Pentecost 12: Followers of Christ find true treasure in trusting God’s promises

True treasure is faith in the promises of God—no matter how difficult they seem to believe. The Verse of the Day defines that treasure well: sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not yet see.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve. Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

VERSE OF THE DAY

Alleluia. Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Alleluia. (Hebrews 11:1)

or

Alleluia. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Allelui. (Luke 12:32)

THE GOSPEL: LUKE 12:32-40

After heaping up a number of warnings in Chapter 12, Jesus called on his disciples to “Seek his kingdom and all these things will be given to you as well.” Setting aside the decaying decadence of the world, the flock has nothing to fear, for God has promised that he has already given us the kingdom. Some days that is a very hard promise to believe as we walk the way of the cross. But trusting that promise of God brings real treasure and a deep longing for Christ to come.

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Artist’s Commentary: Visual Exegesis

What our heart loves is where our heart lives. And where our heart lives determines everything about us, since from it flow all the streams of our life (Prov.4:19). May we—by the Spirit—be enamored with the crucified and risen Lord and so be with Him where He is, on the resurrection-illumined cross of self-giving love (John 12:24-26)

Christopher Powers

FIRST LESSON: GENESIS 15:1-6

Earthly wealth wasn’t the treasure that Abraham sought. No, he longed for the son long promised who would carry forward the promised Seed of Woman. God came and reminded Abraham that God was not only Abraham’s shield, but his treasure, too. Certain again of what he could only see by faith, Abraham looked forward to the fulfillment of the Lord’s promise to bless him with the seeming impossibility of a son. To us, the Son of promise has come. Like Isaac to his aged parents, Jesus has come to bring joy and connection to the Lord’s imminent and eternal reward.

SECOND LESSON: HEBREWS 11:1-3,8-16

How long seems this road from grace to glory. How difficult this earthly path we walk laden with burdens of body and soul! We cry with saints across the centuries, “How long, O Lord?” Using the life of Abraham as an example, the writer to the Hebrews encourages faithful living that looks forward to the fulfilled promises of the Lord. Written in his blood and guaranteed with his life, the great High Priest promises to us the same heavenly country, the same eternal city prepared for the faithful.

Artist	Caravaggio  (1571–1610)
Title	English: Sacrifice of Isaac Polski: Ofiarowanie Izaaka
Object type	painting
Genre	religious art
Date	circa 1603
Medium	oil on canvas
Dimensions	Height: 104 cm (40.9 ″); Width: 135 cm (53.1 ″)
Collection	Uffizi Gallery
Current location	Florence

SUPPLEMENTAL FIRST LESSON: HAGGAI 1:1-14

Judah had returned from exile at the gracious working of the hand of the Lord. Yet their first priority was to rebuild personal wealth rather than rebuild the house of the Lord for the coming of the Messiah. They labored, but the treasure they sought dropped through a “purse with a hole in it.” With the Lord’s salvation at hand, the people were to prepare for the coming of the Messiah. By the power of the Spirit, the Lord redirects our eyes to look for him as we prepare our hearts for his coming again.

Artist	John Singer Sargent  (1856–1925)
Object type	painting
Date	circa 1892
Medium	oil on canvas
Dimensions	Height: 56.2 cm (22.1 ″); Width: 71.1 cm (28 ″)
Collection	Museum of Fine Arts

SUPPLEMENTAL SECOND LESSON: REVELATION 3:1-6

All the outward signs of living faith could be seen in Sardis, but the truth revealed the dead and dying. Wake up from the sleep of spiritual apathy before judgment comes like a thief in the night. Join the remnant of the faithful that has been preserved and will be forever acknowledged before the Father.

HYMN OF THE DAY

Christian Worship #442, Have No Fear, Little Flock

Not much avalible. Taking suggestions.

Christian Worship #472, Rise, My Soul, to Watch and Pray

Not much avalible. Taking suggestions.

Other Thematic Songs

I’m But a Stranger Here arranged by Zach Unke

Jesus Calls Us O’er the Tumolt as sung by Koine

PSALM OF THE DAY

Psalm 33

or

Psalm 121

The Getty’s have recorded a great version of Psalm 121 but sheet music does not yet appear to be avalible.

Questions to Consider

(Please share your answers/thoughts in the comments below)

1. What is God saying to me in these lessons?
2. For what do these lessons lead me to give thanks?
3. What sins do these lessons lead me to confess?
4. For what do these lessons lead me to pray?
5. What is the connecting thought that sticks out the most in these lessons? What major theme(s) connect(s) all the lessons?
6. Which piece of artwork did you find to be most beneficial? Why?