Week of 9 Pentecost C 07/17 - 23/2016

Week of 9 Pentecost C

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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To get the most from these studies, it is suggested that you first read the scripture texts for the entry, and then the paraphrase and commentary. It is also recommended that you look up the scripture references, unless you recognize and recall them from memory.

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Podcast Download: Week of 9 Pentecost C
Sunday - 9 Pentecost C
First posted July 25, 2010;
Podcast: Sunday 9 Pentecost C


Genesis 18:1-10a (10b-14) – The Lord Visits Abraham;
Psalm 15 – Admission to God's Temple;
Colossians 1:21-28 – Christian Maturity;
Luke 10:38-42 – Mary and Martha

Genesis Paraphrase:

The Lord appeared to Abraham (Abram) at the oaks of Mamre (near Hebron), as Abraham sat at the door of his tent during the noon siesta. Abraham opened his eyes and there were three men standing before him. He ran to them and welcomed them and offered them the opportunity to wash their feet and rest and have a simple meal of bread, and they accepted his offer. So Abraham told Sarah to make three cakes of meal, and he went and selected a calf which he prepared and gave to his visitors, with curds and milk. He stood by under the tree as his visitors ate.

The visitors asked for Sarah by name, and told Abraham that they would return the next year and that Sarah would have delivered a son (in fulfillment of God's promise; Genesis 12:1-3). Both Sarah and Abraham were beyond the age of childbearing. Sarah was listening at the door of the tent, and she laughed to herself, and the visitors asked Abraham why Sarah had laughed; was anything too difficult for the Lord to do? The visitors assured Abraham that, when they returned in the spring, that Sarah would have given birth to a son.

Psalm Paraphrase:

Those who want to gain admission to the Temple of the Lord on the Holy mount (Zion) must be blameless in God's judgment, doing what is right according to God's Word, and speaking what is true.

They must not slander or do evil; they must not reproach a neighbor. They must despise a reprobate but honor those who fear God. When they make a commitment, they must fulfill it, even if it is to their disadvantage. They must not loan money at usurious interest, and must not accept bribes against the innocent. Those who conform to this standard will never be undone.

Colossians Paraphrase:

We, who once were hostile to the Gospel, and did what was evil according to God's Word, have now been reconciled through the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross, so that we might be presented blameless and irreproachable before the Lord in his Day of Judgment, provided that we do not deviate from the Gospel which we have heard [from “born-again” disciples like Paul, who is the prototype and example of all modern, post-resurrection, born-again (John 3:3, 5-8) disciples (students) and apostles (messengers; of the Gospel) of Jesus Christ].

Paul rejoiced in his suffering for the Gospel on our behalf, and he believed that he was finishing any suffering lacking in Christ's own ministry on behalf of his Church. Paul received a divine commission to be a minister of the Gospel, to make the message known and to reveal the mystery of God's plan for Creation, which had been concealed from us for generations, but now revealed to his saints (those committed to serving God). He has revealed his plan so that his saints can know the riches of his glory among the Gentiles (non-Jews) and his inheritance which we have in Jesus Christ: the hope of dwelling in God's glory. So we proclaim Christ to everyone we encounter, warning and teaching everyone in all divine wisdom, so that they might be spiritually mature (at the Day of Judgment). Paul devoted his entire life to this, following his mid-life conversion, and so have I.

Luke Paraphrase:

Jesus came to Bethany and entered the home of Mary and Martha (and their brother, Lazarus). Mary and Martha were well-known in Bethany, and in Jerusalem, a couple miles away.

Martha began to prepare an elaborate meal, and Mary sat at Jesus' feet and listened to his teaching. Martha became upset because her sister wasn't helping her, and asked Jesus to rebuke Mary, but Jesus said that only one thing was necessary (only a simple meal of bread was necessary to satisfy the obligation of hospitality according to Middle Eastern custom at the time). Mary had chosen what was more important: to listen and learn from Jesus' teaching. Jesus was not going to take that from Mary.

