May 16, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 66, 98, 116
Leviticus 16:20-34
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Matthew 6:7-15

II. Selections
Psalm 116:16
O LORD, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the child of your serving girl.
You have loosed my bonds.

Leviticus 16:22
The goat shall bear on itself all [ the iniquities of the people of Israel] to a barren region, and the goat shall be set free in the wilderness.

1 Thessalonians 5:9-10
For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him.

Matthew 6:7-8
" ...When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. ... "

III. Meditation: Before we ask
Before we ask,
you know our need,
but you want us to ask,
not piling up empty phrases,
but asking.

And our asking must include
what you expect of us,
for we are your servants,
children of your serving girl,
servants of our Servant Lord.

You have loosed our bonds, set us free,
destined not for wrath but for salvation
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who into the wilderness bore our iniquities.
Awake or asleep we live with him.