Gospel Lesson

Matthew 10:5-15

In this passage Jesus sends out the 12 with a high mission. Go and do good! Go through every town and village and do good. Do good for the sick, the infirmed, the grieving, do good for everyone that you meet. Bring about life and joy and peace, though Jesus name!

What a great goal for today. Today, through all that we we do, let us seek to do good. Let us seek to bring about life and joy and peace, all through Jesus name. Today, let us seek to do good in all that we do.