Thursday, Ordinary 22/Proper 17-- Sept 4
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Meditation
Thursday, Ordinary 23, Proper 18 displayed the many ways of obstinate behaviors among believers and unbelievers alike. The Psalmist distinguished between the faithful and the heathen, how one would praise God’s greatness and the heathen would be punished. The Old Testament lesson continued with Moses’ ultimatums delivered to Pharaoh and the latter’s obstinate refusal to let the children of Israel go.
One would think that having ALL livestock belonging to the Egyptians come down with a dreaded fatal disease—like Mad Cow disease, while none of the cattle of the Hebrews were even sick. But still, Pharaoh obstinately refused to consider the children of Israel’s departure. History is full of despotic dictator types declining to change their singular rejection of the what would seem to be the logical and sensible order of business in favor of their selfish design. Though every Egyptian lost their flocks, Pharaoh couldn’t have cared less for them and instead hung onto his slave population.
The New Testament lesson in Corinthians revealed the exasperation of Paul in dealing with the uneducated, but thoroughly gifted (as in Spiritual gifts) church of Corinth. They were so far off the mark of Christian faith, God had to endow the church with an overwhelming number of Spiritual gifts to move the church forward, specifically, they had been given the gift of speaking in tongues. Like some churches today, they had considered those bestowed with speaking in tongues to be superior to the others. Instead of being grateful and humble that God would give them so much, they took credit for being better than other churches—even within the church houses of Corinth. They also began to criticize Paul because his preaching wasn’t as charismatic as the ‘super apostles’ that had come to the church after Paul. The charismatic and nameless ‘super apostles’ took money from the church. Paul chose not to, because he felt they gave it with ‘strings attached’ like some people buy politicians today. Paul accepted money from the authentically generous Macedonians, but refused the supercilious Corinthians.
Their obstinacy at learning the truth from Paul and becoming sidetracked by false doctrines brought out the exasperating tone in Paul’s letter. He called himself playing the fool—dealing with these issues instead of the important aspect of spreading the good news—and reminded them that they should be focused on getting their house in order. Some had gone so off the track, they had resorted to all manner of sins. Paul said,
“I am afraid that the next time I come my God will humiliate me in your presence, and I shall weep over many who sinned in the past and have not repented of the immoral things they have done—their lust and their sexual sins.” GNT
Once again, the lessons were pointing out the false believer as arrogant, self-interested, self-indulgent and reveling in sin, while directing us to the true believer and the proper behavior of being humble, open to the leading of God and bringing honor and glory to God in all that was said and done.
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 23, Proper 18
Bible Readings
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm 83:1-4, 13-18;Exodus 5:1—6:13;Revelation 3:7-13&version=ERV;GNT;NCV;CEV;NIV (multiple versions)
Thursday, Ordinary 23, Proper 18
Psalm 149
Exodus 9:1-7
2 Corinthians 12:11-21
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 9:1-7
King James Version (KJV)
9 Then the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
2 For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still,
3 Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the *kitten*, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain.
4 And the LORD shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that is the children's of Israel.
5 And the LORD appointed a set time, saying, Tomorrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land.
6 And the LORD did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one.
7 And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.
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, for the grace you give us when we are so undeserving, we give you thanks. May you help us to avoid the traps that the Corinthian church fell into and instead proclaim the Gospel as Paul did. May we bring honor and glory to your name. In Jesus name, Amen
Conclusion
Thursday, Ordinary 23, Proper 18 reiterated the failures of believers and non-believers to be obedient to the Word of God, while showing the way for followers to praise God and demonstrate the manner of good stewards of what was entrusted to us.
The Corinthian church was split into factions of those who believed they were superior because of certain gifts and somehow above other people in the church houses versus those who humbly followed the teachings of Paul. The super apostles which the Corinthian church proclaimed as superior to Paul, disappeared into history without so much as a name, while Paul became the dominant instructor of followers of the Way.
Pharaoh showed his obstinacy that was willing for his people to be devastated of their flocks (and livelihood?) but he would not give up his slaves.
The Psalmist reminded us of the ways that true followers in Israel would have praise songs on their lips for God and the heathen punished for their sins, and their remaining obstinately on the track of sinfulness.
We have the blessing of comparing the differences of how God worked in their lives. The results of God’s favor and the devastation that comes to those who refuse God’s gift of salvation rises like a beacon to teach us the way we should go. May we always be working toward the goal of service, that we might receive God’s favor.
