Wednesday, Ordinary 21/Proper 16-- Aug 27
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Meditation
Wednesday, Ordinary 21, Proper 16 revealed extraordinary acts of kindness that arose out of love. The Psalmist exclaimed over the great love of God for humanity and how all the works of creation gave praise to God’s excellent nature.
David must have stared at the bushes, the sheep and the skies at night, when he was a shepherd. He realized that the majesty of the sun, moon and stars extended far beyond his ability to know or understand and that the Creator that set in motion the movement of the stars across the heavens was far greater than he could explain. In fact, his knowledge of the significance of God versus the insignificance of humanity appeared in his writing more than once. What are humans that God bothers with them?
If we could imagine the highest authorities—Presidents, Queens, Kings, Sheikhs, Premiers etc. interacting with the lowest bums on the street, it doesn’t come close to comparing the vast difference between God and humans. David got it and wrote his poetry out of love and respect for God.
The Old Testament lesson in Exodus continued the journey of Moses into Midian, fleeing the death warrant of Pharaoh for his having killed an Egyptian guard. Moses headed into the country of tribes that were a blend of Abraham’s second wife Keturah’s son, Midian and Esau’s progeny.
Stopping at the watering hole offered Moses a chance to defend Jethro/Reuel’s daughters, who were trying to water their sheep but were deterred by other shepherds chasing them from the well. One in particular caught Moses’ eye and he came to their aid, helping them water their flocks. When they returned early, their father questioned them and they shared about an extraordinary Egyptian who helped them.
Their father, Jethro/Reuel, asked why did they leave him behind and insisted on their bringing him home. Moses lived with them and married Zipporah, who gave birth to Geshom, named because Moses was a stranger in a land that was not his own.
The New Testament lesson in Matthew shared an extraordinary event where a woman washed Jesus feet with a bottle of perfume that cost the equivalent of a year’s wages using her hair as a towel. This is one of the stories that all four Gospels tell and Jesus mentioned that it would be a story told throughout the world because her heart was in the right place. He claimed she prepared his body for his burial—an act that was a supremely important event after death. Her love for him was so great that giving a year’s wages in one action was considered the right thing to do. Jesus agreed.
Judas complained that the poor could have been fed in place of the action of worship of Jesus. What many would agree with—criticizing her use of her wealth to adore Jesus—versus donating the money to take care of the poor was not the right way according to Jesus.
We extrapolate several things from this.
Don’t judge (like we have learned over several lessons) what others do. We stand accountable to God alone. Jesus repudiated the complainers, “Why are you bothering this woman? She did a very good thing for me.”
Additionally, what we give to Jesus with enthusiasm and love trumps any other actions. Jesus will cover our course when we do for him what the woman (often ascribed as Mary Magdalene) did for Jesus out of her worshipping love for him.
Supreme acts of love and worship for God will find their way into the common knowledge of the stories of faith. They will be told so others can gain encouragement and inspiration from hearing how others fulfilled their callings. Supreme acts of love will become faith builders for others.
We have an opportunity every day to demonstrate extraordinary acts of kindness and love. Nothing prevented the woman from completing her action—not criticism, not peer pressure, not her own questioning of how to spend money. Moses, too, completed his kindness and it opened the door for his future life—a wife and partner in the great Exodus. What can you do for God toay?
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+2:15-22;Matthew+26:6-13&version=KJV;ERV;GNT;NCV;CEV (multiple versions)
Wednesday, Ordinary 21, Proper 16
Psalm 8
Exodus 2:15-22
Matthew 26:6-13
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
Exodus 2:15-22
King James Version (KJV)
15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.
16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock.
17 And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
18 And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day?
19 And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.
20 And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread.
21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.
22 And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.
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, we love and praise you for your excellent name in all the earth. We pray you will help us be like Moses and Mary Magdalene in showing extraordinary love for you. In Jesus name, Amen
Conclusion
Wednesday, Ordinary 21, Proper 16 celebrated the adoration and extraordinary actions of love for God. Great things happen when we do things for God alone and not for our own glory. We have the examples of Moses, David and Mary Magdalene, whose great love was demonstrated in their actions that set them apart from all others.
They suffered criticism from religious leaders among their own. They endured being ostracized. They persevered and we recognize their actions today as demonstrations of the unusual achievements of those who show their love in that 100% fashion of Moses, David and Mary Magdalene.
