Sunday, Ordinary 14/Proper 9-- July 6
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Meditation
Sunday, Ordinary 14/Proper 9, asked the basic question, “Do you get it? Or did you miss t the point?”
The Psalmist told of the Princess, who ‘got it’ and presented herself joyfully so that all nations would praise her.
The Old Testament lesson in Genesis told of Abraham’s oldest and trusted servant, Eliezar, who promised to return to Abraham’s land and find a wife for Isaac from his people. The story of Eliezar prayer to God to lead him to the right people being answered by Rebekah coming to the watering hole and being the one who offered to water his camels.
Indeed Rebekah was a cousin of Isaac. Eliezar had followed God’s guidance and he providentially landed in Rebekah’s home. He bargained for her as Isaac’s wife and came home with the woman, who became the mother of Jacob and Esau.
In the New Testament epistle to the Romans, Paul wrote of his struggle with doing the wrong things while wanting to do what pleased God. He aptly described the constant war within the Christian’s life between the old life and the new life in Christ.
The New Testament gospel lesson provided a window into Christ’s view of people on earth. What were they like? Like children who chose to be the opposite of whatever was offered. Reminded me of a child going through the terrible twos—everything being a “No.”
Jesus said John came not drinking and eating, and people called him demon possessed. Jesus came eating and drinking and they complained about him being with tax collectors and sinners. Either way, the powers that be whined and complained. They didn’t get it.
This attitude is pervasive today. People, even ‘religious’ people, don’t get it. They criticize God’s work in the unusual connections—people who interact with gangs, prostitutes and convicts. They don’t want “them” in their back yard.
In the movie, The Blindside, the white mother, Leigh Anne Tuohy, shared a lunch with her rich white friends and they commented about all she did for the African American boy, Michael Oher that her family brought into their house and adopted. They were condescending and pejorative about him. They didn’t get it. She got it. Her Christian love poured out on a homeless boy and didn’t find his color an obstacle. She put her relationship with them on the line if they didn’t change their attitude.
Prejudice and pride prevents some people from being open to God working in their hearts. We must ask ourselves which we are going to be? Like Eliezar, who knew to pray to God for guidance and whose prayer was instantly answered with Rebekah at the well? Or like the leaders of the Jews during Jesus’ time that complained about John for being demon possessed because he didn’t drink or eat and Jesus for eating and drinking with sinners.
We must always pray for an openness to the Spirit of God. We can block the power of God from working in our lives and there are consequences. Or we can be receptive to the Spirit working in our lives in miraculous ways.
Thanks be to God.
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Ordinary 14/Proper 9
Bible Readings
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm 45:10-17;Genesis 27:18-29;Luke 10:21-24&version=KJV;ERV;GNT;NCV;CEV (multiple versions)
Sunday, Ordinary 14/Proper 9
Genesis 24:34-38 Genesis 24:42-49 Genesis 24:58-67
Psalm 45:10-17
Romans 7:15-25
Matthew 11:16-19 Matthew 11:25-30
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Single Bible Study chapter to study
Matthew 11:16-19 Matthew 11:25-3 King James Version (KJV)
16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,
17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Almighty God, forgive us when our pride or prejudice prevents us from ‘getting it’ and instead help us to be open to your leading us as you did Eliezar. In Jesus name, Amen
Conclusion
Sunday, Ordinary 14/Proper 9 we learned that some, like Abraham’s servant, Eliezar, understood the steps needed to receive the blessing of God. Jesus revealed that many among the people in his time didn’t ‘get it’ and denied John’s position in the mission as well as Jesus actions.
I often wondered if people could actually hear themselves when they try to have it both ways. Christians who preach that God is love yet demonstrate no love in anything they do. The words that come from their mouths are hateful. They hate LGTBs; they hate people of color; they hate people who don’t think the way they do; they hate ‘other’ church groups…their message is clear. Hate. They don’t get it. They like to complain that others hate them, but they really see their own hatred at work.
As Christians, we must examine our own lives. Are we in sync with the love of Jesus? Are we open and obedient to God’s leading, even if it is different from expectations, like John the Baptist and Jesus Christ were in their time?
