This is a Three-Year Lectionary based on the Lutheran Book of Worship 3-year Lectionary (for public worship), "Prayers of the Day..." (Propers), p. 13-41, Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, 1978. It is based, with only minor variations, on the Revised Common Lectionary, used by many denominations, including the Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Methodist churches:
http://www.commontexts.org/
and:
http://www.commontexts.org/rcl/usage.html
The daily readings are the Propers (Lections) for the following Sunday, so that the daily devotions can prepare us for worship. Additional lections are from Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church, "Scripture lessons for Matins and Vespers," United Lutheran Church of America, General Rubrics VIII. Scripture lessons for Matins and Vespers, p. 299 - 304, Philadelphia, 1918.
The previous 2- year Bible Study based on the Lutheran Book of Worship, Daily Lectionary for personal devotions p.179-192, Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, 1978, is available at:
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Journalspace.com, my former 'blog host has gone out of business. I have also lost mypodcast.com, my podcast host. This 'blog is mirrored at
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Please Note: I will post weekly by Saturday, noon, (God willing), Pacific time (UTC-8:00) for the week of the Church Season which begins on Sunday. Please scroll down for the desired day, or save the week to your desktop/hard drive.
5 Epiphany Sunday
First Posted February, 8, 2009
Job 7:1-7 – Life is Hard and Fleeting;
Psalm 147:1-13 – Praise the Lord;
1 Corinthians 9:16-23 – Servant of the Gospel;
Mark 1:29-39 – Jesus begins Public Ministry;
Job:
Isn't life on earth hard? Don't we spend our days like slaves, whose chief desire is for shade. Aren't we laborers desiring wages. Job had miserable nights and months of idleness. Job laid down but could not sleep; he tossed and turned until dawn. Job was afflicted with boils; his flesh was full of maggots. When they begin to heal, he broke out again. Job's days flew by like the swiftness of a weaver's shuttle. He had no hope beyond physical life.
Job asked God to remember that Job's life was transient, and he was afraid that he would never see goodness.
Psalm:
Let us praise the Lord! Praising God is appropriate because he is gracious. The Lord builds up his Church (New Jerusalem), and gathers the outcasts of God's people (Christians are the New Israel; the New People of God).
He heals their broken hearts and bandages their wounds.
He is the Creator, who determined the number of stars and named them. Our God is greatest in power, and unlimited in understanding. The Lord uplifts the oppressed, but he destroys the wicked.
With thanksgiving let us sing to the Lord, accompanied by stringed instruments. He is the Lord who created the clouds of heaven, and rain for the earth. He provided grass for the hills. He provides food for all the animals.
The Lord is not impressed with the strength of a horse or of a man. God is pleased by those who fear (respect the power and and authority of) God; who love and hope in his steadfast love.
Praise the Lord, Church (the New Jerusalem)! Praise God, Zion (Jerusalem; God's people; the Church)! It is God alone who can strengthen that fortress. Only God can bless us with sons.
1 Corinthians:
Paul's preaching of the Gospel was not worthy of special commendation; Paul had to preach the Gospel because of Jesus' command (Matthew 25:31-46). But even if he had not been under Christ's commission, he would have been glad to proclaim Christ's message without cost, because he had received it without charge. Paul rejoiced in that he was able to give the Gospel message at no charge to others.
Because of Paul's spiritual “rebirth,” he was not enslaved by anyone, but he voluntarily became a servant of all others, so that he might win some to Christ and eternal life. He had been a devout Jew, so he presented the Gospel to Jews as a Jew. He had the freedom of those who have been released from obedience to the Law, in order to save the Gentiles who were not under the Law, but he taught converts to trust and obey Jesus' teachings by the indwelling Holy Spirit. To the weak he proclaimed the Gospel as one who was also weak. He did so in order that he might save as many as possible, and so that he would also share in the blessings of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 9:19-23).
