Sunday, Ordinary 25/Proper 20-- Sep 21
ChapLynne
Posts: 31 Member
Sorry this is late. I had both online issues and I was under the weather.
Enjoy.
Meditation
Sunday, Ordinary 25, Proper 20 culminated in a win-win situation for the Old Testament and the New Testament lessons. The Old Testament lesson recalled the Children of Israel arriving at the desert on the other side of the Red Sea and finding their stores of food depleted. They worried about what they would eat and grumbled to Moses and Aaron.
When they brought the people’s complaints to God, he pointed out that their grumblings were not against Moses and Aaron, but against God.
They could only see the immediate needs. They complained that they had had food in Egypt and wondered if they were going to die from starvation. God heard their whining and sent quail in the evening and manna in the mornings. They were to collect enough per day, except on Fridays, which they were to gather enough for two days, so they would have a day off—a day of Sabbath rest. God would provide all their needs and all it took was their obedience, a win-win.
The Psalmist spoke of the many signs and wonders that God did for the chosen people—a testimony of God’s unfailing love and promise-fulfillment.
The Gospel lesson in Matthew dealt with a human sense of what was fair and uot fair in a parable of the vineyard owner, who hired day-laborers for the price of a day’s wages in the morning. Three hours later, he hired more day-laborers for the price of a day’s wages and every three hours did the same. At the day’s end he paid them all the same, but the last he paid first and the ones he hired at the start of the day complained about it not being fair when they had worked so much more than the last workers, who had only worked an hour.
We get caught up in being fair, but God was caught up in providing for needs. A day’s wage was need by every one of them, but not all were hired at the start and so some of them might not have been able to survive without a full day’s wage. After all, they had waited all day long, hoping for someone to come by and hire them. They had not given up at nine o’clock, or noon, or three in the afternoon or even at 5:00 p.m. They had waited patiently for their opportunity.
The owner gave them all a fighting chance to have a livable wage. Perhaps some had worked more hours, but the salary was agreed upon before the start. God was showing how some might have to work harder in their long lives as they serve God. My mother, who passed at 86 years old served the Lord most of 80 years. Yet other people would become believers at the last hour, like the Thief on the Cross, who was promised to be with Jesus in paradise that day.
The reward is a win-win for all who accept. Some may work longer, harder or less and lightly, but the agreement was the same. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved.
God was about win-win. Everyone wins, regardless of how much knowledge one has or how much work there will be required to do. Everyone wins.
The Apostle Paul understood. In his writing to the church at Philippi, he stated it simply. If I live, I live to serve God and that is a win. If I die, I get to be with God in heaven and that is a win. It’s a win-win.
God provides for our needs. We serve God. Win-win. If we go on to be with God in heaven, we have won there, too. My mother’s life taught the love of God in all she did, from her wide welcoming smile to her twinkling eyes that made people feel special and included. Win. The day she died, her pain was over. Her inability to move or take care of herself was over. Win.
God was about win-win and offers the chance for all of us to participate in that win-win.
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.
Click on the Scriptures for links to biblegateway.com, where many translations of the same text enhance the understanding the readings, which come from the (RCL) Revised Common Lectionary – Daily Lectionary Readings. I add a Daily Prayer to bless you with God’s Favor.
Enjoy the Daily Encouragement and Bible Study and may you be inspired to be your best self for Ordinary 25, Proper 20.
The Gathering of the Manna
http://www.wikigallery.org/paintings/112501-113000/112768/painting1.jpg "The Gathering of the Manna 1464-67" Dieric the Elder Bouts, wikigallery, CCL
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
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus 16:2-15;Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45;Philippians 1:21-30;Matthew 20:1-16&version=KJV;ERV;GNT;NCV;NIV (multiple versions)
Sunday,, Ordinary 25, Proper 20
Exodus 16:2-15
Psalm 105:1-6 Psalm 105:37-45
Philippians 1:21-30
Matthew 20:1-16
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
Philippians 1:21
King James Version (KJV)
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Single Bible Study chapter to study
Philippians 1:21-30
King James Version (KJV)
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;
26 That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.
27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
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 thank you for your love which promises to care for all our needs. As we strive to fulfill our part we trust that you will equip us to the task. We look forward to the day when we can hear you say that we did our part well. In Jesus name, Amen
Ordinary 25, Proper 20 Music
I Will Follow Him – Sister Act
[embed]
http://youtu.be/VPpd-6X3tEo[/embed]
Conclusion
Sunday, Ordinary 25, Proper 20 put things into perspective from God’s point of view. Humans complain, like the Children of Israel did that things were not fair and that they saw they had it better before. But God promised to fulfill their needs—giving them quail at night and manna in the morning. Once they learned to obey, they found their needs were met.
The New Testament church in Philippi grew deeply in the Lord. They had a good reputation. Paul reminded them that their labors were not in vain. Like his own work, he felt the pull to continue on the earth, but he also looked forward to the moment when his death would bring him into the presence of God. Either way, he had it good. Win-win.
We can look at our lives in the same way. Every day is an opportunity to serve the Lord. At any point that we find our time on earth is over, we rejoice with the chance to be with God. Either way, we win. Win-win.