Commentary:

Abraham was only obligated to offer the visitors bread, but he went well beyond, offering beef, curds and milk as well. His visitors gave him news that he was desperately seeking.

God had promised to give him a son who would establish a nation. Abraham had waited a long time for that fulfillment. Abraham and Sarah had even tried to help the fulfillment of God's promise through Hagar, Sarah's servant (Gen. 16:1-2; 21:9- 10).

Three men appeared to Abraham, and at least one was the Lord. Who were the other two? I hold the controversial view that they were the Trinity, God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God has been progressively revealing himself, first through the goodness of Creation, and then through the Bible, beginning with his call to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3). I believe that God chose to appear as three men to begin to reveal his triune nature.

God was declaring his Word of the fulfillment of his promise of a son for Abraham, and Sarah had laughed. God was revealing his Word ahead of time, so that when it was fulfilled they would know that it had been God's Word. God's Word is always true. The test of God's Word is its fulfillment (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). God wants us to know and believe his Word, so that we will trust and obey it.

We must be blameless in God's judgment. But we are unable to keep all God's Word all the time. Under the Old Covenant (Testament) of Law, animal sacrifices had to be made constantly for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus initiated the New Covenant of Grace, to be received by faith (trust and obedience) in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus became the one and only sacrifice acceptable to God, once for all time and all people who trust and obey Jesus. All our sins are forgiven by the blood of Jesus, shed on the cross

Jesus is the Word of God, fulfilled, embodied and exemplified (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus' word is the Word of God (John 14:10, 24), with the creative force of God's Word (Mark 4:39-41; Compare Genesis 1: 9).

Jesus' blood, shed on the cross, makes it possible for us to be cleansed and receive the “anointing” (“baptism”) 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 anointing of the indwelling 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).

By the indwelling Holy Spirit we are freed from the Old Covenant of God's Law given to Moses, provided that we live in trust and obedience to the Holy Spirit, which is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ within us (Romans 8:9b).

Paul is the example of what every Christian can and should be. He was discipled by a “born-again (John 3:3, 5-8; Acts 9:10) disciple until Paul was born again, and then Paul began proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, making “born-again” disciples, and teaching them to repeat the process (Acts 9:20; 2 Timothy 1:6-7, 2:2). He wasn't ordained (licensed) by Church headquarters in Jerusalem. Paul was already formally educated in the Old Testament scriptures. Once he knew the Gospel, following his conversion, most of the rest of the New Testament is by or about Paul.

Notice the parallel between the generous meal Abraham set before his Lord, and the meal Martha was trying to provide for Jesus. In his case Abraham was not distracted or bothered by the preparation, and he came and stood by while the Lord ate. He listened to the Lord's message. In Martha's case, she was being anxious and distracted by what was not really necessary, and she wanted to take Mary away from listening to the Lord.

It is easy for us to get caught up in busyness, even within the Church; with Church activities and programs. It is of first importance for us to read and trust and obey Jesus' teachings in the four Gospels in the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Then we must be “discipled” by born-again disciples and the rest of the New Testament, within the Church (the New Jerusalem; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8), until we receive the anointing of the indwelling Holy Spirit, before going into the world with the Gospel. We need to read the Old Testament as well. There are numerous Bible-in-one-year reading plans (see Free Bible Study Tools, sidebar, right).

Our discipleship is just beginning when we are born-again. Christ himself disciples us through the indwelling Holy Spirit, and we must learn to discern his “voice” and learn to trust and obey him. Jesus' original disciples were with him practically night and day for three and a half years, and still weren't ready to go into the world until they had been received the anointing of the Holy Spirit. We cannot to do it in less time.

Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?

