Faith Notes for Tuesday, September 7, 2021
First Presbyterian Church of Big Spring
New News:
The Discovery adult Sunday School class will resume this Sunday following the Labor Day break. We had a pretty good church turnout Sunday considering the holiday and hope all our travelers had safe travels.
This Sunday, September 12th, our scriptures will follow the complimentary lectionary readings for the sixteenth Sunday of Pentecost. They will include Psalm 116:1-9; Isaiah 50:4-9; Mark 8:27-38; James 3:1-12.
Psalm 116 is a Psalm of thanksgiving spoken after recovery from a traumatic event. We don’t know what that matter was but the author’s relief is clear. God has heard the supplications and, though immense and divine, has inclined an ear to the voice of the in distress. That loyal consideration has given the author confidence about the future. This experience is not minor because God has saved this person from death. God gives life and allows us to walk among the living. What shall we do in return?
Our Isaiah 50 passage is part of the “servant songs” and its background is a grim scene of destruction. But even though others might respond to the grim situation with malice, the servant does not. While others are losing their heads, the servant maintains focus on living God’s way and even suffers for doing so. It’s as if compassion on the part of the servant absorbs the venom of a community that acts out its response to a time of calamity. Wise words for 2021.
This week’s reading in Mark is a turning point in the gospel. Jesus now tells His disciples what the future holds for Him and they are nonplussed. Peter even rejects the news and Jesus responds to him sternly. Then Jesus informs all the gathered crowd what is expected of them if they intend to really follow Him: take up a cross and imitate Him. They must be willing to lose their lives for Christ in order to gain life in Christ. For Mark’s listeners, literal death as a follower of Christ was a distinct possibility. For us it isn’t and the Greek phrase better translates as losing one’s personal “center.” We Christians commonly do not want or intend to give up anything as a follower of Jesus. In fact, we expect to receive rather than sacrifice. But is that really the proper response to grace?
Put out your tongue and say “aaahh.” The letter of James this week delivers an essay about our greatest obstacle to being imitators of Christ. Put this selection side by side with the description of the suffering servant in Isaiah and beside the expectation Jesus has of His followers and we’ll see how our tongues, a small part of the body, can have a big impact on our character. It’s a little match that can cause a great fire and destruction. It’s a spring that can produce good water or bad water, blessings or curses. The same tongue that we use to praise God can also demean people who are created in the image of God. The choice is ours.
Meetings and Gatherings Calendar:
Communications Committee - September 7 at 2:30 p.m. in the church library.
Women’s Bible Study - September 8 at 10:00 a.m. in the church library
History class- September 8 at noon in the church theater room.
Lectionary Bible Study - September 8 at 5:00 p.m. in the church library
Worship Committee - September 9 at 3:00 p.m. in the church library.
Lunch Bunch- every Thursday at 11:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
See you in church!
Allen