1 Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers. 4 Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction. Psalm 1 (NIV)
65 Do good to your servant
according to your word, Lord. 66 Teach me knowledge and good judgment,
for I trust your commands. 67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I obey your word. 68 You are good, and what you do is good;
teach me your decrees. 69 Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies,
I keep your precepts with all my heart. 70 Their hearts are callous and unfeeling,
but I delight in your law. 71 It was good for me to be afflicted
so that I might learn your decrees. 72 The law from your mouth is more precious to me
than thousands of pieces of silver and gold. Psalm 119:65-72 (NIV)
Goodness is about character – integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity, moral courage, and the like. More than anything else, it is about how we treat other people. – Dennis Prager
1 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. 3 Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. 4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.” 6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?” 7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:1-8 (NIV)
Father, bless us with wisdom and knowledge of who you are. Deepen our desire to know you more in a more intimate way. Guide us on the path that leads to your loving arms. Amen.
1 Praise the Lord. Blessed are those who fear the Lord,
who find great delight in his commands.
6 Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered forever. 7 They will have no fear of bad news;
their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. 8 Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. 9 They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor,
their righteousness endures forever;
their horn will be lifted high in honor.
“Now arise, Lord God, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. May your priests, Lord God, be clothed with salvation, may your faithful people rejoice in your goodness.”
Message [used with permission from A Sermon for Every Sunday]:Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner – The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost[9/1/19] by Amy Starr Redwine, Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Virginia.
“A church I served developed a clever evening of fellowship called ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?’,” begins Reverend Amy Starr Redwine. “The way it works is that someone offered to host dinner for a certain number of people, but the host/hostess did not know who was going to show up until they showed up at their door. But she says it was a small church, so there was no chance of someone unknown showing up at the door.
The religious leader who invited Jesus to a dinner party with his friends in Luke 14:1, 7-14 knew of Jesus, but they are “trying to figure out who he is and what he is all about.” Jesus does not disappoint! He offers a radical critique of social and political practices of that time and place.
What might happen if you throw a “dinner party” and invite those least expected to attend, those outside your normal circle? What could that look like in contemporary culture? How can we “pay it forward”? Listen as Redwine teaches how to practice our faith and live out our gratitude toward God.
Closing Prayer: Father God, Maybe if the humble would be exalted and the exalted would be humbled somehow Your Kingdom would come? May it be so, in Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
6 Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence,
and do not claim a place among his great men; 7 it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”
than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.
Faithfully Yours Forever 