Sunday, March 24, 2019

Trials and Temptations March 24,2019

Worship on Sunday, March 24 …

We continue on our Wilderness Journeys! as we go with Jesus into the trials and temptations of the desert! 

 ╬ Trials and Temptations!

 Testing and trials come for us all.  The witness of the Gospel shows that it is no different for Jesus, himself.  The wilderness is a place where these trials and temptations are brought into bold relief.  Jesus’ wilderness experience challenges him with archetypal tests and temptations that come to each of us in different ways, in different guises.  It is a part of the reductive and refining work that takes place in the desert places of life.  Yet Jesus shows us that it is possible to meet these challenges without allowing them to separate us from the Source of life and all goodness.  The One who goes before us shows us a way and a truth that leads like a pathway through desert places.



Below are the Prayer of the Day and Readings. 

 Christ be our light, shine in our hearts, shine through the darkness!

 - Pr. Brad Highum
bhighum@abidinglove.org

 PRAYER OF THE DAY ----------------
Creating God, in the wilderness we are confronted with all that seeks to separate us from you.  Save us in the time of trial, by the power of your Spirit, the living witness of your Son, and the love and compassion that is you.  Amen.

 READINGS --------------------------
First Reading:  Deuteronomy 6:16-25
16 Do not put the Lord your God to the test. 17 You must diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his decrees, and his statutes that he has commanded you. 18 Do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, so that it may go well with you, and so that you may go in and occupy the good land that the Lord swore to your ancestors to give you, 19 thrusting out all your enemies from before you, as the Lord has promised.  20 When your children ask you in time to come, "What is the meaning of the decrees and the statutes and the ordinances that the Lord our God has commanded you?" 21 then you shall say to your children, "We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 22 The Lord displayed before our eyes great and awesome signs and wonders against Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his household. 23 He brought us out from there in order to bring us in, to give us the land that he promised on oath to our ancestors. 24 Then the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our lasting good, so as to keep us alive, as is now the case. 25 If we diligently observe this entire commandment before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us, we will be in the right."

 Psalm 91:1-2,11-16
1 You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
2 say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust."
11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.
14 Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name.
15 When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them.
16 With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.

 Second Reading:  Hebrews 4:12-16
12 Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.  14 Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

 Gospel:  Matthew 4:1-11
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. 3 The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." 4 But he answered, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'" 7 Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; 9 and he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." 10 Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! for it is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'" 11 Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.
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