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Our passages on this Sunday look deeply into lives and teach us how to grow through forgiveness, faithfulness to God, being planted deep into Christ, and being persistent in prayer.

PSALM 85-RESTORE US, GOD

This psalm looks to God’s past actions that have included restoration and blessing; most importantly, the psalmist asks for forgiveness and the withdrawal of divine anger. But this psalm also anticipates a return to such gracious divine actions. The psalmist requests God to step up to the table and show Israel-as in times past-God’s steadfast love and faithfulness. The psalm concludes with a poignant image of God’s virtues of love and faithfulness, righteousness and peace uniting to bless Israel once again.

HOSEA 1:2-10-WED TO UNFAITHFULNESS

The book of Hosea is a unique piece of Hebrew writing which uses the image of a prophet (Hosea) pursuing an unfaithful partner (Gomer). How that arrangement works (or doesn’t work) becomes the plot which alludes to a deeper story: the relationship between faithful God and unfaithful Israel. God tells the prophet to go marry an unfaithful person. Three children come from the union and their names suggest heavy-handed teaching points (Jezreel = punishment of Israel, Loruhamah ="No Mercy," and Loammi = "Not my people"). A promise of the future at the close of our lesson brings this passage hope.

COLOSSIANS 2:6-15 (16-19)-A FULL LIFE IN CHRIST’S FULLNESS

While the Jewish practice and theology of circumcision might be lost on non-Jewish, post-modern generation, the words that form this lesson speak powerfully to baptism and new life in Christ. Paul’s incarnational theology is at its best here-"Live your lives in him . . . in him . . . with him . . . made alive together with him." What great words to share with a congregation-especially if you intend to include a baptism on this Sunday. The words remind us all about the impact of Christ’s life on our lives through baptism.

LUKE 11:1-13-KNOCK, KNOCK

In this lesson Luke gives us a context for the world’s most famous prayer. Thus given and thus prayed, Luke continues the theme of prayer by placing the Lord’s Prayer next to a parable or a "for instance." This is a humorous and instructive story that demonstrates (perhaps among other things) the power of persistant prayer. A Mother Hubbard whose cupboards are bare comes knocking at a friend’s home at midnight. "No way, I’m in bed!" greets the door knocker; yet the knuckle-rapping continues until the friend gets out of bed and probably throws every loaf of bread he has at the guy. "So," Jesus says, "you ask . . . you search . . . and you knock . . ." for God is even more willing to give to us good things.