Tuesday, Ordinary 15/Proper 10-- July 15
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Meditation
Tuesday, Ordinary 15/Proper 10 was both harsh and generous. The New Testament lesson in Ephesians offered a clear list of behaviors to avoid and characteristics to acquire. Christians were to behave in distinctive ways—love underscoring all the actions. Paul cautioned believers against behaviors that were deplorable. They were not to live like the unbeliever, who refused to listen to what God wanted for them.
That lesson linked to the Old Testament lesson about God’s hatred for the Edomites—the descendants of Esau. The Scriptures don’t often blast specific groups, especially those progeny of the patriarchs. God offered to protect Ishmael, who was not the proper heir through no fault of his own.
Esau was different. He had all the advantages of being a child born into the chosen people. His grandfather was Abraham. His father was Isaac. He was the first born and would have normally been heir to the estate. But Esau displayed callous indifference to the things of God. He ‘sold’ his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of soup. Imagine an heir of a Rockefeller or Hilton saying they would give it all up to satisfy their temporary hunger to eat a bowl of stew. That was what Esau did. Although he might have thought he could cheat Jacob and receive the blessing of the birthright anyway. When Jacob pretended to be Esau and received the inheritance blessing from Isaac, who was growing blind, Esau was furious, but he had lost to his younger twin. The evidence that Esau didn’t respect God, nor the blessings of God.
The words that God loved Jacob and hated Esau were repeated in the minor prophets and the New Testament. Why would God have such strong emotions about a person? Esau chose early on to disrespect the truths he learned as a child. He dismissed God’s partnership with us and demonstrated over and over again how much he distained the life he could have been heir to. His attitude reflected the very behaviors that Paul told the Ephesians not to be like. Those behaviors were abhorrent. It was one thing to be a sinner and not know what God wanted, but Esau knew from early on what was expected and he chose the opposite, again and again. His descendants, the Edomites, paid the price for Esau’s straying from the will of God.
Everyone has a chance to repent and change. We can choose to love God and obey the commands, or we can disregard the law and break it knowing full well it is wrong to do.
So, if we do wrong, are we stuck in a the death grip of sin? The Good News of Christ repeatedly gives us a chance for redemption. The bad news was that Esau never repented, never sought forgiveness like King David did. Because he knew better and didn’t ask to be cleansed or changed, he lost out on the benefits and blessings.
Ephesians gave us a checklist of sorts as a go-by of things we should be doing: don’t live like unbelievers who refuse to listen (e.g. listen to God); walk with God so that we can make moral judgments for our actions; stop telling lies to each other (believers); speak the truth; don’t hold onto anger against believers; earn honest livings (stop thieving); don’t gossip or speak bad of each other; don’t be bitter, angry or mad; be kind and loving; forgive others as Christ forgave us, love others as Christ loved us. We can assume Esau never followed these rules and he suffered the hatred of God for it.
We have the opportunity to be like Jacob (who was far from perfect) who sought to honor God. He asked God’s forgiveness. He loved. So can we.
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 15/Proper 10
Bible Readings
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm 142;Jeremiah 49:7-11;Ephesians 4:17—5:2&version=KJV;ERV;GNT;NCV;CEV (multiple versions)
Tuesday, Ordinary 15/Proper 10
Psalm 142
Jeremiah 49:7-11
Ephesians 4:17-5:2
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
Psalm 119:105 King James Version (KJV)
105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Single Bible Study chapter to study
Ephesians 4:17-5:2
King James Version (KJV)
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30 And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
5 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
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, Esau displeased you and he suffered the consequences. His descendants suffered he consequences. Help us to see our actions have consequences and make changes. Help us to please you. In Jesus name, Amen
Conclusion
Tuesday, Ordinary 15/Proper 10 was all about pleasing or displeasing God. The New Testament gave a litany of good and bad behaviors. Everyone must choose whether they will abide by the good behaviors or risk all like Esau did and lose his life’s estate because of his failure to seek God’s pleasure.
Of the many stories in history about people being blessed by doing God’s will, the story of Eric Liddell, Olympic runner in the 1924 games, who made a decision to do something for God’s sake, was one of the best. His honoring God was evident in all he did, including the exchange with his disapproving sister, he said, “When I run, I feel God’s pleasure.” Our lives are to be as Paul said to the Ephesians – don’t live as the unbeliever who refuses to listen to God. We can make mistakes, but we confess our sins, get right with God and press forward. Esau ignored God, distained God’s words and disobeyed the laws of God. The consequences were awful. We have a chance at redemption when we listen to and obey the Word of God.
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. Please like if it was meaningful. 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.Please like if you are blessed and don’t hesitate to comment or contact me. I love hearing from you.
