What Kind of Security, God?--Feb. 24, 2017

[From Feb. 25, 2011 archive]

O God of my salvation, I cry out in your presence.

I seek some security, that it may be well with me.

Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear.

You have an unsettling way of answering, though;

strange advice on how to make oneself secure—

give to everyone who begs, to all who want a loan.

Then there is the matter of Paul’s claim: while we live

we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake,

so that the life of Christ may be made visible in ours.

Surely this is a preposterous way to achieve security;

broaden my perspective—how can it be well with me

to live as if my only real security is that found in you?

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 88; 148; 6; 20

Ruth 3:1-18

2 Cor. 4:1-12

Matt. 5:38-48

Selected Verses

Ps. 88:1-2

 O LORD, God of my salvation,
            when, at night, I cry out in your presence,
let my prayer come before you;
            incline your ear to my cry.

Ruth 3:1

Naomi [Ruth’s] mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, I need to seek some security for you, so that it may be well with you.

2 Cor. 4:11

For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh.

Matt. 5:42

“…Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.  …”  [Jesus to the crowds]