Wednesday Easter Week Four -- May 14
HealthFitNow
Posts: 1,205 Member
Meditation
Wednesday of Easter Week Four lessons indicted and prophesied the leaders and the flock of sheep, a.k.a. human believers. The Old Testament Psalm 100 spoke to the time when believers would enter the court of worship and praise God—a time of gratefulness. The New Testament Gospel returns to a moment prior to the death of Christ, when the mother of two disciples, James and John, sons of Zebedee, asked Jesus to give them places of honor on his right and left, above the others. In the Gospel of Mark, it didn’t mention their mother, but had the two disciples doing the asking. In both, Jesus asked them if they were ready to drink the cup—a cryptic way of asking if they were ready to be tortured and murdered for Christ.
I suspect that was where one of the ‘Be careful what you ask for…” moments was established. The action didn’t gain them positions of honor from Christ and the other ten disciples were upset at their requests to be elevated above the others.
Leadership. The New Testament lesson shone the light on the disciples’ misdirected leadership. They had made a big mistake. They didn’t focus on what was the best thing, especially since Jesus had been trying to teach them about his impending death for the sins of the world.
The prophet Jeremiah was scathing in his indictment of the leaders or pastors, who would lead God’s sheep astray and scatter the flock. We often think of the devil as the one who caused harm to come to the Jews or to Christians, but the message of Jeremiah was that the ones causing harm came out of the leadership of the followers of God. Internal issues. Not external ones.
How many pastors have driven people from the church because of sin? Because of arrogance? Because of not being loving, but being harsh and cruel? Jeremiah prophesied that God declared ‘woe’ to those who would scatter the flock.
I think we in the ministry of God must answer for quite a bit. We must self-examine and open our hearts to God, so that our mistakes can be corrected by God’s grace. We must avoid striving for status in the world or spiritual status in heaven…to glorify ourselves. James and John missed the point. Christ sacrificed his life and Christ would be glorified. The work we do is not for our own benefit, but for God.
I wonder where things would be if pastors were more faithful as servants of God instead of building our own followings. I am sure most believe they are doing just that. But we keep making mistakes that scatter the flock. First, we must ask God’s forgiveness, for scattering the flock. Then, we must ask for God to work in us, so that we may walk humbly and faithfully, doing the work that brings God pleasure. What incredible things would happen if we would stop getting in the way of God using us for good.
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
Wednesday, Easter Week Four
Psalm 100
Jeremiah 23:1-8
Matthew 20:17-28
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
Psalm 23 King James Version (KJV)
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3045/5797590971_abd3064752_z_d.jpg "The Good Shepherd 136" by Waiting For The Word; flickr
23 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Single Bible Study chapter to study
Jeremiah 23:1-8 King James Version (KJV)
23 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.
2 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.
3 And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.
4 And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.
5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
7 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;
8 But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own 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, forgive us for getting sidetracked in service of you and instead building our own following. We seek to honor you in what we do that your name may be glorified. In Jesus name, Amen
Conclusion
Wednesday, of Easter Week Four’s lesson cautioned all in leadership to not put their interests before the work of God. We must be about drawing the flock together, not scattering them. The woe directed at leaders who do not behave as good shepherds but are selfish and self-aggrandizing. All ministry belongs to God and we must always give God the glory. It is a matter of perspective.
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 of Easter Week Four lessons indicted and prophesied the leaders and the flock of sheep, a.k.a. human believers. The Old Testament Psalm 100 spoke to the time when believers would enter the court of worship and praise God—a time of gratefulness. The New Testament Gospel returns to a moment prior to the death of Christ, when the mother of two disciples, James and John, sons of Zebedee, asked Jesus to give them places of honor on his right and left, above the others. In the Gospel of Mark, it didn’t mention their mother, but had the two disciples doing the asking. In both, Jesus asked them if they were ready to drink the cup—a cryptic way of asking if they were ready to be tortured and murdered for Christ.
I suspect that was where one of the ‘Be careful what you ask for…” moments was established. The action didn’t gain them positions of honor from Christ and the other ten disciples were upset at their requests to be elevated above the others.
Leadership. The New Testament lesson shone the light on the disciples’ misdirected leadership. They had made a big mistake. They didn’t focus on what was the best thing, especially since Jesus had been trying to teach them about his impending death for the sins of the world.
The prophet Jeremiah was scathing in his indictment of the leaders or pastors, who would lead God’s sheep astray and scatter the flock. We often think of the devil as the one who caused harm to come to the Jews or to Christians, but the message of Jeremiah was that the ones causing harm came out of the leadership of the followers of God. Internal issues. Not external ones.
How many pastors have driven people from the church because of sin? Because of arrogance? Because of not being loving, but being harsh and cruel? Jeremiah prophesied that God declared ‘woe’ to those who would scatter the flock.
I think we in the ministry of God must answer for quite a bit. We must self-examine and open our hearts to God, so that our mistakes can be corrected by God’s grace. We must avoid striving for status in the world or spiritual status in heaven…to glorify ourselves. James and John missed the point. Christ sacrificed his life and Christ would be glorified. The work we do is not for our own benefit, but for God.
I wonder where things would be if pastors were more faithful as servants of God instead of building our own followings. I am sure most believe they are doing just that. But we keep making mistakes that scatter the flock. First, we must ask God’s forgiveness, for scattering the flock. Then, we must ask for God to work in us, so that we may walk humbly and faithfully, doing the work that brings God pleasure. What incredible things would happen if we would stop getting in the way of God using us for good.
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
Wednesday, Easter Week Four
Psalm 100
Jeremiah 23:1-8
Matthew 20:17-28
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
Psalm 23 King James Version (KJV)
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3045/5797590971_abd3064752_z_d.jpg "The Good Shepherd 136" by Waiting For The Word; flickr
23 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Single Bible Study chapter to study
Jeremiah 23:1-8 King James Version (KJV)
23 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.
2 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.
3 And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.
4 And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.
5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
7 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;
8 But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own 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, forgive us for getting sidetracked in service of you and instead building our own following. We seek to honor you in what we do that your name may be glorified. In Jesus name, Amen
Conclusion
Wednesday, of Easter Week Four’s lesson cautioned all in leadership to not put their interests before the work of God. We must be about drawing the flock together, not scattering them. The woe directed at leaders who do not behave as good shepherds but are selfish and self-aggrandizing. All ministry belongs to God and we must always give God the glory. It is a matter of perspective.
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.
0
Replies
-
To minister is to lead. Yes there are pastors that are puffed up about how many followers they have, not about their actual leading and guiding their flocks to Christ. I have watched TV evangelists and can discern their goals and truthfulness by whether what they peach glorifies God. I enjoy watching Charles Stanley, loved following Billy Graham, and Joel ostein. They always speak Gods word. When I hear a pastor speaking damnation, saying people are going to hell, and screaming and judging, asking people to send in their money with letters attached it seems so un Godlike. If. It appeared James and John wanted quick recognition without any work involved. Jesus set them to thinking when he asked the vital question. Listening, praying, and seeking Gods will can bring about his will in our lives and humility. A great lesson. Thank you.0