Mark:
After calling Simon (Peter), Andrew, James and John to follow him, Jesus entered the synagogue in Capernaum. Jesus taught with authority and had healed a demon-possessed man (Mark 1:16-28). Afterward Jesus and his disciples went to the home of Simon, whose mother-in-law was ill with a fever. Jesus went to her and took her by the hand, the fever left her, and she got up and fixed them lunch. Because of the healing of the demoniac in the synagogue, the news spread throughout the region, and at sunset, a great crowd of people gathered at the house where Jesus was, bringing all who were sick or possessed with demons. Jesus healed many who were sick, and cast out many demons, but Jesus would not allow them to speak, because they knew him.
In the morning Jesus got up well before sunrise, and went to an isolated spot to pray. His disciples found him and told him that the crowds were seeking Jesus again. Jesus said he wanted to go on to the next towns in Galilee to preach his message there also. That was the reason Jesus had come outside before the crowds arrived. So Jesus and his disciples went from town to town in Galilee preaching his message, and healing those who were demon-possessed.
Commentary:
Job was a man who was afflicted with an agonizing skin disorder. He didn't blame or curse God. He continued to trust in God's goodness and righteousness. His one hope was to see his creator face-to-face. He didn't have any reason to hope for life beyond death. Death was seen as a shadowy existence. Life for Job ended with physical death, and he saw his lifetime hurrying by while he was forced to be idle and in misery.
The Book of Job existed as an oral narrative long before it was written down, in perhaps in 1000 to 800 B.C. It is prophecy, because it is the inspired Word of God. Job was expressing the longings for a mediator, an advocate, a redeemer and vindicator. He longed to have a face-to-face relationship with God.
The period of trouble Job suffered did lead to spiritual enlightenment, and to a personal knowledge of God. In the end Job realized that he had known a lot “about” God, but hadn't known God with personal knowledge and experience (Job 42:5: this is the key verse of the entire book). After Job came to this realization, God healed him and restored to Job more than he had before his suffering Job 42:10-17).
Jesus is the fulfillment of the hope Job expressed. Jesus is our mediator of the New Covenant between God and mankind (Job 9:33-35 RSV), which Jesus established on the night of his “Last Supper”(Matthew 26:26-28). Jesus is the fulfillment of of a redeemer who redeems us, who pays for our release, from the penalty of for sin and death, which is eternal destruction (Romans 6:23). He is our advocate who defends us before God (Job 16:19-21; Hebrews 2:17; 4:14-16). Jesus is the Righteous Judge who is going to return at the end of time on the Day of Judgment where we will all be accountable to him for what we have done in life (Job19:29; Matthew 25:31-46).
The Book of Job foretells what God has done for us to heal us spiritually, to restore us to personal fellowship with God, and to eternal life, through Jesus Christ (John 14:6).
The Psalmist praised the Lord for God's willingness and abundant ability to heal broken hearts and bandage the wounded, not just physically but spiritually. The Lord upholds the poor and oppressed, but he opposes the wicked.
In a sense, we are all born with a spiritual terminal illness. We have all sinned (disobeyed God's Word) and fall short of God's righteousness (doing what is right, good, and true according to God's Word; Romans 3:23, 1 John 1 8-10). The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). Only by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ can we be “born-again” to true eternal life, only by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
Paul is intended by God to be the prototype and example of the “modern,” “post-resurrection,” “born-again” disciple (student) and apostle (messenger; of the Gospel) of Jesus Christ, which we can all become. Paul was following the Great Commission which Jesus gave to his disciples as his parting command, to wait in Jerusalem (the modern equivalent is the Church), until they had received the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8), and then they were to go into all the world, making disciples of Jesus Christ, and teaching them to trust and obey all that Jesus teaches (Matthew 28:19-20).
Paul was as much an apostle as the remaining eleven of the Twelve original disciples (minus Judas Iscariot, the betrayer), although he had never known Jesus during Jesus' physical ministry. He was following the method that Jesus had demonstrated, of making “born-again” disciples of Jesus Christ. Paul himself had been discipled by a “born-again” disciple, Ananias, until Paul received the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:10-18). Then Paul repeated the process with others including Timothy, who he told to repeat the process with others also (2 Timothy 2:2).
