What I Know; What I Hope--July 3, 2010

I. Readings
Psalms 122, 149, 100, 63
Numbers 24:12-25
Romans 8:18-25
Matthew 22:23-40

II. Selections
Psalm 100:3
Know that the LORD is God.
      It is he that made us, and we are his;
      we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Numbers 24:16-17a
“…the oracle of one who hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, who falls down, but with his eyes uncovered: I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near … ” [from the oracle of Balaam]

Romans 8:18
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.

Matthew 22:37-40
[Jesus] said to [the lawyer], “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

III. Meditation

I know the sufferings of this present time;
I hope for the glory about to be revealed.

I know I should love my neighbor as myself;
I hope some day to be able to do this.

I know that you are the Lord, my God;
I hope to see you (but not now)
and to behold you (but not near).

I know that you made us,
and I know that we are yours;
therein likes my hope as well.