When we seek life in anything other than God, we turn all of life on its head; but God has sought us in Jesus and saved us so that we might find our life in seeking and knowing him. Amos writes to a nation in which many enjoy material prosperity and have come to trust in that prosperity for their ultimate good, apart from the call to trust in God alone and to love their neighbor as themselves. Today’s readings have much to say to followers of Jesus who, as a rule, enjoy a great deal of material abundance in 21st America. Will we allow our desire for comfort and earthly security to harden our hearts against God’s call and our neighbor’s well-being, or will we find our greatest source of life in knowing and being known by Christ? And for his sake, are we willing to employ all we are and all we have for his glory and for the benefit of others?
Traditional Service
Contemporary Service
Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ®, © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Liturgical portions are taken from Divine Service, Setting 1 from Lutheran Service Book, © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission. LSB Liturgy License #000012403.
“Seek Ye First,” by Karen Lafferty. © 1972 Maranatha! Music; admin. Music Services (ASCAP). Used by permission. LSB Hymn License #100012403.
All music in our Contemporary Service is performed under Hope’s CCLI Copyright License 2956118 and CCLI Streaming License 20263055.