Great things can happen when we are open to God’s leading.
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
Sunday, Ordinary 14/Proper 9, asked the basic question, “Do you get it? Or did you miss t the point?”
The Psalmist told of the Princess, who ‘got it’ and presented herself joyfully so that all nations would praise her.
The Old Testament lesson in Genesis told of Abraham’s oldest and trusted servant, Eliezar, who promised to return to Abraham’s land and find a wife for Isaac from his people. The story of Eliezar prayer to God to lead him to the right people being answered by Rebekah coming to the watering hole and being the one who offered to water his camels.
Indeed Rebekah was a cousin of Isaac. Eliezar had followed God’s guidance and he providentially landed in Rebekah’s home. He bargained for her as Isaac’s wife and came home with the woman, who became the mother of Jacob and Esau.
In the New Testament epistle to the Romans, Paul wrote of his struggle with doing the wrong things while wanting to do what pleased God. He aptly described the constant war within the Christian’s life between the old life and the new life in Christ.
The New Testament gospel lesson provided a window into Christ’s view of people on earth. What were they like? Like children who chose to be the opposite of whatever was offered. Reminded me of a child going through the terrible twos—everything being a “No.”
Jesus said John came not drinking and eating, and people called him demon possessed. Jesus came eating and drinking and they complained about him being with tax collectors and sinners. Either way, the powers that be whined and complained. They didn’t get it.
This attitude is pervasive today. People, even ‘religious’ people, don’t get it. They criticize God’s work in the unusual connections—people who interact with gangs, prostitutes and convicts. They don’t want “them” in their back yard.
In the movie, The Blindside, the white mother, Leigh Anne Tuohy, shared a lunch with her rich white friends and they commented about all she did for the African American boy, Michael Oher that her family brought into their house and adopted. They were condescending and pejorative about him. They didn’t get it. She got it. Her Christian love poured out on a homeless boy and didn’t find his color an obstacle. She put her relationship with them on the line if they didn’t change their attitude.
Prejudice and pride prevents some people from being open to God working in their hearts. We must ask ourselves which we are going to be? Like Eliezar, who knew to pray to God for guidance and whose prayer was instantly answered with Rebekah at the well? Or like the leaders of the Jews during Jesus’ time that complained about John for being demon possessed because he didn’t drink or eat and Jesus for eating and drinking with sinners.
We must always pray for an openness to the Spirit of God. We can block the power of God from working in our lives and there are consequences. Or we can be receptive to the Spirit working in our lives in miraculous ways.
Thanks be to God.
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Ordinary 14/Proper 9
Bible Readings
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm 45:10-17;Genesis 27:18-29;Luke 10:21-24&version=KJV;ERV;GNT;NCV;CEV (multiple versions)
Sunday, Ordinary 14/Proper 9
Genesis 24:34-38 Genesis 24:42-49 Genesis 24:58-67
Psalm 45:10-17
Romans 7:15-25
Matthew 11:16-19 Matthew 11:25-30
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Single Bible Study chapter to study
Matthew 11:16-19 Matthew 11:25-3 King James Version (KJV)
16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,
17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Almighty God, forgive us when our pride or prejudice prevents us from ‘getting it’ and instead help us to be open to your leading us as you did Eliezar. In Jesus name, Amen
Conclusion
Sunday, Ordinary 14/Proper 9 we learned that some, like Abraham’s servant, Eliezar, understood the steps needed to receive the blessing of God. Jesus revealed that many among the people in his time didn’t ‘get it’ and denied John’s position in the mission as well as Jesus actions.
I often wondered if people could actually hear themselves when they try to have it both ways. Christians who preach that God is love yet demonstrate no love in anything they do. The words that come from their mouths are hateful. They hate LGTBs; they hate people of color; they hate people who don’t think the way they do; they hate ‘other’ church groups…their message is clear. Hate. They don’t get it. They like to complain that others hate them, but they really see their own hatred at work.
As Christians, we must examine our own lives. Are we in sync with the love of Jesus? Are we open and obedient to God’s leading, even if it is different from expectations, like John the Baptist and Jesus Christ were in their time?
Great things can happen when we are open to God’s leading.
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
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