Receiving November 29, 2008, worship scriptures

Scriptures for November 29, 2008
Isaiah 64:1-9
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Mark 13:24-37

Part I - Receiving the Word as spirit and life for yourself
Let the Word in this week's worship scriptures be spirit and life for you. For some simple suggestions for doing this, see http://charistis.blogspot.com/2008/03/receiving-word-as-spirit-and-life.html
After you have received the scriptures as spirit and life for yourself, compare notes with others who have done the same.

Part II - Reflections on this week's scriptures (one place for you to compare notes)
Prayer for receptivity
Let my receptivity be
right now
what You, God, want it to be.
I'm listening,
open my ears to really hear.
My heart is Yours
open, soften and strengthen it to be
Yours completely.

Isaiah 64:1-9
"That the nations may tremble at Your presence!" (vs. 2b)

"We have sinned--
In these ways we continue;
we need to be saved." (vs. 5)

"We are all like an unclean thing,
And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;" (vs. 6a)
"There is no one who calls on Your name,
Who stirs himself up to take hold of You;" (vs. 7a)
No one--not the nations (we want to see them tremble in Your presence!), not us either! No one calls on You or takes hold of You.

"But now, O LORD,
You are our Father;
We are the clay, and You our potter;
And all we are the work of Your hand." (vs. 8)
No one takes hold of You, yet you take hold of us. As child is to father, as pottery is to potter, that is what we are to You. We are Your children, and the work of Your hand. Being Yours, being clay in Your hands, defines us more than our continuing sin and rags.
This is something to really let settle in! Belonging, as child to Father, as clay to Potter, is the surpassing reality! Our need to be saved is huge, and must be acknowledged, it is just not the final word. Our sin and need of being saved must be given their place and also kept in their place. Contrition, confession, and forgiveness keep us from making belonging into presumption.

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
"Come and save us!" (vs. 2b)
Compare Isaiah 64:5;, "We need to be saved."
Also compare "How long will You be angry" (vs. 4) with "You are indeed angry" (Isaiah 64:5).

"Cause Your face to shine,
And we shall be saved!" (vs. 3, 7,19)
When the face of God shines is that a glow of love and approval; is that a Father's love made visible? It's a saving thought just to imagine God's face shining, so shining it's saving!

1 Corinthians 1:3-9
"Grace to you and peace..." (vs. 3)
"...you come short in no gift,
eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end,
that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called in the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." (vss. 7-9)
The prayer of Psalm 80: 3, 7, and 19, "Cause Your face to shine..." is fully answered! How the face of God shines in, and because of, Jesus Christ!
We are called into the fellowship of His Son, not into the achievement of righteousness.

Mark 13:24-37
"Watch!" (vss. 33, 35, 37)
The call to watch includes anticipating. Advent is a season of anticipation. What has anticipation been like for you? Happy anticipation can even make it hard to sleep. A longed-for trip to the beach; a major milestone; marriage; or the birth of a child. Think of what anticipation has been like for you.
This season is about anticipating the Coming of Christ.
What was anticipation like for those who looked for His birth as an Infant?
What is anticipation meant to be like for us now as we watch for His glorious Second Coming.
Anticipate with all your heart, even if it means losing some sleep!