Your Purpose for Us--Aug. 26, 2019

[From Aug. 27, 2007 archive]

The sons of David exalted themselves;

and that was their failing, as it is ours.

It is not exalting ourselves, though,

to know that you have a purpose

for our lives that you will fulfill.

For Paul your purpose was to serve and testify—

perhaps not so different from your purpose for us.

You have already told us everything we need to know.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 57; 145; 85; 47

1 Kings 1:1-31

Acts 26:1-23

Mark 13:14-27

Selected Verses

Ps. 57:2

I cry to God Most High,

            to God who fulfills his purpose for me.

1 Kings 1:5

Now Adonijah son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king”; he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

Acts 26:15b-16

“…The Lord answered, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.  But get up and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to serve and testify to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you.  …  ’”  [From Paul’s testimony before King Agrippa]

Mark 13:23

“…But be alert; I have already told you everything.  …  ”  [Jesus, warning Peter, James, John, and Andrew about the coming of the Son of Man]