The Third Week of February
We Read…
Throughout the story of God, we find that God’s holy presence is one of the greatest gifts given to humanity. Psalm 1 and Jeremiah 17 invite readers to see a life dwelling in God’s holiness as a tree planted by a stream. A tree rooted and secure in God’s providing presence. A tree that, through every season, clings to the hope that the source of all life and hope is near. A tree that can still bear fruit even during drought or times of chaos. This tree shows us a life that continues to live in the ways of God even through some of life's hardest seasons.
Today’s passage in Jeremiah goes even further, giving us an image of a life that doesn’t dwell in God’s holy presence. A life separated from God, dwelling outside of the holy presence, lacks peace. It constantly waits for provision, seeking comfort in a place that cannot offer it. When this shrub, or our own lives, isn’t connected to the source, it can shrivel up during seasons of drought.
We even see Jesus remind his disciples of this in Luke 6. After spending time with and bringing healing to people experiencing their fair share of hard seasons, Jesus looked to those who spent the most time in his presence and reminded them of the gift of relationship. The moments when they’re struggling, hungry, emotionally spent, suffering, or anything in between - there is hope in a God that dwells with them. And just like with the disciples, we can have hope in a God that dwells with us.
Jeremiah 17:5-10
5 The Lord proclaims:
Cursed are those who trust
in mere humans,
who depend on human strength
and turn their hearts from the Lord.
6 They will be like a desert shrub
that doesn’t know when relief comes.
They will live in the parched places
of the wilderness,
in a barren land where no one survives.
7 Happy are those who trust in the Lord,
who rely on the Lord.
8 They will be like trees
planted by the streams,
whose roots reach down to the water.
They won’t fear drought when it comes;
their leaves will remain green.
They won’t be stressed
in the time of drought
or fail to bear fruit.
9 The most cunning heart—
it’s beyond help.
Who can figure it out?
10 I, the Lord, probe the heart
and discern hidden motives,
to give everyone what they deserve,
the consequences of their deeds.
Psalm 1
1 The truly happy person
doesn’t follow wicked advice,
doesn’t stand on the road of sinners,
and doesn’t sit with the disrespectful.
2 Instead of doing those things,
these persons
love the Lord’s Instruction,
and they recite God’s Instruction
day and night!
3 They are like a tree
replanted by streams of water,
which bears fruit at just the right time
and whose leaves don’t fade.
Whatever they do succeeds.
4 That’s not true for the wicked!
They are like dust
that the wind blows away.
5 And that’s why the wicked
will have no standing
in the court of justice—
neither will sinners
in the assembly of the righteous.
6 The Lord is intimately acquainted
with the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked is destroyed.
1 Corinthians 15:12-20
12 So if the message that is preached says that Christ has been raised from the dead, then how can some of you say, “There’s no resurrection of the dead”? 13 If there’s no resurrection of the dead, then Christ hasn’t been raised either. 14 If Christ hasn’t been raised, then our preaching is useless and your faith is useless. 15 We are found to be false witnesses about God, because we testified against God that he raised Christ, when he didn’t raise him if it’s the case that the dead aren’t raised. 16 If the dead aren’t raised, then Christ hasn’t been raised either. 17 If Christ hasn’t been raised, then your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins, 18 and what’s more, those who have died in Christ are gone forever. 19 If we have a hope in Christ only in this life, then we deserve to be pitied more than anyone else.
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead. He’s the first crop of the harvest of those who have died.
Luke 6:17-26
One Sabbath, as Jesus was going through the wheat fields, his disciples were picking the heads of wheat, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them. 2 Some Pharisees said, “Why are you breaking the Sabbath law?”
3 Jesus replied, “Haven’t you read what David and his companions did when they were hungry? 4 He broke the Law by going into God’s house and eating the bread of the presence, which only the priests can eat. He also gave some of the bread to his companions.” 5 Then he said to them, “The Human One is Lord of the Sabbath.”
6 On another Sabbath, Jesus entered a synagogue to teach. A man was there whose right hand was withered. 7 The legal experts and the Pharisees were watching him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. They were looking for a reason to bring charges against him. 8 Jesus knew their thoughts, so he said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” He got up and stood there. 9 Jesus said to the legal experts and Pharisees, “Here’s a question for you: Is it legal on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” 10 Looking around at them all, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he did and his hand was made healthy. 11 They were furious and began talking with each other about what to do to Jesus.
12 During that time, Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night long. 13 At daybreak, he called together his disciples. He chose twelve of them whom he called apostles: 14 Simon, whom he named Peter; his brother Andrew; James; John; Philip; Bartholomew; 15 Matthew; Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus; Simon, who was called a zealot; 16 Judas the son of James; and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
17 Jesus came down from the mountain with them and stood on a large area of level ground. A great company of his disciples and a huge crowd of people from all around Judea and Jerusalem and the area around Tyre and Sidon joined him there. 18 They came to hear him and to be healed from their diseases, and those bothered by unclean spirits were healed. 19 The whole crowd wanted to touch him, because power was going out from him and he was healing everyone.
20 Jesus raised his eyes to his disciples and said:
“Happy are you who are poor,
because God’s kingdom is yours.
21 Happy are you who hunger now,
because you will be satisfied.
Happy are you who weep now,
because you will laugh.
22 Happy are you when people hate you, reject you, insult you, and condemn your name as evil because of the Human One. 23 Rejoice when that happens! Leap for joy because you have a great reward in heaven. Their ancestors did the same things to the prophets.
24 But how terrible for you who are rich,
because you have already received your comfort.
25 How terrible for you who have plenty now,
because you will be hungry.
How terrible for you who laugh now,
because you will mourn and weep.
26 How terrible for you when all speak well of you.
Their ancestors did the same things
to the false prophets.
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 the church? What are you considering?
What questions come to mind?
What does good news mean to you?
How do these passages point us to the good news of Jesus?
Why did the disciples leave everything to follow Jesus?
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?
Do you see yourself in one of these passages? Does it inspire you to grow? Does it bring you encouragement?
We Believe…
1 Corinthians 15:12-20 allows us to remember and recognize that our hope and faith is in Jesus, God incarnate. We can have hope because the God that created all things came to the earth to bring freedom and dwell among his beloved. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection cement the hope we find in this week’s passages. The anticipation of Jesus’ fateful return to restore and redeem the brokenness of this world can offer us assurance.
We Practice…
Practice praying Psalm 138 today, using the actual words or the flow of the passage (thanksgiving to God, remembering where God has worked in your life, praising God for all God has done and who God is, acknowledging where you need God and that God will be with you in the future). Make this your prayer, even if you aren’t sure you believe everything it says. Use these words or this structure to connect with God in your individual prayer time or with a group.
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