Monday - 9 Pentecost C
First posted July 26, 2010;
Podcast: Monday 9 Pentecost C

Psalm 138 – Deliverance from Trouble;

Paraphrase:

With all my heart I give thanks to my Lord. I sing his praises before all other “gods.” Before his temple I bow down and give thanks to his name for his steadfast love and faithfulness. His Word and his name are exalted above every other thing. He answered me on the day that I called. He increased my strength of soul (the eternal part of me).

He will be praised by all the rulers of the earth; by his mouth they have heard your Word, and shall sing of your way, because of your great glory.

Although the Lord is great, yet he regards those who are lowly; but the haughty are far from knowing him.

Even though I walk in the midst of trouble, you will preserve my (eternal) life! He will prevail against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand (Jesus) will deliver me from them! God's purpose for me will be fulfilled. His steadfast love is eternal! He will not forsake the people of his Creation.

Commentary:

The meaning and purpose of life in this Creation is to come to find, know, and have fellowship with God, our Creator. His eternal purpose has always been to create an eternal kingdom of his people who trust and obey him. Jesus has been designed into this Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14).

When we have come to know and have fellowship with the Lord, we will want to praise and thank him for all that he has done for us. We will know that he is the one true God, above all so-called “gods.” We will want to be in his temple to worship and thank him. As we walk in obedience to his Word, in the Bible and in Jesus Christ, the living Word John 1:14) we will experience his steadfast, unwavering love and faithfulness.

When we call upon him in faith (obedient trust) he will hear and answer us (see Conditions for Answered Prayer, sidebar right). Through the “baptism” of his indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17), he will strengthen our souls.

We are born physically alive but spiritually unborn into this Creation. We are all created to be eternal beings. This lifetime is our only opportunity to be spiritually “born-again” to eternal life. The “baptism” of the indwelling 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). If we are not spiritually “reborn” we will spend eternity in hell, separated forever from God and every good thing which only God provides.

There is a Day coming, when everyone will bow to Jesus and acknowledge him as Lord (ruler; “boss;” Philippians 2:10-11). In that day no one will have any choice but to obey what he commands, but then it will be too late to change our eternal destiny.

The Lord favors the humble. No one has any reason for exalting himself before the Lord, but human nature is inclined to try; we want to be our own lords. It was one of the original sins which caused mankind's fall in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:5).

God is absolutely faithful and trustworthy. We will have trouble in this lifetime, much of our own making, but God will bring us through whatever we encounter, if we will trust and obey him. God wants us to be saved and to be his eternal people.

Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?

Tuesday - 9 Pentecost - C
First posted July 27, 2010;
Podcast: Tuesday 9 Pentecost C

Genesis 18:20-32 -- Sodom and Gomorrah;

Paraphrase:

The Lord had appeared to Abraham as three men (see 9 Pentecost Sunday C entry).

The Lord revealed to Abraham that he intended to go to Sodom and Gomorrah because he had heard of their sin, which was very grave, and intended to find out if the outcry against them was true. They turned to go to Sodom, but Abraham went and stood in their way. He drew near and asked the Lord if he would not spare the place if fifty righteous people were found there. Abraham reminded the Lord that the Lord is the righteous judge, who would not condemn righteous people along with the wicked. The Lord replied that if fifty righteous were found there, he would spare the place for the sake of the righteous. The answer didn't completely satisfy Abraham, and he “bid down” the number of righteous people for which the Lord would spare the place to ten. The Lord promised not to destroy the place if just ten righteous people could be found. Then the Lord went his way, and Abraham returned to his campsite.

Commentary:

The world today is being spared from the wrath of God because of believers in (those who trust and obey) Jesus Christ; they are the righteous, in God's judgment. We may observe the immorality of our culture, particularly in America, and are tempted to think that God owes Sodom and Gomorrah an apology!

God does lift his favor and protection from the nations of the world and allow them to experience the consequences of unbelief. I believe that the flooding in New Orleans, fires in California, similar “acts of God” (as insurance agencies call them) are intended by God to be a warning for us. God can do those things and yet spare the righteous.