Christians are called to be disciples of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c), who have been “born-again ” and who then go into the world to repeat the process. We have experienced the truth of the Gospel and eternal life, and are offering them freely to anyone who is willing to receive them by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ.
Many people in the world today are only concerned about their present life and pursuing their own physical and material goals and worldly success. They don't understand that there is life beyond physical death, as Jesus' resurrection and healing miracles demonstrated.
Many people today are only interested in what “Church” can do for them physically and materially. People who came to Jesus seeking only physical healing and feeding received only that. Physical healing is only good until the next illness and physical feeding only lasts until the next meal. Only Jesus is able to heal and feed us spiritually and raise us from death to eternal life.
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
5 Epiphany - Monday
First posted February 9, 2009
5 Epiphany - Tuesday
First Posted February 10, 2009
| 2 Kings 5:1-14 – Naaman the Leper; Naaman was the commander of the army of the king of Syria. His master thought highly of him because the Lord had given him victory over Israel. He was powerful and had great courage, but he was a leper. On one of Syria's raids into Israel, he had captured a girl from Israel, who he had given to his wife for a servant (slave). The girl told her mistress that if Naaman went to the prophet in Samaria the prophet would cure his leprosy. So Naaman told the king who he served what the Israelite maid had said. The king told Naaman to go to that prophet, and the king wrote a letter to take to the king of Israel. Naaman left, taking ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten festal garments, and brought the letter to the king of Israel. The letter told the king of Israel that the king of Syria had sent Naaman to Israel to be healed of his leprosy. The king of Israel suspected that the king of Syria was was trying to provoke an argument. Only God could take or give life; what made the Syrian king think that the king of Israel could heal Naaman's leprosy. Elisha was the prophet that the maidservant of Naaman's wife had been speaking of. When he heard that the king of Israel had torn his cloths (an act of ritual mourning), Elisha told Israel's king to allow Naaman to come to Elisha, so that Naaman could realize that there was a prophet in Israel. So Naaman came to the prophet's house. And Elisha sent a message through Elisha's servant telling Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan river and his flesh would be healed and he would be ritually clean. But Naaman was angry and left because he had expected the prophet himself to come to him, call on God, and wave his hand over his leprous skin and heal him. Weren't there rivers in Syria he could have bathed in? But his servants approached Naaman and suggested that if the prophet had asked him to do some great thing, Naaman would have done it. Why not simply wash and be healed. So Naaman went to the Jordan and washed seven times and his flesh was restored, and became like that of a small child, and he was clean. Commentary: According to Easton's* Benhadad II was the King of Syria, and Joram (Jehoram) was King of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The Northern Kingdom was ruled by a series of ungodly kings who were warned about the consequences of disobedience and idolatry by the prophets, but didn't heed the warnings until it was too late. Benhadad set seige to Samaria in about 850 B.C. which was broken at the last moment by divine intervention (2 Kings 7:1-20). In 723 B.C. King Sennacherib of Assyria laid siege to Samaria, and conquered it in 721 B.C. As the result of the Assyrian policy of exiling the conquered people to other conquered lands of the Assyrian empire, the Northern Kingdom of the ten tribes effectively ceased to exist. The remnant of the weak, poor and old of the Israelites, who were allowed to remain, intermingled both racially and in religion with other nations brought in by the Assyrians and became the Samaritans of Jesus' time. A talent of silver contained three thousand shekels, weighing slightly more that ninety-four pounds. Gold weighted double the weight of silver,** so six thousand shekels was about three hundred seventy six pounds. In 1962, when gold was thirty-five dollars an ounce, the value was estimated as high as eighty thousand U.S. Dollars.*** It took a large caravan to transport and guard it (2 Kings 5:9 RSV). Naaman was willing to pay a great fortune for healing, but was unwilling to do the simple act of faith in bathing in the Jordan. Naaman was expecting a dramatic ritual, but was unwilling to do the simple act of bathing that the messenger of Elisha had relayed. He wondered why just any river wouldn't do. We are all spiritual lepers who are spiritually unclean and dying, until we turn to Jesus Christ. Christian baptism is the simple act of faith which cleanses us from our sin and prepares us to receive the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit becomes the river of living water, flowing through us and out into the world (John 7:37-39), giving spiritual healing and eternal life. