Tag Archives: Study the Work of God

Studying Together

Eastertide

April 26, 2021

Scripture Reading: Acts 8:26-40

Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Get up and go towards the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ (This is a wilderness road.) So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over to this chariot and join it.’ So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ He replied, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. –Acts 8:26-31

Bible study with a group is enlightening. In some instances, we gain confirmation about what we understand. At other times, we gain new insights that might never have crossed our minds. Sometimes when we see things differently, we are forced to dig deeper and test our long-held beliefs. I do not do well in study groups where a leader tells me what to think, and in that person’s opinion, it is the only way to discern what the scripture was saying.

Thus, I love the Ethiopian’s invitation to share in discussion about what he was reading from the book of Isaiah. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ He replied, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him.

You may recall from the stories of Solomon that the relationship between Israel and Ethiopia was ancient, and obviously, Hebrew texts were shared between them. We, too, are called to dialogue with others to share our understanding of God at work in the world from the beginning of time through the New Testament, continuing to God’s presence in our lives today.  We learn and grow in our faith as we delve into the written history of God and the living Word of God in our lives today through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Lord, guide us as we study together to gain a greater understanding of your love and how we are called to share it with others. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Study the Works of God

Works of GodEpiphany
Celebration of God
Manifested in the World
January 28, 2015

 Scripture Reading: Psalm 111

Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
   in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
Great are the works of the Lord,
   studied by all who delight in them.
Full of honor and majesty is his work,
   and his righteousness endures for ever.  

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
His praise endures for ever.  — Psalm 111:1-3, 10

 How much do we study the works of the Lord? I am amazed at the depth and breadth of the insights of Bible scholars who compare, contrast, test, and meditate on the scriptures. There work enables me to probe the significance of the stories. It is interesting to find the common threads that are woven throughout the acts of God. God cares for God’s people, all of them. The Lord meets us where we are and turns even our weaknesses into strengths. God is always with us and knows us thoroughly. All God asks of us is for our total commitment of love. Is that the beginning of the understanding of the fear of the Lord. How can we love like God?

What is the fear of the Lord? I am the youngest of three children and can attest to the truth that at least paying attention to the acts of parents can save you a lot of grief as you get older.  I observed early, for example, by watching my parents interact with my sister and brother that my parents did not countenance lying. So the better choice for me was to render the truth and face the music for whatever infraction I had committed rather than face the more serious reaction if I had lied about it. I learned that from observing the acts of my parents. My parents were loving me enough to prepare me for life beyond the walls of my home. God is trying to prepare us for life in a fractured world. The Lord is not just preparing us for surviving in that world, but for joining God in healing its wounds.

Prayer: Praise the Lord! I give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
   in the company of the upright, in the congregation.  Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.