Responding to God’s Grace

The readings this week lack a common theme. Genesis recounts the promise of Isaac’s miraculous birth and the fulfillment of that promise—a key story in the history of God’s people. The psalmist cries out with thanksgiving to the Lord, for we are God’s people and the grateful recipients of unending faithfulness. Paul rejoices because we have peace with God through our faith in Jesus Christ. This is not because of anything we have done or could do; rather, God’s love sent Christ to die for us when we were distant from God. In Matthew, Jesus calls his disciples and declares that God’s harvest is vast, but there are not enough workers willing to go into the fields. It is a call for us to go as the disciples did.

Read Genesis 18:1-15; 21:1-7. How does your faith invite you to laughter?Read Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19. How do you make a thanksgiving sacrifice to God? Consider trying a new practice of thanksgiving.Read Romans 5:1-8. How has God’s love for you prompted you to “the second movement of the symphony,” to share God’s love with others and all creation?Read Matthew 9:35–10:23. How are you called to participate in Christ’s ministry of healing?