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The intent of Pilgrim Processing is to provide commentary on the Daily Lectionary from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. The format for the comment is Old Testament Lesson first, Gospel, and Epistle with a portion of one of the Psalms for the day as a prayer at the end.

Saturday, October 12, 2013

12 October 2013




In contrast to the people of Israel, particularly under the reign of Jehoiakim, this strange tribe, of which little is known, the Rechabites, are faithful people.  Jeremiah is sent to offer this people some wine to drink but they abstain from alcohol because they are obedient to their ancestor, Jonadab, son of Rechab to not drink wine or to be a settled people.  All of what we know of these folks is found right here in this chapter of Jeremiah.  The Lord holds this small group of nomads, even more devoted than those under a Nazirite vow, to be those who should be emulated.  They, among all the people found in Jerusalem at this time, are found to be faithful and shall not lack a man to stand before God for all time.  There are some things about these people that remind you of John the Baptist aren't there?

Do we still believe that the harvest is plentiful?  Most of the time we act as though we don't expect any harvest at all, only opposition.  Jesus saw the crowds that were coming to Him for healing and makes this observation.  Today we primarily offer a lot of talk to people and is it any wonder they don't come?  I can't heal anyone, can't do miracles, but I can walk in power by living above my circumstances and living joyously and victoriously in all things.  I can also pray to the healer and worker of signs and wonders and ask Him to send His Spirit to do these things today.  We have more to offer people than talk and a do it yourself program of having a better life.  We have the Good News of salvation but we also have the power of the Holy Spirit living in us to offer the world.  Jesus commanded obedience but did more than simply command, He enabled obedience if we only live by the Spirit.  Are we like the Rechabites or the Israelites?

Paul's vision of what the church should look like and most visions of our day look very different don't they?  Paul expects the church to have people who are: apostles, prophets, teachers, workers of miracles, healers, helpers, administrators and those who speak in tongues.  He talks as though we should know that about one another and that there is some need for these particular gifts within the body.  He also expects that those will operate within those gifts.  I wonder what it would look like if we all got together and sorted out whether we see those in the church and then worked out how to fit them together.  The tie that binds them must be love or we don't have a symphony we have a tuneless mess.  Let us pray that we shall be willing to see this kind of church established and that we have that kind of love for one another that enables it to function.  Let us be the exception like the Rechabites rather than the rule.

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