Not In Secret, Not In Darkness--Jan. 21, 2011

We fear we are perishing; we assume you do not care;
but you have made clear what we should do. You have
not spoken in secret, or in a land of darkness—plainly
you declared your love for us and called us to obey.

You will instruct us and teach us the way—will counsel
us with your eye upon us. When we respond as servants,
our service is not only to other people; it is also to you.
May we answer accordingly, with care and enthusiasm.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 130; 148; 32; 139
Isa. 45:18-25
Eph. 6:1-9
Mark 4:35-41

Selected Verses
Ps. 32:8
I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go;
      I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

Isa. 45:19
I did not speak in secret,
      in a land of darkness;
I did not say to the offspring of Jacob,
      “Seek me in chaos.”
I the LORD speak the truth,
      I declare what is right.

Eph. 6:7-8
Render service with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not to men and women, knowing that whatever good we do, we will receive the same again from the Lord, whether we are slaves or free.

Mark 4:37-38
A great gale arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But [Jesus] was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and [his disciples] woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”