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.
Wednesday, Ordinary 21, Proper 16 revealed extraordinary acts of kindness that arose out of love. The Psalmist exclaimed over the great love of God for humanity and how all the works of creation gave praise to God’s excellent nature.
David must have stared at the bushes, the sheep and the skies at night, when he was a shepherd. He realized that the majesty of the sun, moon and stars extended far beyond his ability to know or understand and that the Creator that set in motion the movement of the stars across the heavens was far greater than he could explain. In fact, his knowledge of the significance of God versus the insignificance of humanity appeared in his writing more than once. What are humans that God bothers with them?
If we could imagine the highest authorities—Presidents, Queens, Kings, Sheikhs, Premiers etc. interacting with the lowest bums on the street, it doesn’t come close to comparing the vast difference between God and humans. David got it and wrote his poetry out of love and respect for God.
The Old Testament lesson in Exodus continued the journey of Moses into Midian, fleeing the death warrant of Pharaoh for his having killed an Egyptian guard. Moses headed into the country of tribes that were a blend of Abraham’s second wife Keturah’s son, Midian and Esau’s progeny.
Stopping at the watering hole offered Moses a chance to defend Jethro/Reuel’s daughters, who were trying to water their sheep but were deterred by other shepherds chasing them from the well. One in particular caught Moses’ eye and he came to their aid, helping them water their flocks. When they returned early, their father questioned them and they shared about an extraordinary Egyptian who helped them.
Their father, Jethro/Reuel, asked why did they leave him behind and insisted on their bringing him home. Moses lived with them and married Zipporah, who gave birth to Geshom, named because Moses was a stranger in a land that was not his own.
The New Testament lesson in Matthew shared an extraordinary event where a woman washed Jesus feet with a bottle of perfume that cost the equivalent of a year’s wages using her hair as a towel. This is one of the stories that all four Gospels tell and Jesus mentioned that it would be a story told throughout the world because her heart was in the right place. He claimed she prepared his body for his burial—an act that was a supremely important event after death. Her love for him was so great that giving a year’s wages in one action was considered the right thing to do. Jesus agreed.
Judas complained that the poor could have been fed in place of the action of worship of Jesus. What many would agree with—criticizing her use of her wealth to adore Jesus—versus donating the money to take care of the poor was not the right way according to Jesus.
We extrapolate several things from this.
Don’t judge (like we have learned over several lessons) what others do. We stand accountable to God alone. Jesus repudiated the complainers, “Why are you bothering this woman? She did a very good thing for me.”
Additionally, what we give to Jesus with enthusiasm and love trumps any other actions. Jesus will cover our course when we do for him what the woman (often ascribed as Mary Magdalene) did for Jesus out of her worshipping love for him.
Supreme acts of love and worship for God will find their way into the common knowledge of the stories of faith. They will be told so others can gain encouragement and inspiration from hearing how others fulfilled their callings. Supreme acts of love will become faith builders for others.
We have an opportunity every day to demonstrate extraordinary acts of kindness and love. Nothing prevented the woman from completing her action—not criticism, not peer pressure, not her own questioning of how to spend money. Moses, too, completed his kindness and it opened the door for his future life—a wife and partner in the great Exodus. What can you do for God toay?
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+2:15-22;Matthew+26:6-13&version=KJV;ERV;GNT;NCV;CEV (multiple versions)
Wednesday, Ordinary 21, Proper 16
Psalm 8
Exodus 2:15-22
Matthew 26:6-13
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
Exodus 2:15-22
King James Version (KJV)
15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.
16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock.
17 And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
18 And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day?
19 And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.
20 And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread.
21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.
22 And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.
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, we love and praise you for your excellent name in all the earth. We pray you will help us be like Moses and Mary Magdalene in showing extraordinary love for you. In Jesus name, Amen
Conclusion
Wednesday, Ordinary 21, Proper 16 celebrated the adoration and extraordinary actions of love for God. Great things happen when we do things for God alone and not for our own glory. We have the examples of Moses, David and Mary Magdalene, whose great love was demonstrated in their actions that set them apart from all others.
They suffered criticism from religious leaders among their own. They endured being ostracized. They persevered and we recognize their actions today as demonstrations of the unusual achievements of those who show their love in that 100% fashion of Moses, David and Mary Magdalene.
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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