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.
Enjoy.
Meditation
Sunday, Ordinary 25, Proper 20 culminated in a win-win situation for the Old Testament and the New Testament lessons. The Old Testament lesson recalled the Children of Israel arriving at the desert on the other side of the Red Sea and finding their stores of food depleted. They worried about what they would eat and grumbled to Moses and Aaron.
When they brought the people’s complaints to God, he pointed out that their grumblings were not against Moses and Aaron, but against God.
They could only see the immediate needs. They complained that they had had food in Egypt and wondered if they were going to die from starvation. God heard their whining and sent quail in the evening and manna in the mornings. They were to collect enough per day, except on Fridays, which they were to gather enough for two days, so they would have a day off—a day of Sabbath rest. God would provide all their needs and all it took was their obedience, a win-win.
The Psalmist spoke of the many signs and wonders that God did for the chosen people—a testimony of God’s unfailing love and promise-fulfillment.
The Gospel lesson in Matthew dealt with a human sense of what was fair and uot fair in a parable of the vineyard owner, who hired day-laborers for the price of a day’s wages in the morning. Three hours later, he hired more day-laborers for the price of a day’s wages and every three hours did the same. At the day’s end he paid them all the same, but the last he paid first and the ones he hired at the start of the day complained about it not being fair when they had worked so much more than the last workers, who had only worked an hour.
We get caught up in being fair, but God was caught up in providing for needs. A day’s wage was need by every one of them, but not all were hired at the start and so some of them might not have been able to survive without a full day’s wage. After all, they had waited all day long, hoping for someone to come by and hire them. They had not given up at nine o’clock, or noon, or three in the afternoon or even at 5:00 p.m. They had waited patiently for their opportunity.
The owner gave them all a fighting chance to have a livable wage. Perhaps some had worked more hours, but the salary was agreed upon before the start. God was showing how some might have to work harder in their long lives as they serve God. My mother, who passed at 86 years old served the Lord most of 80 years. Yet other people would become believers at the last hour, like the Thief on the Cross, who was promised to be with Jesus in paradise that day.
The reward is a win-win for all who accept. Some may work longer, harder or less and lightly, but the agreement was the same. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved.
God was about win-win. Everyone wins, regardless of how much knowledge one has or how much work there will be required to do. Everyone wins.
The Apostle Paul understood. In his writing to the church at Philippi, he stated it simply. If I live, I live to serve God and that is a win. If I die, I get to be with God in heaven and that is a win. It’s a win-win.
God provides for our needs. We serve God. Win-win. If we go on to be with God in heaven, we have won there, too. My mother’s life taught the love of God in all she did, from her wide welcoming smile to her twinkling eyes that made people feel special and included. Win. The day she died, her pain was over. Her inability to move or take care of herself was over. Win.
God was about win-win and offers the chance for all of us to participate in that win-win.
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.
Click on the Scriptures for links to biblegateway.com, where many translations of the same text enhance the understanding the readings, which come from the (RCL) Revised Common Lectionary – Daily Lectionary Readings. I add a Daily Prayer to bless you with God’s Favor.
Enjoy the Daily Encouragement and Bible Study and may you be inspired to be your best self for Ordinary 25, Proper 20.
The Gathering of the Manna
http://www.wikigallery.org/paintings/112501-113000/112768/painting1.jpg "The Gathering of the Manna 1464-67" Dieric the Elder Bouts, wikigallery, CCL
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
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus 16:2-15;Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45;Philippians 1:21-30;Matthew 20:1-16&version=KJV;ERV;GNT;NCV;NIV (multiple versions)
Sunday,, Ordinary 25, Proper 20
Exodus 16:2-15
Psalm 105:1-6 Psalm 105:37-45
Philippians 1:21-30
Matthew 20:1-16
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
Philippians 1:21
King James Version (KJV)
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Single Bible Study chapter to study
Philippians 1:21-30
King James Version (KJV)
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;
26 That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.
27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
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 thank you for your love which promises to care for all our needs. As we strive to fulfill our part we trust that you will equip us to the task. We look forward to the day when we can hear you say that we did our part well. In Jesus name, Amen
Ordinary 25, Proper 20 Music
I Will Follow Him – Sister Act
[embed]
http://youtu.be/VPpd-6X3tEo[/embed]Conclusion
Sunday, Ordinary 25, Proper 20 put things into perspective from God’s point of view. Humans complain, like the Children of Israel did that things were not fair and that they saw they had it better before. But God promised to fulfill their needs—giving them quail at night and manna in the morning. Once they learned to obey, they found their needs were met.
The New Testament church in Philippi grew deeply in the Lord. They had a good reputation. Paul reminded them that their labors were not in vain. Like his own work, he felt the pull to continue on the earth, but he also looked forward to the moment when his death would bring him into the presence of God. Either way, he had it good. Win-win.
We can look at our lives in the same way. Every day is an opportunity to serve the Lord. At any point that we find our time on earth is over, we rejoice with the chance to be with God. Either way, we win. Win-win.
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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