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). God's gift of forgiveness and salvation cannot be bought, earned, or taken by force or deception. It can only be received by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9). There aren't many ways to eternal salvation; there's only one. Jesus is God's only provision for our forgiveness and salvation (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). There are a lot of people today that seek dramatic rituals and great miracles, thinking that then they will see and believe. The same thing was true in the days of Jesus' physical ministry. At his crucifixion the chief priests mocked him, telling him to come down from the cross so that they could see and believe (Mark 15:31-32). They had seen the miracles Jesus had done even in the temple in their midst, and had not believed. Jesus didn't come down from the cross; he came up from the grave, but they still didn't believe. Christians are like the Jewish servant girl; we're citizens of God's eternal kingdom of heaven, but in exile in this secular world. We know where spiritual healing can be found, and we can suggest to those who we work with and for, where they can find spiritual healing and life. Naaman was a great and powerful man, but he was willing to hear the testimony of the servant girl, and guidance and correction of his own servants. Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)? * Easton’s Bible Dictionary, “Naaman” digital edition, SwordPROJECT BibleTime 1.6.4 (for Linux KDE 3.5.7) http://wwwbibletime.org ** ibid “Talent" ***The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, 2 Kings 5:1-7n, p. 460, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962. |
First Posted February 11, 2009
| 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 – Discipline and Self-Denial; Paul says that as athletic competition requires discipline, training and determination in order to win the prize, the same thing is true of Christian discipleship. Athletic victory is only temporal, until someone comes along to do it better, and until we age and can no longer compete; but the reward of Christian disciple is eternal.Athletes must compete according to the rules; likewise Christian disciples cannot suppose that they can finish the course without their eye on the goal, and participate without knowing and following God's Word. How can we testify to others, without training and disciplining ourselves. Paul says that our spiritual forefathers (the Israelites) were all led by the pillar of Cloud (Exodus13:21), and passed through the sea (Exodus 14:22). They were “baptized” into Moses through the cloud and sea. They all ate of the supernatural food (manna) and drink (water from the Rock, which is Christ).* But God was not pleased with them and they perished in the wilderness. Commentary: Why shouldn't we expect to apply at least the same sort of discipline and effort in Christian discipleship that we apply in our worldly careers and pastimes? The Bible says that all who receive Jesus, who believe in his name (his whole character and reputation), receive the power (authorization) to become children of God, but they don't automatically become children of God; they must claim and appropriate that promise by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. They must be spiritually “reborn” (John 3:3, 5-8), not by flesh and blood and the will of mankind, but by the will of God, by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34, only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). A Christian is, by definition, a disciple of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c) who has been spiritually “reborn” by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Not everyone who claims to be a Christian, who claims Jesus as Lord, or claims to be “born-again” is going to be saved (Matthew 7:21-27; Luke 6:46). Church membership, Christian baptism, and participation in Holy Communion (“Lord's Supper;” Eucharist) won't save us. We are saved only by a genuine spiritual rebirth and personal relationship with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus' original disciples were with Jesus, day and night, for three years, and yet they were not ready to become his apostles (messengers; of the Gospel), until they had been spiritually reborn on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13). Jesus commanded his disciples to go into the world and make disciples of Jesus Christ, teaching them to obey all that Jesus teaches (Matthew 28-19-20) only after they have been spiritually reborn (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire at night symbolize the guidance, providence, empowerment and protection of the Holy Spirit within Christians as they travel through the spiritual wilderness, the spiritual darkness, of this present world. Jesus is the “New Moses” who frees us from bondage to sin, and eternal death (which is the penalty for sin) in the “Egypt” of this present world order. Jesus leads us through the “Sea” of Christian baptism, which separates us from our spiritual enemies, through the wilderness of this lifetime, through the “River” of physical death (without getting “wet feet;” i.e. “unaffected;” Joshua 3:14-17) into the eternal Promised Land of God's kingdom in paradise restored in Heaven. God was not pleased with the Israelites in the wilderness because they did not follow God's command to enter and take possession of the Promised Land at their first opportunity, which was mere months