Receiving August 9, 2008, worship scriptures

Scriptures for August 9
Genesis 37:3-4, 12-28
Psalm 105:1-8, 16-22, 45c
Romans 10:5-15
Matthew 14:22-33

Part I - Receiving the Word as spirit and life for yourself
My hope is that you will receive the Word as spirit and life for yourself, and then compare notes with others who are doing the same. 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

Part II - Reflections on this week's scriptures

Prayer for receptivity
Being receptive is a gift given, a gift to be loved and grown into. Thank you God for this gift. Please enable me to grow into this gift. Make my heart soft, strong, and responsive in receiving Your Word as spirit and life.

Genesis 37:3-4, 12-28
"'Look, this dreamer is coming!'" (vs. 19)
"...'We shall see what will become of his dreams!'" (vs. 20)
A dream--where it comes from, how it's shared, what becomes of it--stands out for me as something to ponder.
And, of course, the account that flows through all of these verses invites a person to get acquainted with these siblings and their striving. There is glaring meanness and hatred (how could they be that way!) surpassed by values or virtues ("he is our brother and our flesh"). And the worst and best in these siblings is far surpassing by providence, which doesn't prevent conflict or suffering.

Psalm 105:1-8, 16-22, 45c
"You children of Jacob, His chosen ones!" (vs. 6)
That's plural. It wasn't just Joseph that was chosen.

"He sent a man before them--Joseph--who was sold as a slave." (vs. 17)
Consider what might be involved in being sent by God.

"Until the time that his word came to pass,
The word of the LORD tested him." (vs. 19)
The word of the LORD as hope; the word of the LORD as test. Is it any less spirit and life in either case?

"Remember the LORD's marvelous works which he has done,
His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth." (vs. 5)
It is a wonder and a marvelous work that God would choose that bunch of siblings, do with them what He did, and specifically send Joseph, and do with him as He did.

"Praise the LORD!" (vs. 45)
Psalm 105 comes out praise.
In his book about praying the psalms (Answering God), Eugene Peterson points out that the whole thing, the whole book of Psalms, comes out praise in Psalm 150. That everything in the Psalms (and the Psalms are wide and deep territory) comes out praise is a great, great reality. It takes everything together to give fullness and power to praise. If we skim off what we find pleasant, focus on desirable outcomes, and select this or that favorite verse, our praise will be feeble at best.

Romans 10:5-15
"For with the heart one believes unto righteousness." (vs. 10)
With the heart one believes. Some say it's with reason (how you think). Some say it's with emotion (how you feel). But this verse says it's with the heart. The rest of Scripture and life show that heart is the center of the whole person. It can take some time and intention to move belief into the heart. But it's an essential move into life and spirit.

""How shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!'" (vs. 15)
And don't forget what "being sent" may involve!

Matthew 14:22-33
"Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him." (vs. 33)
Consider the wind, the waves, and the alternating fear and amazement in verses 22-33. There were depths and heights, depths and heights in quick succession. This account includes being real about fear, and also having fear surpassed.
The outcome is worship. The outcome is worship! That is an outcome to love every day for the rest of life here, and hereafter!