God Pause for Monday, 6 March 2017 at The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States with The Scripture: Genesis 12:1-4

God Pause for Monday, 6 March 2017 at The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States with The Scripture: Genesis 12:1-4

Genesis 12:1

Now Adonai said to Avram, “Get yourself out of your country, away from your kinsmen and away from your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation, I will bless you, and I will make your name great; and you are to be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, but I will curse anyone who curses you; and by you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

4 So Avram went, as Adonai had said to him, and Lot went with him. Avram was 75 years old when he left Haran.

[Complete Jewish Bible]

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Faith is exceedingly inconvenient. It never lets us stay put. When we heed the call of the Holy Spirit, we are pulled out of our old ways and into something new--new places, new relationships, new visions, new work, new life. Abraham's new story begins with a single word from God: Go! Go from your home and your family and everything you have ever known, trusting that I have something greater in store for you! It's a terrifying, absurd proposal. But he listens anyway. All of history hinges on this decision--he gets up and goes when God tells him to go. His faith permits him to let go of the present and live into the promise, and so he becomes a blessing to the whole world. When we follow our faith into new places, we too can be a blessing to others. We just have to be willing to listen when God speaks and calls us.
Lord, give us the courage to listen to your call and follow where you lead. Amen.
Jessica Christy
M.Th. Student, Luther Seminary
Genesis 12:1 Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.
2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him.[New Revised Standard Version]
Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue

Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
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God Pause for Sunday, 5 March 2017 Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States "Oh, Love, How Deep," verse 1 (ELW 322)

"Oh, Love, How Deep," verse 1 (ELW 322)
Oh, love, how deep, how broad, how high,
1. beyond all thought and fantasy,
that God, the Son of God, should take
our mortal form for mortals' sake!
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Thomas Kempis, the 15th century monk best known for his devotional work The Imitation of Christ, wrote this hymn to tell the story of Jesus in verse. He begins with the Incarnation, wondering at the incomprehensible love that led the Son of God to become flesh, taking on "our mortal form for mortals' sake."
Here is no sentimental Christmas carol celebrating the infant Jesus attended by adoring shepherds and assorted domestic livestock. This hymn instead moves quickly from the birth of Jesus to his life, death and resurrection. The shadow of the cross looms over the manger, but not in an ominous way. Instead, the hymn celebrates in wonder and astonishment the love that would lead God not only to become one of us and to live among us, but also to die on a cross and to be raised again--all "for us." Such love is a profound thing to ponder as we begin our Lenten journey.
Lord Jesus Christ, love incarnate, walk with us during these weeks in the way of the cross, that it may be for us a way of life and peace. Amen.
Kathryn Schifferdecker
Associate Professor of Old Testament; Bible Division Chair, Luther Seminary
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Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue

Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
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