after leaving Egypt (Numbers 13:1-33). After God sentenced them to forty years of wandering in the wilderness until all the adults who had disobeyed God's command died in the wilderness, the people decided to enter the Promised Land on their own, disregarding Moses' warning (Numbers 14:41-43) and they were repulsed by the Amalekites (Numbers 14:44-45). We have all sinned and fall short of God's righteousness (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). Jesus is God's only provision for forgiveness of our sin, salvation from eternal destruction, for restoration to fellowship with God which was broken by sin, and for eternal life in God's heavenly kingdom (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). We won't be saved by congregational membership, baptism and participating in Holy Communion, any more than the Israelites were saved by passing through the Sea, and participating in supernatural manna (bread from heaven) and the supernatural water from the Rock. Only Jesus can give us “living water" by the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39). We won't get into heaven and have eternal life any other way than by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus, any more than the Israelites were able to get into the Promised Land after they had refused to trust and obey God's command. Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)? *Later legend taught that the Rock followed them through the wilderness. The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, Matthew 1:21n, p. 1172, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962. |
5 Epiphany - Thursday
First Posted February 12, 2009
Mark 1:40-45 – Obedience;
A leper came to Jesus, knelt before him and begged him, saying “If you will, you can make me clean” (Mark 1:40). In pity Jesus reached out and touched him saying, “I will, be clean (Mark 1:41); and immediately the leper was healed. Jesus told him sternly not to say anything to anyone about his healing but to go to the priest and offer the sacrifice required by the Law of Moses (Leviticus 14:1-32). But the healed leper went out and spread the news of his healing so that Jesus was not able to openly enter any of the towns, but had to stay in the countryside.
Commentary:
Leprosy was considered a spiritual disease; an outward sign of spiritual corruption, and God's punishment of the afflicted. The afflicted had to stay outside of cities, and were required to warn passersby that they were ritually unclean. They were barred from participation in temple worship and all religious activities.
The leper who came to Jesus expressed his conviction that Jesus could heal him, if Jesus chose to do so. Jesus showed him that he was willing and able to heal him, and was willing to touch him who was considered unclean.
Jesus told the leper not to spread the news of his healing, but to be restored to fellowship with the congregation of Israel by fulfilling the sacrifices required by the Law of Moses. But the leper disregarded Jesus' command. He may have thought that he was doing what was right in helping to glorify Jesus, but he was making Jesus' ministry more difficult.
Many people are interested only in what Jesus can do for them physically: for physical miracles of healing and feeding (John 6:15, 25-27). Jesus' physical miracles were intended to show that Jesus can also heal and feed spiritually. Those who came to Jesus only for physical healing got only that; they missed the spiritual healing and feeding that only Jesus can provide. Physical healing only lasts until the next illness; physical feedings only last until the next mealtime. Spiritual healing and feeding give eternal life.
Only Jesus gives spiritual healing, feeding and eternal life by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). Saving faith is more than the conviction that Jesus can do miracles; that's just opinion. Saving faith is not getting whatever one believes in if one “believes hard enough.” Saving faith is obedient trust in Jesus.
Too many nominal “Christians” today think that, since they want to do the Lord's will, that therefore whatever they choose to do must be God's will. They pray for the Lord to guide them, and then to do whatever they please. Unless and until one has been “born-again” by the gift of the Holy Spirit, they are deprived of the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Many nominal “Christians” today “talk” to the Lord, but do they listen? Do they wait for the Lord to reveal his Word to them? Do they act in obedience to his Word?
Jesus commanded his disciples to stay in Jerusalem (the Church is the modern equivalent) until they had been given the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8), and then they were to go into all the world with the Gospel. In too many instances that is not happening in the Church today.
Consider the original disciples as they awaited Pentecost. Jesus had told them to await the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and they were waiting in Jerusalem, probably in the upper room where they had celebrated the “Last Supper.” While they were waiting, they decided to choose a disciple to replace Judas Iscariot, the one of the Twelve, who betrayed Jesus. They nominated two people they thought were most qualified and then chose them by lots; by chance, like rolling dice. Matthais was chosen, and was never heard from again in the New Testament record (Acts 1:15-26).
