The Timely Embracer

Verse for the week: “Incline my heart to your testimonies,
    and not to selfish gain!”  Psalm 119.36

Prayer for the week: Dear heavenly Father, you speak to us through the Holy Scriptures. Grant that we may hear, read, respect, learn, and have your Word carved on our hearts in such a way that the overwhelming glory and enduring benefit and comfort grasp and hold us in the blessed hope of everlasting life, given us through our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Bible readings for the day: (another “ear glimpse” from one of the minor prophets)

Habakkuk 2.2-4 (Habakkuk prophesied to Judah just after Nahum, during the reign of Jehoiakim (609-598BC); his name = embracer, one who embraces another and takes him in his arms. This is what Habakkuk does with his prophecy: embraces God’s people and takes them in his arms. He neither shies away from nor gives easy answers to significant questions.)

And the Lord answered me:

“Write the vision;
    make it plain on tablets,
    so he may run who reads it.
³ For still the vision awaits its appointed time;
    it hastens to the end—it will not lie.
If it seems slow, wait for it;
    it will surely come; it will not delay.

⁴ “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,
    but the righteous shall live by faith.

Prayer of the Day: Gracious and almighty Father, thank you: you are the timely one I am not… my nature is impatience or tardiness. Your Son, Jesus Christ, is the fullness of time. Cleanse my heart of sinful pride and renew daily my trust in him and his promises. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Hymn: follow this link to a little fun that gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1YBYrJ8Hzg&ab_channel=MartijndeGroot

“Thy kingdom come…”

What does this mean?  God’s kingdom comes indeed without our praying for it, but we ask in this petition that it may come also to us.

When does this happen?  God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us his Holy Spirit, so that by his grace we believe his holy Word and live a godly life on earth now and in heaven forever. (from The Small Catechism, Martin Luther)

Benediction: For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
    he adorns the humble with salvation.   Psalm 149.4

 

*This is now our congregation’s 99^th year in the Word. In 2025, we are reading from Genesis to Revelation, with a few interludes along the way.