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.
Thursday, Ordinary 23, Proper 18 displayed the many ways of obstinate behaviors among believers and unbelievers alike. The Psalmist distinguished between the faithful and the heathen, how one would praise God’s greatness and the heathen would be punished. The Old Testament lesson continued with Moses’ ultimatums delivered to Pharaoh and the latter’s obstinate refusal to let the children of Israel go.
One would think that having ALL livestock belonging to the Egyptians come down with a dreaded fatal disease—like Mad Cow disease, while none of the cattle of the Hebrews were even sick. But still, Pharaoh obstinately refused to consider the children of Israel’s departure. History is full of despotic dictator types declining to change their singular rejection of the what would seem to be the logical and sensible order of business in favor of their selfish design. Though every Egyptian lost their flocks, Pharaoh couldn’t have cared less for them and instead hung onto his slave population.
The New Testament lesson in Corinthians revealed the exasperation of Paul in dealing with the uneducated, but thoroughly gifted (as in Spiritual gifts) church of Corinth. They were so far off the mark of Christian faith, God had to endow the church with an overwhelming number of Spiritual gifts to move the church forward, specifically, they had been given the gift of speaking in tongues. Like some churches today, they had considered those bestowed with speaking in tongues to be superior to the others. Instead of being grateful and humble that God would give them so much, they took credit for being better than other churches—even within the church houses of Corinth. They also began to criticize Paul because his preaching wasn’t as charismatic as the ‘super apostles’ that had come to the church after Paul. The charismatic and nameless ‘super apostles’ took money from the church. Paul chose not to, because he felt they gave it with ‘strings attached’ like some people buy politicians today. Paul accepted money from the authentically generous Macedonians, but refused the supercilious Corinthians.
Their obstinacy at learning the truth from Paul and becoming sidetracked by false doctrines brought out the exasperating tone in Paul’s letter. He called himself playing the fool—dealing with these issues instead of the important aspect of spreading the good news—and reminded them that they should be focused on getting their house in order. Some had gone so off the track, they had resorted to all manner of sins. Paul said,
“I am afraid that the next time I come my God will humiliate me in your presence, and I shall weep over many who sinned in the past and have not repented of the immoral things they have done—their lust and their sexual sins.” GNT
Once again, the lessons were pointing out the false believer as arrogant, self-interested, self-indulgent and reveling in sin, while directing us to the true believer and the proper behavior of being humble, open to the leading of God and bringing honor and glory to God in all that was said and done.
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 23, Proper 18
Bible Readings
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm 83:1-4, 13-18;Exodus 5:1—6:13;Revelation 3:7-13&version=ERV;GNT;NCV;CEV;NIV (multiple versions)
Thursday, Ordinary 23, Proper 18
Psalm 149
Exodus 9:1-7
2 Corinthians 12:11-21
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 9:1-7
King James Version (KJV)
9 Then the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
2 For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still,
3 Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the *kitten*, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain.
4 And the LORD shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that is the children's of Israel.
5 And the LORD appointed a set time, saying, Tomorrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land.
6 And the LORD did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one.
7 And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.
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, for the grace you give us when we are so undeserving, we give you thanks. May you help us to avoid the traps that the Corinthian church fell into and instead proclaim the Gospel as Paul did. May we bring honor and glory to your name. In Jesus name, Amen
Conclusion
Thursday, Ordinary 23, Proper 18 reiterated the failures of believers and non-believers to be obedient to the Word of God, while showing the way for followers to praise God and demonstrate the manner of good stewards of what was entrusted to us.
The Corinthian church was split into factions of those who believed they were superior because of certain gifts and somehow above other people in the church houses versus those who humbly followed the teachings of Paul. The super apostles which the Corinthian church proclaimed as superior to Paul, disappeared into history without so much as a name, while Paul became the dominant instructor of followers of the Way.
Pharaoh showed his obstinacy that was willing for his people to be devastated of their flocks (and livelihood?) but he would not give up his slaves.
The Psalmist reminded us of the ways that true followers in Israel would have praise songs on their lips for God and the heathen punished for their sins, and their remaining obstinately on the track of sinfulness.
We have the blessing of comparing the differences of how God worked in their lives. The results of God’s favor and the devastation that comes to those who refuse God’s gift of salvation rises like a beacon to teach us the way we should go. May we always be working toward the goal of service, that we might receive God’s favor.
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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