How to Honor God--Dec. 21, 2016

God Most Holy, you have given us a vision

of your glory and of your holy city,

radiant like a precious jewel.

You have made clear how not to worship you,

as when we honor you with our lips

while our hearts are far away.

And you have told us how to find your favor,

bringing an offering of thanksgiving,

and then walking the right way.

Dear God, with hearts full of thanksgiving,

pray help us to follow Jesus, for in

his path lies our right way.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 50; 147:1-11; 53; 17

Isa. 29:9-24

Rev. 21:9-21

Luke 1:26-38

           

Selected Verses

Ps. 50:23

"…Those who bring thanksgiving as their sacrifice honor me;

          to those who go the right way

          I will show the salvation of God."

[God speaks to the wicked]

Isa. 29:13

 The Lord said:
     Because these people draw near with their mouths
          and honor me with their lips,
          while their hearts are far from me,
     and their worship of me is a human commandment learned by rote…

Rev. 21:10-11

And in the spirit [the Angel] carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.  It has the glory of God and a radiance like a very rare jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal. 

Luke 1:30

The angel said to [Mary], "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.