There is a day coming when believers will be caught up into heaven (The Rapture: “catching up”). Paul taught (1 Thessalonians 4:14-18) that those who had died in Christ would be caught up with those who were alive in Christ, to be forever with him in heaven.

Many believe in a “secret rapture;” believers will suddenly be caught up, and the unbelieving world will be “left behind” to face the reign of Antichrist, seven years of the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:15-31 = Mark 13:14-27), and the wrath of God. Paul, however, writes of the Rapture, in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2, of our being gathered to Christ (Matthew 13:30; 24:31), meaning that the rapture awaits the coming apostasy (rebellion against God) and the coming of the Antichrist.

I hold the controversial opinion that the Lord revealed himself to Abraham as three men to begin to reveal his triune nature (the Trinity: God the Father; God the Son; God the Holy Spirit; One God in three persons or expressions).

The Lord reveals, to his people, what will come in the future, through his Word (in the Bible and in Jesus Christ, the “living Word;” John 1:1-5, 14), by 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 test of God's Word is its fulfillment (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). 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).

Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?

Wednesday - 9 Pentecost C
First posted July 28, 2010;
Podcast: Wednesday 9 Pentecost C

Colossians 2:6-15 – Living in Christ;

Since we have received Jesus Christ as our Lord, so let us live in him; let us become rooted, built up and [firmly] established in faith (obedient trust), as Paul taught, and let us abound in thanksgiving.

“See to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” (Colossians 2:8-9). In him who is the supreme ruler with authority over all, we have come to what is truly and fully life. In him we received spiritual circumcision, not by the hand of man, but in Christ, the putting off of our physical nature. And in baptism into Christ we were buried with him, and were raised with him by faith in God's power to raise us from the dead.

We were eternally dead through our sins and the “uncircumcision” of our flesh, but God made us eternally alive with him, forgiving us all of our sins. He canceled the warrant against us, which required our judgment and condemnation. He set aside and nailed our condemnation to the cross. He disarmed Satan and his minions, triumphing over them and making a public example of them at the cross of Jesus Christ.

Commentary:

How do we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord? We must confess that we are sinners (have disobeyed God's Word, in the Bible and in Jesus Christ, the “living Word;” John 1:14). We must invite Jesus to come in and take control of our lives, committing ourselves to trust and obey Jesus (Revelation 3:20; John 14:15-17, 21, 23; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, right).

Living in Jesus requires discipleship. We must learn his teachings, recorded in the New Testament, and then we must be discipled by him by the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit (John 3:3, 5-8), which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17).

A Christian is by definition a disciple of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c) who has been “born-again” by the “baptism of the Holy Spirit (John 3:3, 5-8). Christian faith (obedient trust in Jesus) is a spiritual growth process to spiritual maturity at the Day of Christ's Second Coming.

There are those who profess to be God's people who deny the deity of Jesus. Jesus warned that there would be false prophets and false teachers in the last days (Matthew 24:24). If they come to your door, Colossians 2:8-9 is a good text to know and recite.

They also deny the Trinity. The word Trinity is not specifically mentioned in the Bible, but the concept is mentioned throughout. God is one God in three persons (expressions) Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. [Matthew 28:19; Genesis 18:1-2 (3-10)].

We are all born physically alive but spiritually unborn into this world. There is eternal life beyond this physical lifetime. This lifetime is our one and only opportunity to be spiritually reborn to eternal life. The baptism of the indwelling 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). It is possible for one to know with complete assurance for oneself that one is “reborn” (Acts 19:2).

We begin to experience true eternal life now in this lifetime in this world, and we know that we will live eternally in God's kingdom restored to paradise in heaven with Jesus. Now we have only a foretaste of the presence of Jesus, but it is wonderful.

