Monday, Ordinary 21/Proper 16-- Aug 25
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Meditation
Monday, Ordinary 21, Proper 16 reinforced the story of the Children of Israelites multiplying and becoming a great nation—a real threat to the Egyptians when the Pharaoh, who was so favorable to Joseph passed away, and they no longer had an advocate.
The Psalmist reminded us that God is our advocate—because our Creator granted us dominion, or as one translation said, made us almost like gods over the earth. We have been given power and what should we do with it? Praise God, like the heavens and earth do every day; like the animals do, like the sun, moon and stars do.
How do they praise God? For me, I see it in the unfolding discovery of the science of the universe. The more I read about the intricacies of quantum theory or the vastness of 14 billion light years and 170 BILLION galaxies in the OBSERVABLE universe, the greater my awe of God becomes. God is infinite and cannot be limited by interpretations of people who box God into a small vision. Science proves it daily.
Of course, the people of God fail to see things as God does all too often. The Apostle Paul indicts believers—true followers of God—in the New Testament lesson with the statement:
2 “Some of you accuse others of doing wrong. But there is no excuse for what you do. When you judge others, you condemn yourselves, because you are guilty of doing the very same things.”
This recurring theme of not judging others was clearly enumerated by Jesus, himself…and restated again and again. But throughout history, we see the results of people judging others and condemning them. Church divisions are not from Christ, but from the arrogance of people. The church in Rome disagreed with the Jews in Jerusalem and the church in Corinth thought they were better than everyone else. Personality issues. Not divisions from God. When Martin Luther opposed the church, Pope Leo X (of the Medici family which was practically a criminal element) was about power and control. He was reputed to have said, “since God has given us the papacy, let’s enjoy it.” He hated Luther’s questioning theology and so excommunicated him.
The many Protestant denominations have continued to carry on the schisms that tear us apart. We are guilty of judging. And Paul spoke of how ‘judgment’ backfires on the judge.
How many times have we seen some TV personality declare vociferously how some sin has made someone (pointing the finger) worthy of being ostracized, only to have the very speaker/judge caught on camera or by the police in the very ‘sin’ that they had pointed out in others. And my bringing it up, risked the same judgment. I must only report the facts of what is discovered, not make additional judgments of what they do.
Paul practically screamed the words. Don’t judge! But his converts were stubborn, so they did judge inappropriately. What was the solution?
Let God, who knows all things, from whom nothing is hid, be the only judge. To insist on judging others, Paul declared, will mean consequences for those who were selfish, and don’t follow the truth.
Every Christian MUST examine themselves. What am I doing that might be judging others inappropriately as Paul noted?
I have heard ‘hatred’ come from some groups who profess they are Christian. Paul said,
7“To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life.”
Hatred does not fit with the above actions. God is love, so hatred and hostility spewing from Christians toward anyone—even those who do evil things like the recent beheading of reporter, James Foley—let alone other Christians or people of different creeds, color, sex, religious or ethnic groups is a sin that God will deal with:
8“God will show his anger and punish them. 9 He will give trouble and suffering to everyone who does evil—to the Jews first and also to those who are not Jews.”
We are responsible for our own relationship with God, so we are responsible for not becoming parts of groups that promote a ‘leader’ more than they promote God (akin to Jonestown), or following someone who declares that God hates ethnic groups, people of other faiths, gender, or relationships.
God is patient with us, Paul stated, willing to wait until we learn. People of all shapes and sizes are loved by God enough to send Jesus to be the Savior. We cannot presume that one person or another is included or not in the Kingdom of God. We are told NOT to judge. Period. Full stop.
Our lives should be about doing good and following God, who
7will give eternal life to everyone who has patiently done what is good in the hope of receiving glory, honor, and life that lasts forever.
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 21, Proper 16
Bible Readings
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm 8;Exodus 1:1-7;Romans 2:1-11&version=KJV;ERV;GNT;NCV;CEV (multiple versions)
Monday, Ordinary 21, Proper 16
Psalm 8
Exodus 1:1-7
Romans 2:1-11
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
Psalm 124:8
King James Version (KJV)
8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
Single Bible Study chapter to study
Romans 2:1-11
King James Version (KJV)
2 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
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 for judging. It is so easy to do and so hard to break the pattern. Empower us to be loving and accepting of others in the Kingdom without judging them. In Jesus name, Amen
.
Conclusion
Monday, Ordinary 21, Proper 16 indicted believers—Jews and Non-Jews—about being judgmental and stubborn. Paul was specific in declaring that there would be consequences for anyone, who chose to disobey God and judge others. God alone is our judge. We must strive to be less stubborn, more humble and avoid judgment of others at all costs.
The very thing we point the finger at others for, will be the devil’s chance to make that our own downfall. Let us not open that door.
There are soooo many other things that we can focus on. Love. Kindness. Goodness. Truth. Patience. Long-suffering. And the list goes on. Paul stated emphatically that God would bless people who obeyed the counsel to not judge and do the work 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. 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.