I am convinced that Paul (Saul of Tarsus) was the one God chose to be Judas' replacement. Paul is the prototype of a “modern, post-resurrection, born-again (John 3:3, 5-8) disciple and apostle” of Jesus Christ, as all of us can and should be. Matthias is never heard from again, but from the time of Paul's conversion (Acts 9:1-22), the rest of the Book of Acts, and most of the rest of the New Testament is written about or by Paul.
Consider the transformation the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit had upon Simon Peter. Peter usually “leaped before he looked;” he was enthusiastic but didn't follow through. On the night of Jesus' betrayal he told Jesus he would rather die than deny Jesus (Matthew 26:33-35; Luke 22:31-34), but when Jesus had been arrested, Peter denied him three times, even to a most menial servant of the high priest (Matthew 26:69-75).
The Disciples had been hiding in the upper room, with the door barred, for fear of the Jews (Jewish Authorities; John 20:19). On the Day of Pentecost, the “birthday” of the Church, Peter, filled, guided and empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit, boldly preached openly to thousands, proclaiming the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:14-36).
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
5 Epiphany - Friday
First Posted February 13, 2009
| Jeremiah 9:23-24 – Glory in the Lord; The Lord says to the wise, not to boast in their wisdom; to the mighty, not to boast in their might; to the rich, not to boast in their riches. Let him who boasts, boast in knowing and understanding the Lord, whose ways are steadfast love, justice and righteousness, because he delights in these qualities. The day is coming when the Lord will punish all who are outwardly “circumcised” but are uncircumcised (in their hearts), Egypt, Edom, Ammon, Moab, and the Arab tribes (Israel's neighboring countries), along with Judah (the remnant of Israel*), because all these peoples are uncircumcised, and the house of Israel is uncircumcised in their hearts. Commentary: God's wisdom is eternal and unchanging, unlike mankind's worldly wisdom. (1 Corinthians 1:17-25). “For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25). I believe that the meaning and purpose of life is to seek and come to know and have fellowship with the Lord God, our Creator (Acts 17:26-27). This lifetime is our opportunity to be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life. The accomplishment of these purposes is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ, through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). Unless and until we personally know and understand God, we don't know anything important and eternal. God has been progressively revealing himself and his purpose for Creation from the very beginning, first in the goodness and complexity of Creation itself, then through the Bible, then through Jesus Christ, the “living Word” (John 1:1-5, 14). The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit is the ultimate revelation of the Lord to us individually and personally (John 14:21). God has always, from the very beginning, intended to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey God. This Creation has been designed to allow the possibility of sin (disobedience of God's Word), so that we have a real alternative to obedience to choose from, and so that we can learn by trial and error that God's will is our best interest. Circumcision was the seal of the Old Covenant (Testament) of Law mediated by Moses between God and God's people. The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit is the seal of the New Covenant (Testament) mediated by Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:26-28 RSV see note “g;” Hebrews 8:6-10), the “New Moses” between God and his people. The people of Israel were physically circumcised, but many weren't “circumcised” in their hearts, their will and behavior. The circumcised under the Old Covenant was by men at God's command, and the circumcised were obligated to keep all of the Law of Moses. True circumcision is “circumcision that is of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter” (of the Law; Romans 2:29). The New Covenant is forgiveness of sin and salvation from eternal condemnation by grace (as a free gift), to be received by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). The Holy Spirit is “the circumcision of the heart” which enables “born-again” Christians to know and fulfill the spirit of the law out of love rather than fear. Christians are freed from the condemnation of the “letter” of the Law, provided that they are obedient to the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-8). Circumcision was of no benefit if circumcision was only outwardly (Romans 2:28). Likewise, calling oneself a Christian, calling Jesus one's Lord, or calling oneself “born-again” doesn't mean that one is saved. Too often the nominal Church is not even trying to make “born-again” disciples. Many “churches” today teach the false doctrine of “Cheap Grace,”** the doctrine of salvation by grace (a free