The Old Covenant of Law given to Moses taught us that we must be circumcised. Circumcision of the flesh is of no avail. We must be spiritually “circumcised,” so that we may no longer be slaves to our flesh; our human desires. That is only possible through the baptism of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

We are all sinners (disobedient of God's Word), and have fallen short of the righteousness of God (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The penalty of sin is [eternal] death (Romans 6:23). God loves us and doesn't want anyone to perish eternally (Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17). Jesus is God's one and only provision for our forgiveness and salvation, designed into Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, right).

The rulers of this world didn't understand God's plan (although the Jews had the Old Testament Scriptures), so they crucified Jesus (as God knew they would). As the result God's plan was fulfilled; he triumphed over them and made a public example of them!

Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?

Thursday - 9 Pentecost C
First posted July 29, 2010;
Podcast: Thursday 9 Pentecost C

Luke 11:1-13 – Teachings on Prayer;

Paraphrase:

Jesus had gone to a (quiet; isolated) place to pray, and when he was finished, his disciples asked him to teach them how to pray, like John the Baptizer had taught John's disciples.

Jesus said, “When you pray, say, 'Father, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread; and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us; and lead us not into temptation” (Luke 11:2-4).

Then Jesus asked them who wouldn't go to a friend at midnight and ask for food to set before and unexpected guest. But his friend is in bed and doesn't want to be bothered. Though the friend will not help because of friendship, he will help because his friend keeps bothering him until he does.

Jesus declared, “Ask, and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you” (Luke 11:9). Jesus declared that everyone who asks will receive; whoever seeks will find, and to those who knock, it will be opened to them.

Jesus asked who would give a snake to a son who asks for fish; who would give a scorpion to his child who asks for an egg. We are sinners, but know to give good gifts to our children. “...how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him” (Luke 11:13b)!

Commentary:

The prayer that Jesus taught the disciples is known as The Lord's Prayer but it really should be thought of as The Disciples' Prayer. Our prayers do not have to be long and grand in language; just simple, sincere phrases suffice.

We need to learn to live one day at a time, and ask the Lord each day to supply the things we need for that day. We need to remember that we are sinners in need of forgiveness and to ask for forgiveness daily. In order to receive the Lord's forgiveness, we must forgive everyone who sins against us, daily, as often as necessary. The Lord doesn't lead us into temptation; we fall into temptation when we follow our own will. When we seek his leading daily, he will lead us so that we don't fall into temptation.

God the Father is so much more willing to help us and give us good things if we ask (see Conditions for Answered Prayer, sidebar, right), than we are, even to our families and friends. The best gift that God can possibly give us is his indwelling Holy Spirit. 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). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9b). Through the indwelling Holy Spirit we have personal daily fellowship with God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

He wants us to have the Holy Spirit, but first he wants to make sure that we are committed to trusting and obeying the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Only Jesus baptizes with (gives the gift of) the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). Premature spiritual rebirth through the gift of the Holy Spirit would be disastrous (Hebrews 6:4-6).

Christians are by definition “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciples of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c). Discipleship is not optional; not a category only for “super-Christians.”

Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?

Friday - 9 Pentecost C
First posted July 30, 2010;
Podcast: Friday 9 Pentecost C

1 Corinthians 10:6-13 – Exhortations;

Paraphrase:

The record of the Israelites' debauchery in the wilderness is written as a warning to us, not to desire what is evil, as they did. We must not be idolaters, as they were; we must not indulge in immorality as some did: twenty-three thousand were destroyed in a single day because of immorality. We must not demand that the Lord prove himself, as some did, and were destroyed by poisonous snakes. We must not complain against the Lord, or face destruction, as some of them did.

These things happened to Israelites and are recorded in the Bible for our instruction, who are facing the end of time. Watch out! If you think you are secure, be careful that you do not stumble! We have not been tempted by anything too hard to resist. When we are tempted, we also receive the means of escape, so that we can prevail over the temptation.

