Reading: Matthew 18:15-35, Acts 25:13-27, Psalm 41, Leviticus 11-13

Recall:
When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.”
Matthew 18:19-20 (The Message)

Dignify those who are down on their luck;
you’ll feel good—that’s what GOD does.
Psalm 41:1 (The Message)

When a man or woman has a disease on the head or in the beard, the priest shall examine the disease. If it appears deeper than the skin and the hair in it is yellow and thin, the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is an itch, a leprous disease of the head or the beard. Leviticus 13:29-30

Reflect:
Funny passage from Leviticus. The past few chapters were priest as butcher, now we have priest as doctor!

Matthew 18:15-35 is all about relationships. I guess I had never noticed that before. It talks about how we go to someone who we perceive has hurt us. And then it talks about forgiveness (70x7, Peter!) and the great story of the two debtors. What is interesting is Matthew 18:19-20 is tucked in there. It's like Jesus is saying, "Here is why you have to get along...when you agree on anything in prayer God will do it." Wow, so incredibly powerful. Do I believe it? I actually struggle with that. But, I guess I should practice what I preach and give it a try!

Peterson's paraphrase of Psalm 41:1 is fantastic. Dignify those who are down on their luck.
Respond:
Well, I have specifically been given something to respond to this morning. I will work toward finding agreement with others in prayer, both formally and informally.

Reading: Matthew 18:1-14, Acts 25:1-12, Psalm 40, Leviticus 8-10

Recall:
Doom to the world for giving these God-believing children a hard time! Hard times are inevitable, but you don’t have to make it worse—and it’s doomsday to you if you do. Matthew 18:7

Blessed are you who give yourselves over to GOD,
turn your backs on the world’s “sure thing,”
ignore what the world worships; Psalm 40:4 (The Message)

And me? I’m a mess. I’m nothing and have nothing:
make something of me.
You can do it; you’ve got what it takes—
but God, don’t put it off. Psalm 40:11 (The Message)
 
Reflect:
In the Message, Peterson goes back and forth between actual children and "simple believers" that are not children. The NRSV stays with children throughout. But I like this verse, an acknowledgment that stuff happens, "hard times are inevitable." We often can't relieve people of their hard times--although we probably could more often than we'd like to admit--but we absolutely must not add to their problems.

I love this Psalm--I don't know if I have read it before, certainly not Peterson's paraphrase. I'm a mess, but God can do it!
Respond:
God, I continue the long process of giving myself over to you, but I am nothing and I have nothing: make something of me! You can do it! Don't put it off!