Ten Minutes for Teachers
Feb. 25, 2007
Vol. 6, Issue 4

Worship Texts:  Psalm 91; Deut. 26:1-11; Luke 4:1-13
Worship Theme:  Temptation on The Way
Other Texts:  Romans 10:8b-13
 
Reminder:

The Jr. High “I Am” Ministry will be handing out quarts of bean soup Sunday after worship.  If you bought a quart of soup, please be sure to pick your quart up before you leave.  If you would still like a quart, there will be a few to spare.  Quarts are $5. 

Devotion: 
While our sermon text this Sunday will be focused on Jesus’ temptation in the desert, the Sunday school lesson for our children and youth will be focused on another desert experience:  the children of Israel’s desert wandering.  For forty years, God’s children wandered and grumbled, traveling around and around – waiting to be delivered into the Promised Land.

The book of Deuteronomy is set within this desert wandering.  And it was written to summarize the love affair between God and his people – a personal, intimate review of the good and hard days, the daily details, the promises made, the family rules and rituals practiced or ignored.[1] 

And all of this occurred in a type of relational solitary confinement.  In the desert the people were forced to lean upon God for life.  Still, though, they tried to do everything but lean on God – nostalgically remembering Egyptian days, quarrelling with leaders, bowing down before a golden calf.  All of which only further reinforced that this marriage – God and his people – wasn’t going to be like Ozzie and Harriet.  It was rough going.

Which is why Moses gets very clear about Israel’s relationship to God when we come to Deuteronomy 26.  Pretty soon the Israelites are going to be in the Promised Land, which will be ripe with its own set of temptations.  In fact, the temptations will be even more threatening.  Other gods will be sold and trafficked; other cultures will try to entice God’s children into an affair with the world.  All of which means one thing:  devotion will be needed. 

There are many ways to express our devotion – giving and keeping promises, exchanging rings, listening and obeying.  Deuteronomy 26 presents another way:  offering the first fruits.  Everything good the Israelites will enjoy – the sweet fruit, the sustaining vegetables, the goodness of the vine, the milk, the honey – all of it a gift from God. 

The land the Israelites were about to enter was like a banquet table prepared in advance – spread out and heavy laden.  So, God used Moses to give one final word.  “When you’re down there living it up, remember how you got here; remember who propelled you to this place and prepared it for you.  Don’t forget.  And just to make sure you don’t forget, give the first part of the goodness back.  Let go of it as a reminder of the desert time, the fainting time.  Let go so you can worship the Giver and not the gift.”

It is a message the Israelites remembered … and forgot … and remembered … and forgot. 

And, then, one day, a man from Galilee – a certain Jesus, the son of a carpenter –once again returned to the desert.  There he heard the temptations of the devil – seducing him to ignore the priority of first fruits, enticing him to ignore the Source, the Giver of all life.  But, this Jesus, he did not forget.  He remembered. 

But, that is another story – a story you will hear read and proclaimed this Sunday.    

Something to Chew On:
It is essential to remember that God commanded the Israelites to give as a response to God’s own goodness.  Giving is always an activity initiated by God, since God is always giving to His creation.

Knowing that, what is something God has given you that you would like to offer back to God in thanks.  If it is your house, is there a way you can make a room in your house available for visitors?  If it is your community, how can you help someone experience that goodness?

How can you help a child or young adult live a life of thanksgiving?  What behaviors can you model … a blessing before a meal, picking up trash along the street as a way to thank God for the created world, giving clothes to Goodwill when you make a new purchase? 

Perhaps you can ask your Sunday school class.  The possibilities are limitless since God’s gifts are immeasurable. 

Prayer for the day:
“From your hands, O God, come our good and the good of all creation.  From our hands, O God, receive your joyful thanks and trust.  For within our remembrance and our hope, you give us cause to celebrate and the means to share.” Seasons of the Spirit: Lent, Easter.  Pg. 3.