gift; unmerited favor) which is true, but without the requirement of discipleship and obedience (which is false; see False Teachings, sidebar, top right). These “churches” are not only not making “born-again” disciples, but are actually preventing their members from being “born-again” by telling them that they are automatically born-again by some church ritual such as water baptism. This situation reminds me of the folktale of the Emperor's New Clothes (see the link in "False Teachings, Spiritual Rebirth; sidebar, http://shepboy.snow.prohosting.com/index, or search www.wikipedia.org/ Not only are these Church leaders strutting around spiritually naked, but so are their members. Knowing and understanding the Lord begins with reading God's Word. Many church members have never read the entire Bible, and don't read the Bible every day. Too many “churches” don't read the Bible texts as part of worship, and too often preachers' sermons are based on one or two verses, if they are based on the Bible at all. Every Christian should read the entire Bible first of all, and then should read the Bible daily, with prayer and mediation, seeking to know and do God's will, one day at a time. Any average reader can easily read the Bible in one year, and there are lots of one-year reading schedules (see Free Bible Study Tools, sidebar, top right; http://shepboy.snow.prohosting.com/). There are many false “churches,” false teachers and false doctrines in the world and in the Church today. How can a member know if their church is teaching Biblical apostolic doctrine, as received and and taught by the original Apostles and recorded in the New Testament, unless they have read the Bible? The Christian Church is not just a “New Testament” church; the entire Bible is the Word of God, and one needs to read the Old Testament also, but from the perspective of the New Testament. Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)? *Judah, the kingdom of the two tribes, was the remnant of Israel after the destruction of the Northern Kingdom of the ten tribes of the divided monarchy in 721 B.C. by the Assyrians. Jeremiah's ministry began 627 B.C. **See: The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Collier Books, Macmillan Publishing Co., NY 1963 ISBN 0-02-083850-6 |
5 Epiphany - Saturday
First Posted February 14, 2009
| Matthew 20:1-16 – Laborers in the Vineyard; Jesus described the kingdom of heaven in a parable (a story of a common worldly experience used to teach a spiritual reality). A vineyard owner went into the market early in the day (about 6:00 A.M.) to hire day laborers to work in his vineyard. He hired some laborers for the day for a denarius (minimum wage; about twenty cents in U.S. Dollars in 1962*) and sent them to work in his vineyard. At the third hour (about 9:00 a.m.) he went into the market again and saw other day-laborers idle. He told them to work in his vineyard and he would pay them what was fair, so they went. He did the same at the sixth and ninth hours (noon and three p.m.) and did the same. Even at the eleventh hour (five p.m.) he found day-laborers who hadn't found work and hired them as well. At the end of the day (6:00 p.m.) he called the laborers to be paid and started with the last hired, and gave them each a denarius. When the first-hired came they expected more, but also received a denarius. They grumbled about receiving the same same pay for the full day's work in the heat of the day, as those who only worked an hour, late in the day. But the vineyard owner told them that he had not cheated them; they had agreed for the usual daily wage, so they should take what they had earned and leave. The fact that the vineyard owner gave the last hired the same wage was of no concern of theirs. Wasn't the vineyard owner free to do as he pleased with what was his? So likewise Jesus declared that the last would be first and the first last (in the kingdom of heaven). Commentary: The Lord God is the vineyard owner and his people are the day-laborers. The reward for working for the kingdom of God is the same for all. Some will have become God's people early in their lives and some will have become them late in their lives. The question is not “how long,” but “whether or not.” The Kingdom of God is not the result of our endeavor; it has been God's plan from the beginning. It has been God's grace (a free gift; unmerited favor) to allow us to participate in the “harvest.” God is not willing that anyone should perish but that all should have the reward of eternal life (Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17). Just being born and brought up in a “church” conveys no special benefit. The fact is that recent converts are more zealous than those who are long-time “members.” Church “members” are the most difficult people to witness to; they think they know everything about the Bible and the Church and aren't open to reconsider or learn new things. Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)? *The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, Matthew 1:21n, p. 1172, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962. |