Monday, Ordinary 21, Proper 16 reinforced the story of the Children of Israelites multiplying and becoming a great nation—a real threat to the Egyptians when the Pharaoh, who was so favorable to Joseph passed away, and they no longer had an advocate.
The Psalmist reminded us that God is our advocate—because our Creator granted us dominion, or as one translation said, made us almost like gods over the earth. We have been given power and what should we do with it? Praise God, like the heavens and earth do every day; like the animals do, like the sun, moon and stars do.
How do they praise God? For me, I see it in the unfolding discovery of the science of the universe. The more I read about the intricacies of quantum theory or the vastness of 14 billion light years and 170 BILLION galaxies in the OBSERVABLE universe, the greater my awe of God becomes. God is infinite and cannot be limited by interpretations of people who box God into a small vision. Science proves it daily.
Of course, the people of God fail to see things as God does all too often. The Apostle Paul indicts believers—true followers of God—in the New Testament lesson with the statement:
2 “Some of you accuse others of doing wrong. But there is no excuse for what you do. When you judge others, you condemn yourselves, because you are guilty of doing the very same things.”
This recurring theme of not judging others was clearly enumerated by Jesus, himself…and restated again and again. But throughout history, we see the results of people judging others and condemning them. Church divisions are not from Christ, but from the arrogance of people. The church in Rome disagreed with the Jews in Jerusalem and the church in Corinth thought they were better than everyone else. Personality issues. Not divisions from God. When Martin Luther opposed the church, Pope Leo X (of the Medici family which was practically a criminal element) was about power and control. He was reputed to have said, “since God has given us the papacy, let’s enjoy it.” He hated Luther’s questioning theology and so excommunicated him.
The many Protestant denominations have continued to carry on the schisms that tear us apart. We are guilty of judging. And Paul spoke of how ‘judgment’ backfires on the judge.
How many times have we seen some TV personality declare vociferously how some sin has made someone (pointing the finger) worthy of being ostracized, only to have the very speaker/judge caught on camera or by the police in the very ‘sin’ that they had pointed out in others. And my bringing it up, risked the same judgment. I must only report the facts of what is discovered, not make additional judgments of what they do.
Paul practically screamed the words. Don’t judge! But his converts were stubborn, so they did judge inappropriately. What was the solution?
Let God, who knows all things, from whom nothing is hid, be the only judge. To insist on judging others, Paul declared, will mean consequences for those who were selfish, and don’t follow the truth.
Every Christian MUST examine themselves. What am I doing that might be judging others inappropriately as Paul noted?
I have heard ‘hatred’ come from some groups who profess they are Christian. Paul said,
7“To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life.”
Hatred does not fit with the above actions. God is love, so hatred and hostility spewing from Christians toward anyone—even those who do evil things like the recent beheading of reporter, James Foley—let alone other Christians or people of different creeds, color, sex, religious or ethnic groups is a sin that God will deal with:
8“God will show his anger and punish them. 9 He will give trouble and suffering to everyone who does evil—to the Jews first and also to those who are not Jews.”
We are responsible for our own relationship with God, so we are responsible for not becoming parts of groups that promote a ‘leader’ more than they promote God (akin to Jonestown), or following someone who declares that God hates ethnic groups, people of other faiths, gender, or relationships.
God is patient with us, Paul stated, willing to wait until we learn. People of all shapes and sizes are loved by God enough to send Jesus to be the Savior. We cannot presume that one person or another is included or not in the Kingdom of God. We are told NOT to judge. Period. Full stop.
Our lives should be about doing good and following God, who
7will give eternal life to everyone who has patiently done what is good in the hope of receiving glory, honor, and life that lasts forever.
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 21, Proper 16
Bible Readings
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm 8;Exodus 1:1-7;Romans 2:1-11&version=KJV;ERV;GNT;NCV;CEV (multiple versions)
Monday, Ordinary 21, Proper 16
Psalm 8
Exodus 1:1-7
Romans 2:1-11
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
Psalm 124:8
King James Version (KJV)
8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
Single Bible Study chapter to study
Romans 2:1-11
King James Version (KJV)
2 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
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 for judging. It is so easy to do and so hard to break the pattern. Empower us to be loving and accepting of others in the Kingdom without judging them. In Jesus name, Amen
.
Conclusion
Monday, Ordinary 21, Proper 16 indicted believers—Jews and Non-Jews—about being judgmental and stubborn. Paul was specific in declaring that there would be consequences for anyone, who chose to disobey God and judge others. God alone is our judge. We must strive to be less stubborn, more humble and avoid judgment of others at all costs.
The very thing we point the finger at others for, will be the devil’s chance to make that our own downfall. Let us not open that door.
There are soooo many other things that we can focus on. Love. Kindness. Goodness. Truth. Patience. Long-suffering. And the list goes on. Paul stated emphatically that God would bless people who obeyed the counsel to not judge and do the work 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. 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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