Israel was rich with blessings from God, but turning to false gods and false pursuits lost it. Still God promised to bless through the Promised Savior. We are rich…but one important blessing is that we recognize God’s gifts and are satisfied with them. We are to use our riches and our energy to serve the Lord Jesus. May God grant us new strength to that end.

The question is do we recognize it and thank God?

After 40 years of grace, many of the Israelites still doubted that the LORD would keep His Promise.  May we never doubt one of His Promises. The Ethiopian Eunuch came to know what God had done for Him and he rejoiced and was baptized. Tax Collectors and Sinners repented and served God; the Religious Leaders served themselves.  The former appreciated God’s Grace; the latter didn’t believe they needed it.

Sometimes suffering seems our lot in life. We may expect that life should be different because we are God’s Children by faith. The people of Jeremiah’s day watched Jerusalem be destroyed; but still God promised love and mercy to those who repented. Peter and John were arrested and threatened; but considered it a blessing to suffer for Jesus’ name. Jesus tells us that following Him has consequences; but denying Him has far worse consequences.

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.