Tuesday, Ordinary 15/Proper 10 was both harsh and generous. The New Testament lesson in Ephesians offered a clear list of behaviors to avoid and characteristics to acquire. Christians were to behave in distinctive ways—love underscoring all the actions. Paul cautioned believers against behaviors that were deplorable. They were not to live like the unbeliever, who refused to listen to what God wanted for them.
That lesson linked to the Old Testament lesson about God’s hatred for the Edomites—the descendants of Esau. The Scriptures don’t often blast specific groups, especially those progeny of the patriarchs. God offered to protect Ishmael, who was not the proper heir through no fault of his own.
Esau was different. He had all the advantages of being a child born into the chosen people. His grandfather was Abraham. His father was Isaac. He was the first born and would have normally been heir to the estate. But Esau displayed callous indifference to the things of God. He ‘sold’ his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of soup. Imagine an heir of a Rockefeller or Hilton saying they would give it all up to satisfy their temporary hunger to eat a bowl of stew. That was what Esau did. Although he might have thought he could cheat Jacob and receive the blessing of the birthright anyway. When Jacob pretended to be Esau and received the inheritance blessing from Isaac, who was growing blind, Esau was furious, but he had lost to his younger twin. The evidence that Esau didn’t respect God, nor the blessings of God.
The words that God loved Jacob and hated Esau were repeated in the minor prophets and the New Testament. Why would God have such strong emotions about a person? Esau chose early on to disrespect the truths he learned as a child. He dismissed God’s partnership with us and demonstrated over and over again how much he distained the life he could have been heir to. His attitude reflected the very behaviors that Paul told the Ephesians not to be like. Those behaviors were abhorrent. It was one thing to be a sinner and not know what God wanted, but Esau knew from early on what was expected and he chose the opposite, again and again. His descendants, the Edomites, paid the price for Esau’s straying from the will of God.
Everyone has a chance to repent and change. We can choose to love God and obey the commands, or we can disregard the law and break it knowing full well it is wrong to do.
So, if we do wrong, are we stuck in a the death grip of sin? The Good News of Christ repeatedly gives us a chance for redemption. The bad news was that Esau never repented, never sought forgiveness like King David did. Because he knew better and didn’t ask to be cleansed or changed, he lost out on the benefits and blessings.
Ephesians gave us a checklist of sorts as a go-by of things we should be doing: don’t live like unbelievers who refuse to listen (e.g. listen to God); walk with God so that we can make moral judgments for our actions; stop telling lies to each other (believers); speak the truth; don’t hold onto anger against believers; earn honest livings (stop thieving); don’t gossip or speak bad of each other; don’t be bitter, angry or mad; be kind and loving; forgive others as Christ forgave us, love others as Christ loved us. We can assume Esau never followed these rules and he suffered the hatred of God for it.
We have the opportunity to be like Jacob (who was far from perfect) who sought to honor God. He asked God’s forgiveness. He loved. So can we.
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 15/Proper 10
Bible Readings
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm 142;Jeremiah 49:7-11;Ephesians 4:17—5:2&version=KJV;ERV;GNT;NCV;CEV (multiple versions)
Tuesday, Ordinary 15/Proper 10
Psalm 142
Jeremiah 49:7-11
Ephesians 4:17-5:2
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
Psalm 119:105 King James Version (KJV)
105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Single Bible Study chapter to study
Ephesians 4:17-5:2
King James Version (KJV)
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30 And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
5 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
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, Esau displeased you and he suffered the consequences. His descendants suffered he consequences. Help us to see our actions have consequences and make changes. Help us to please you. In Jesus name, Amen
Conclusion
Tuesday, Ordinary 15/Proper 10 was all about pleasing or displeasing God. The New Testament gave a litany of good and bad behaviors. Everyone must choose whether they will abide by the good behaviors or risk all like Esau did and lose his life’s estate because of his failure to seek God’s pleasure.
Of the many stories in history about people being blessed by doing God’s will, the story of Eric Liddell, Olympic runner in the 1924 games, who made a decision to do something for God’s sake, was one of the best. His honoring God was evident in all he did, including the exchange with his disapproving sister, he said, “When I run, I feel God’s pleasure.” Our lives are to be as Paul said to the Ephesians – don’t live as the unbeliever who refuses to listen to God. We can make mistakes, but we confess our sins, get right with God and press forward. Esau ignored God, distained God’s words and disobeyed the laws of God. The consequences were awful. We have a chance at redemption when we listen to and obey the Word of God.
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. Please like if it was meaningful. 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.Please like if you are blessed and don’t hesitate to comment or contact me. I love hearing from you.
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