Commentary:

God has been progressively revealing himself and his purpose for Creation, in Creation itself, then in the Bible, then in Jesus Christ, and ultimately in the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The meaning and purpose of life in this Creation is to seek find and have personal fellowship with our Creator (Acts 17:26-27), and this is only possible through Jesus Christ (John 14:6), by the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

God has always intended, from the very beginning of Creation to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey him. He has designed this world to allow for the possibility of sin (disobedience of God's Word, so that we will have the freedom to choose whether to trust and obey God's Word or not. But God is not going to tolerate rebellion and disobedience forever, or at all, in his eternal kingdom. So this Creation and we ourselves are limited by time.

When one can see the entire Bible as a whole, it's coherent structure is awesome! God began revealing himself in the call of Abraham, in the founding of the people of Israel. Everything that God did with Israel, recorded in the Bible, is also intended to be a metaphor for life in this Creation.

We are all in bondage to sin and death in the “Egypt” of this present world order. Jesus is our “Moses” who leads us out of “Egypt,” through the “Sea” of baptism into Jesus Christ, who separates us from our spiritual enemies. Jesus is our “Moses” who leads us through the wilderness of this lifetime, with the baptism of the indwelling Holy Spirit, the “pillar of cloud and fire” (Exodus 13:21-22) to lead us. Jesus is our “Joshua” (Joshua or Jeshua is the Hebrew equivalent of the Greek: “Jesus,” the language of the New Testament), who leads us through the “River” of physical death, on dry ground, without getting our “feet wet” (i.e., without being affected), into the eternal “Promised Land of God's kingdom restored to Paradise in heaven.

God deliberately intends that everything he did with the Israelites points to spiritual truth he is doing with us. God gave Moses the Word of God in the Old Covenant; he gave us the Word of the God in Jesus Christ, the “living Word,” (John 1:1-5, 14), in the New Covenant. Jesus is the “New Moses,” the mediator of the New Covenant of Grace through faith in Jesus. Jesus is the sacrificial “Lamb” of the “New Passover.” His flesh provides the sacrificial feast, and his blood provides the cleansing and salvation from sin. Jesus instituted the “New Passover” in the “Last Supper” on the eve of his crucifixion.

In this world we will have temptations to test our faith, but God will not allow us to be tempted beyond our power to resist. We must make the effort to resist. We must not immediately give in to temptation. We are to learn to resist temptation and this is only possible if we will make the effort to resist.

Before I was “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) I used to give in to temptation, because I thought that sooner or later I would. By resisting, I found that the Lord would reinforce my resistance and that surrender to temptation is not a foregone conclusion.

Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?

Saturday - 9 Pentecost C
First posted July 31, 2010;
Podcast: Saturday 9 Pentecost C

Luke 16:1-9 – The Dishonest Steward;

Paraphrase:

Jesus told his disciples a parable (a fictional tale of common worldly experience, to teach spiritual truth), about a dishonest steward. The steward of a rich man was accused of wasting his master's goods. The rich man called the steward to give account, and the steward worried about how he could save his job. Otherwise he would not be able to earn a living.

He decided what to do to endear himself to his master's debtors, so that when the steward lost his job he might receive aid from the debtors. He called his master's debtors and reduced their debts on the record.

The master commended his steward for his prudence; the people of this generation are smarter (in worldly ways) than the children of light (righteousness). So we are advised to make friends by “unrighteous mammon” (material wealth), so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal habitations” (Luke 16:9).

Commentary:

People seem to know instinctively what to do to save themselves from disaster in this material world. But they don't seem to sense the spiritual disaster about to befall them, and the means to save themselves, spiritually. What the steward did was unrighteous, but it was to his advantage in this lifetime.

Why not do what is righteous in God's judgment, and to our advantage to save us spiritually for eternal life? We cannot save ourselves, but we can accept the salvation which God has provided in Jesus Christ. Why not use the worldly instinct we've been given, for our spiritual benefit?

We can stave off disaster in this material world with material resources, for a time, but ultimately material resources will fail. Only what is spiritual will remain. We should use the time we have been given in the material world to develop our spiritual resources, so that they will be available when material resources fail.

Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?