Thursday, Ordinary 25/Proper 20-- Sept 18

ChapLynne
ChapLynne Posts: 31 Member
Meditation
Thursday, Ordinary 25, Proper 20 revealed God’s power again. The nearly 3 million people had trekked down the Sinai Peninsula, and crossed over the Straits of Tiran to what is now Saudi Arabia along the Gulf of Aqaba.
Moses led them into the Wilderness of Shur away from the Red Sea, where the Egyptian army had been defeated by God’s control of the waters. Three days inland without water and they came to Marah, but the water was too bitter to drink.
The people complained about not having water to drink and Moses took their grumblings to God, who directed him to add wood to the water and it became potable.
God challenged the Hebrews to obey the laws and he would not give them the sicknesses that afflicted the Egyptians. God was their healer.
They left Marah and traveled to Elim, not quite at the Red Sea, but closer, and there was an oasis of twelve springs and 70 palm trees—for three million people. But it was sufficient for their needs.
The Psalmist recalled the story of the Exodus reminding the Children of Israel to praise God for the many miracles that helped them survive—water from the rock, bread and quail from heaven—so that they would obey his laws and follow his teachings.
The New Testament lesson in Corinthians spoke of God’s power and the importance of Christians to avoid complaints without documentation. The church at Corinth was quick to grumble and complain, instead of being like the Bereans and studying to find truth. Paul reverted to teaching the basics that there should be at least two witnesses to corroborate complaints.
Paul didn’t veil his threat to them. When Paul visited again he would hold them accountable for their complaining and falsehoods. They claimed Christ had been weak because he hadn’t defended himself like they had expected God to do—zap things into obedience. But Paul let them know that Christ chose to be weak in order to effectively sacrifice himself for us, and it was through God’s power that Christ became alive and rose again. Paul knew that he would be returning with power that could not be questioned. Everyone would know because Paul would be alive with the power of God.
We can tap into that same power by following the same guidance Moses and Paul gave believers—obey the laws of and follow the teachings of God. All things become possible with the power of God at work for us.
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 25, Proper 20
Bible Readings
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm 77;2 Kings 2:1-18;Mark 11:20-25&version=KJV;ERV;NCV;NIV;GNT (multiple versions)




Thursday,, Ordinary 25, Proper 20

Psalm 105:1-6 Psalm 105:37-45
Exodus 15:22-27
2 Corinthians 13:1-4

Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating

Psalm 121 King James Version (KJV)
1I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.




Single Bible Study chapter to study




Exodus 15:22-27
King James Version (KJV)
22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.
23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.
24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?
25 And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,
26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.
27 And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.

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, thank you for your many miracles which taught your followers that you will take care of those who trust in you. Help us to believe and trust in you, even in the small things in our lives. In Jesus name, Amen




Conclusion
Thursday, Ordinary 25, Proper 20 revealed God’s power at work from the Psalmist, retelling the entire Exodus story in overview, the next stage in Exodus of the children of Israel after they crossed the Red Sea and were wandering in the Desert of Shur (which some archaeologists suggest was located in present day Saudi Arabia), and faced the challenge of being without water and food. There were many different versions of the Exodus route that cropped up over the years…but unfortunately the locations remain off limits to Judeo-Christian archeologists. But an impressive amount of evidence supported the journey into Saudi Arabia, since Midian was in Saudi Arabia and the burning bush was there and God promised Moses he would return to that spot again with the Children of Israel.
The emphasis in the lessons was the power of God at work in the lives of followers, who obeyed the laws. Power could be tapped today, as demonstrated in the Old and New Testament. The importance of giving credit to God for the work of God in our lives could not be overstated. Instead of complaining, we can trust and obey, and give the glory to 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.