The things that God teaches us in our Scripture Lessons would surely be scoffed at by people in this world. God will create a new heaven and a new earth in which there is no sorrow, crying or death. There is one Savior, and one way to heaven through Jesus Christ. Christians have special qualities as long as they are connected to Christ and His Word.

Israel had largely rejected the LORD God, still He promised to send a Savior who would bring mercy to Israel and beyond. Jerusalem’s inhabitants had denied and demanded the death of the Promised Savior…still God reached out to them through Peter and John. God has invited many to come to His Banquet but many reject the invitation for things far less important. 

Human Wisdom says love yourself first.  Godly Wisdom says humble yourself and respect first God and His Word. Human Wisdom says hate your enemy and rejoice when He stumbles and falls.  Godly Wisdom seeks to save the enemy because Jesus died for them too. Human beings are quick to condemn and to hate.  God reaches out to the sinner – without condoning his sin – and enables the sinner to turn from evil and follow Him.

…for each redeemed soul. God is surely glorified in our Scripture Lessons for this Pentecost. He did great things for Israel but they dishonored Him. Still He made His name great by promising to cleanse them of sin and to send His Spirit. God has done great things for us. He has made us heirs and sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. Jesus calls upon us to love one another and promises to send the Spirit of Truth to dwell within us.

The primary focus of our Scripture Lessons this Sunday. We are to seek the LORD in prayer, asking for His mercy and forgiveness. We are to pray for those in authority. We are to be persistent in prayer.

Our Scripture Lessons give us simple answers this week: Praise the LORD. Share the Good News. Confess the Truth.

That’s our God.

• Work — We work hard for some of those blessings…like Jacob did in wrestling with God.

• Freely – We receive many blessings from God without our effort, because of the work of our Lord Jesus. 

• Mercifully – When we sin – as Peter had, God has mercy on us in Christ and forgives, renews, and refocuses us in our work for Him.