Preparing for Worship - October 10, 2021

The Old Testament lesson for this Sunday is from Amos 5:6-7, 10-15. Amos had been sent to warn the Northern Kingdom of Israel to repent and return to the Lord. Things seemed to be going well under King Jeroboam, but there was much evil and corruption and refusal to follow the one true God faithfully. Amos preached, “Seek the Lord and live.” but also warned of coming judgment, if apart from the Lord. God still wanted to “be gracious to the remnant” of His people - as He was with the coming of Jesus as Savior.

The Psalm is a psalm of Moses, Psalm 90:12-17. In the opening verses, Moses warned of the shortness of life and the consequences of sin (Romans 6:23). Then he prayed, “Teach us to number our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom.” That wisdom only comes from God and seeing His steadfast love and forgiveness and favor for us, as we repent and rejoice in Him.

The Epistle is from Hebrews 3:12-19 and is another warning for people not “to fall away from the living God" into “evil, unbelieving hearts.” We “have come to share in Christ” and by His grace we can “hold our original confidence firm to the end.” The greatest danger for us or anyone is “unbelief.” (See Mark 16:16.)

In the Gospel lesson, Jesus meets a rich man who trusts in his own goodness and his wealth. Jesus challenges him to give up his tight hold on his possessions. “Come, follow Me,” Jesus said. Instead, the man “went away” from Jesus, still in false trust in himself. (That is still a danger. See Luke 12:32-34 and 1 Timothy 6:16-21.)