Lions Are More Obedient?--July 17, 2010

 
I. Readings
Psalms 104, 149, 138, 98
Joshua 6:1-14
Romans 13:1-7
Matthew 26:26-35

II. Selections
Psalm 104:21-22
The young lions roar for their prey,
      seeking their food from God.
When the sun rises, they withdraw
      and lie down in their dens.

Joshua 6:14
On the second day they marched around [Jericho] once and then returned to camp. They did this for six days.

Romans 13:7
Pay to all what is due them—taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.

Matthew 26:34
Jesus said to [Peter], “Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.”

III. Meditation

Teach us to live by the order that you have ordained
for your creation. You have set the time for the lions
to come out of their dens, and the time for their return.

You have given us routines to follow in time of war
and in time of peace. You have established social order
and governing bodies and have told us to honor authority.

We tend to honor human authority, but, like Peter, often
deny honor to you, the authority most important of all.
Forgive us, for lions seem to obey you better than we do.