Receiving August 16, 2008, worship scriptures

Scriptures for August 16
Genesis 45:1-15
Psalm 133
Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32
Matthew 15:21-28

Part I - Receiving the Word as spirit and life for yourself

Why do I keep inviting you, week after week, to receive the Word as spirit and life for yourself? Because it is spirit and life! Because each child of God can come directly to God in the Word. There are many, many words about the Word--in sermons, devotionals, seminars, and in writing that's published on the Internet and in books, magazines and other resources. All words about the Word are secondary. The Word itself is primary. You will know best how to benefit from words about the Word, when you participate in the spiritual discipline of receiving the Word itself--as spirit and life--for yourself.
The following provides suggestions for how to receive the Word as spirit and life for yourself: http://charistis.blogspot.com/2008/03/receiving-word-as-spirit-and-life.html It isn't necessary for you to understand or explain every word in each scripture. But it is necessary, more necessary than eating physical food, to receive the Word, being open to what you recognize as spirit and life.

Part II - Reflections on this week's scriptures

Prayer for receptivity
Present to You, God, with all my heart. Free hearted, full hearted. That's my desire. Forgive the times I come gingerly, with a partial heart, a partial presence. Heart and presence affect the receptivity I seek--so much. In this prayer I seek the quality of heart, presence and receptivity You want me to have.

Genesis 45:1-15
"God sent me before you to preserve life." (vs. 5)
"God sent me before you..." (vs. 7)
"It was not you who sent me here, but God." (vs. 8)
Being sent by God was such a keynote in Joseph's life, and he emphasized it by repeating it three times.

"He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt." (vs. 8)
The man God sent was sold as a slave, imprisoned and tested (Psalm 105:17-19) and later became father to pharaoh, lord and ruler. When did a prayer of surrender and powerlessness apply for Joseph?
When he was in the pit before he was sold to the Ishmaelites and taken to Egypt?
When he was in chains in prison in Egypt?
When he was father to Pharaoh, lord, and ruler?
Was Joseph any less powerless as lord and ruler than he had been in the pit and in prison?

Psalm 133
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!" (vs. 1)
What a great Psalm for the sons of Jacob!
How good and pleasant it is for each brother, and for all of them together!
How good and pleasant it is for their dad!
How good and pleasant it is for their descendants!
Dwelling together in unity--what a pebble to drop in the pond of humanity. How the ripples extend out to families and nations, forever.

Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32
"For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all." (vs. 32)
It's not disobedience, that He might reject and punish.
It's disobedience, that He might have mercy.
The truth is disobedience, and the truth is mercy. Those are companion truths that bare the human heart, and the divine heart.

Matthew 15:21-28
"...a woman of Canaan... cried out to Him, saying, 'Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David!'" (vs. 22)
The ways of His mercy are deep, unsearchable and past finding out. The One who commits all to disobedience in order to have mercy on all (Romans 11:32) uses ways past finding out (Romans 11:33). His way of responding to this woman of Canaan illustrates that. And the results are faith and mercy that shine forever.