The Second Week of October
We Read…
Amid his struggles, Job looks for God and can’t find him. Can you imagine how hard that must have been? Can you relate to Job? Our psalmist can. He cries out to God, asking why God has turned away from him, but he doesn’t end there. He keeps going, proclaiming that he knows God is holy and that God is there, even when he can’t feel God. Jesus came to earth and now can sympathize with us in our struggles; he knows what it’s like to be human and to feel lost or forgotten about. Even when we can’t feel God around us, we know God has not left us. We know that Jesus is with us. We know God cares deeply for us and sees us in these moments.
Job 23:1-9, 16-17
23 Job answered:
2 Today my complaint
is again bitter;
my strength is weighed down
because of my groaning.
3 Oh, that I could know
how to find him—
come to his dwelling place;
4 I would lay out my case before him,
fill my mouth with arguments,
5 know the words
with which he would answer,
understand what he would say to me.
6 Would he contend with me
through brute force?
No, he would surely listen to me.
7 There those who do the right thing can argue with him;
I could escape from my judge forever.
God’s hiddenness
8 Look, I go east; he’s not there,
west, and don’t discover him;
9 north in his activity,
and I don’t grasp him;
he turns south, and I don’t see.
16 God has weakened my mind;
the Almighty has frightened me.
17 Still I’m not annihilated by darkness;
he has hidden deep darkness from me.
Psalm 22:1-15
1 My God! My God,
why have you left me all alone?
Why are you so far from saving me—
so far from my anguished groans?
2 My God, I cry out during the day,
but you don’t answer;
even at nighttime I don’t stop.
3 You are the holy one, enthroned.
You are Israel’s praise.
4 Our ancestors trusted you—
they trusted you and you rescued them;
5 they cried out to you and they were saved;
they trusted you
and they weren’t ashamed.
6 But I’m just a worm, less than human;
insulted by one person,
despised by another.
7 All who see me make fun of me—
they gape, shaking their heads:
8 “He committed himself to the Lord,
so let God rescue him;
let God deliver him
because God likes him so much.”
9 But you are the one who pulled me
from the womb,
placing me safely at my mother’s breasts.
10 I was thrown on you from birth;
you’ve been my God
since I was in my mother’s womb.
11 Please don’t be far from me
because trouble is near
and there’s no one to help.
12 Many bulls surround me;
mighty bulls from Bashan encircle me.
13 They open their mouths at me
like a lion ripping and roaring!
14 I’m poured out like water.
All my bones have fallen apart.
My heart is like wax;
it melts inside me.
15 My strength is dried up
like a piece of broken pottery.
My tongue sticks
to the roof of my mouth;
you’ve set me down in the dirt of death.
Hebrews 4:12-16
12 because God’s word is living, active, and sharper than any two-edged sword. It penetrates to the point that it separates the soul from the spirit and the joints from the marrow. It’s able to judge the heart’s thoughts and intentions. 13 No creature is hidden from it, but rather everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of the one to whom we have to give an answer.
14 Also, let’s hold on to the confession since we have a great high priest who passed through the heavens, who is Jesus, God’s Son; 15 because we don’t have a high priest who can’t sympathize with our weaknesses but instead one who was tempted in every way that we are, except without sin.
16 Finally, let’s draw near to the throne of favor with confidence so that we can receive mercy and find grace when we need help.
Mark 10:17-31
17 As Jesus continued down the road, a man ran up, knelt before him, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to obtain eternal life?”
18 Jesus replied, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except the one God. 19 You know the commandments: Don’t commit murder. Don’t commit adultery. Don’t steal. Don’t give false testimony. Don’t cheat. Honor your father and mother.”
20 “Teacher,” he responded, “I’ve kept all of these things since I was a boy.”
21 Jesus looked at him carefully and loved him. He said, “You are lacking one thing. Go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me.” 22 But the man was dismayed at this statement and went away saddened, because he had many possessions.
23 Looking around, Jesus said to his disciples, “It will be very hard for the wealthy to enter God’s kingdom!” 24 His words startled the disciples, so Jesus told them again, “Children, it’s difficult to enter God’s kingdom! 25 It’s easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom.”
26 They were shocked even more and said to each other, “Then who can be saved?”
27 Jesus looked at them carefully and said, “It’s impossible with human beings, but not with God. All things are possible for God.”
28 Peter said to him, “Look, we’ve left everything and followed you.”
29 Jesus said, “I assure you that anyone who has left house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or farms because of me and because of the good news 30 will receive one hundred times as much now in this life—houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and farms (with harassment)—and in the coming age, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last. And many who are last will be first.”
We Think…
What stands out to you in these verses?
Does anything confuse you or not make sense?
How do these verses compare to your own experience in life or in the church? What are you considering? What questions come to mind?
Why do you think the man in Mark 10 turns away instead of selling what he owns?
We Feel…
What emotions are you experiencing today? How are you making space for these feelings?
Where have you seen God today or this week? What is pointing you to God (maybe it is something in creation, a friend or adult that cares for you)?
What has God made new in your life? In your heart?
Have you ever felt like God is hiding from you? What helps you remember that God is with you?
How does it feel to hear Jesus tell this man in Mark to sell everything?
Is there anything that you wouldn’t be able to give up if God asked?
We Believe…
We believe that Jesus came near us, walked on this earth, and experienced life as a human. This is huge! We believe in a God who doesn’t just stay far away or detached. Jesus came close to us so that God could experience life as we know it and offer us a way to full life through God. It can be easy to think that God is somewhere in the sky or beyond our reach, but Jesus shows us a different story.
We Practice…
How do you experience God’s presence in your day-to-day life?
Some of us connect to God through silent prayer or reading our bibles. These are both great ways, but we can also meet with God in many other ways. Some of these might be walking in nature and reflecting on God’s creation, talking with a group of Christians about our faith, doing something creative like painting or drawing, and serving other people. Reflect on how you best connect with God and take a few minutes to practice in this way.
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