Surrounded By Your Steadfast Love--Mar. 22, 2015

[from March 29, 2009 archive]

When we trust in you, O God, you surround
us with your steadfast love.  When we do not,
many are the torments—for to be without you
is misery; to be with you is gladness and joy.

 Your word is a hammer that breaks down all efforts
to justify ourselves, a fire that burns away our self  
deceit; but the hammer liberates us to be your
captives, the fire frees us to be your slaves to all.

 In freedom, then, we work and pray, surrounded
by your steadfast love.  We work for the coming
of your kingdom; we pray that you will bring it in
with power, for without you we cannot bring it in.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 84; 150; 42; 32

Jer. 23:16-32

1 Cor. 9:19-27

Mark 8:31-9:1

Selected Verses

Psalm 32:10-11

Many are the torments of the wicked,

            but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the LORD.

Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, O righteous,

            and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.

Jeremiah 23:29

Is not my word like fire, says the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

1 Corinthians 9:19

For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them.

Mark 9:1

And [Jesus] said to [the crowd with his disciples], “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”