December 03, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 17, 50, 53
Isaiah 2:1-4
1 Thessalonians 2:13-20
Luke 20:19-26

II. Selections
Psalms 53:2
God looks down from heaven on humankind
to see if there are any who are wise,
who seek after God.

Isaiah 2:3
Many peoples shall come and say,
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths."
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

1 Thessalonians 2:13
We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God's word, which is also at work in you believers.

Luke 20:19-25
[ Jesus] said to [ the spies sent by the scribes and chief priests], "Then give to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's."

III. Meditation: Give us wisdom

Make us wise enough to seek after you;
and teach us your ways, that we may
walk in your paths.

Give us wisdom to recognize your word
for what it is, and to accept it, that it
may be at work in us.

Help us to distinguish what is yours from
what is the emperor's, that we may give
you what belongs to you.