The Key to the Bottomless Pit--Dec. 19, 2018

I am no great fan of discipline, O God,

especially of myself,  

so I am inclined to cast your words

behind me.

Yet Christ stands as a signal to the peoples,

and his words are glorious.

Pray help me ignore the glory

that comes from others,

and seek only the glory

that comes from him.

Jesus holds the key

to the bottomless pit.

Keep me out of the hands

of evil, and in his hands.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 50; 147:1-11; 53; 17

Isa. 11:10-16

Rev. 20:1-10

John 5:30-47

Selected Verses

Ps. 50:17

For you hate discipline,

          and you cast my words behind you.

Isa. 11:10

On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.

Rev. 20:1-2

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain.  He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years…"

John 5:44

"…How can you believe when you accept glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the one who alone is God? …" [Jesus, to those who wanted to kill him]