Reflecting God ~ Embrace Holy Living ~ Thursday, 24 October 2013 ~ “Jesuslikeness” Matthew 23

Reflecting God ~ Embrace Holy Living ~ Thursday, 24 October 2013 ~ “Jesuslikeness”

Matthew 23:1 Then Yeshua spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples, 2 saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sat on Moses’ seat. 3  All things therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do, but don’t do their works; for they say, and don’t do. 4  For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them. 5  But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their tefillin * broad, enlarge the fringes† of their garments, 6  and love the place of honor at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7  the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi, Rabbi’ by men. 8  But don’t you be called ‘Rabbi,’ for one is your Rabbi, the Messiah, and all of you are brothers. 9  Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven. 10  Neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Messiah. 11  But he who is greatest among you will be your servant. 12  Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

13  “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and as a pretense you make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.37  “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not! 38  Behold, your house is left to you desolate. 39  For I tell you, you will not see me from now on, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”✡Messianic WEB)

“Jesuslikeness” by Kerry Willis

Do Christians kneel to pray anymore? Inquiring minds want to know. When and why did many Christians quit kneeling to pray?

At the Last Supper, King Jesus took a servant’s posture. He knelt to wash the feet of His disciples. “So he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him” (John 13:4-5).

Servants kneel. They wash feet. Servant leaders do too. The Jesuslikeness joy description calls for kneeling and washing feet.

Before we humble ourselves and serve the people outside the local church, we are to humble ourselves and serve those already with us. “You also should wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14b, emphasis added).

Perhaps the world is waiting for us to first humble ourselves and serve one another before they will trust us to serve them. After all, Jesus humbled himself and served the 12 closest to Him before He humbled himself on the cross to serve the whole world.

Hymn for Today:

“O To Be Like Thee” by Thomas O Chisholm

1. Oh! to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer,

This is my constant longing and prayer;

Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,

Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear. 

Refrain:

Oh! to be like Thee, oh! to be like Thee,

Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

2. Oh! to be like Thee, full of compassion,

Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,

Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,

Seeking the wand’ring sinner to find.

Refrain:

Oh! to be like Thee, oh! to be like Thee,

Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

3. Oh! to be like Thee, lowly in spirit,

Holy and harmless, patient and brave;

Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,

Willing to suffer, others to save.

Refrain:

Oh! to be like Thee, oh! to be like Thee,

Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

4. Oh! to be like Thee, Lord, I am coming,

Now to receive th’ anointing divine;

All that I am and have I am bringing,

Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine.

Refrain:

Oh! to be like Thee, oh! to be like Thee,

Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

5. Oh! to be like Thee, while I am pleading,

Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love,

Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,

Fit me for life and Heaven above.

Refrain:

Oh! to be like Thee, oh! to be like Thee,

Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

Thought for Today:

“The humble man looks upon every, the feeblest and unworthiest, child of God, and honors him and prefers him in honor as the son and the King”(Andrew Murray).

Prayer Needs:

Many people in Saint Kitta and Nevis will come to know Jesus the Christ (Yeshua the Messiah) and receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

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Kansas City , MO 64109-1593

Nazarene Publishing House

PO Box 843336 

Kansas City , MO 64184-3336

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