Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church Wichita, Kansas, United States - Daily Devotional for Monday, 30 March 2015
Today please be in prayer for:
Creighton UMC-UCC
Elkhorn Valley District
| 
Meadow Grove UMC
Tilden Faith UMC
Elkhorn Valley District
| 
South Sioux City St Paul UMC
Elkhorn Valley District
|
Monday of Holy week – Purple, Red or Scarlet
Isaiah 42:1-9
Psalm 36:5-11
Hebrews 9:11-15
John 12:1-11
Scripture Texts:
Monday of Holy week
Isaiah 42:1 “Here is my servant, whom I support,
my chosen one, in whom I take pleasure.
I have put my Spirit on him;
he will bring justice to the Goyim.
2 He will not cry or shout;
no one will hear his voice in the streets.
3 He will not snap off a broken reed
or snuff out a smoldering wick.
He will bring forth justice according to truth;
4 he will not weaken or be crushed
until he has established justice on the earth,
and the coastlands wait for his Torah.”
5 Thus says God, Adonai,
who created the heavens and spread them out,
who stretched out the earth and all that grows from it,
who gives breath to the people on it
and spirit to those who walk on it:
6 “I, Adonai, called you righteously,
I took hold of you by the hand,
I shaped you and made you a covenant for the people,
to be a light for the Goyim,
7 so that you can open blind eyes,
free the prisoners from confinement,
those living in darkness from the dungeon.
8 I am Adonai; that is my name.
I yield my glory to no one else,
nor my praise to any idol.
9 See how the former predictions come true;
and now new things do I declare —
before they sprout I tell you about them.”
Psalm 36:5 (4) He devises trouble as he lies in bed;
so set is he on his own bad way
that he doesn’t hate evil.
6 (5) Adonai, in the heavens is your grace;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
7 (6) Your righteousness is like the mountains of God,
your judgments are like the great deep.
You save man and beast, Adonai.
8 (7) How precious, God, is your grace!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings,
9 (8) they feast on the rich bounty of your house,
and you have them drink from the stream of your delights.
10 (9) For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.
11 (10) Continue your grace to those who know you
and your righteousness to the upright in heart.
Hebrews 9:11 But when the Messiah appeared as cohen gadol of the good things that are happening already, then, through the greater and more perfect Tent which is not man-made (that is, it is not of this created world), 12 he entered the Holiest Place once and for all.
And he entered not by means of the blood of goats and calves, but by means of his own blood, thus setting people free forever. 13 For if sprinkling ceremonially unclean persons with the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer restores their outward purity; 14 then how much more the blood of the Messiah, who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself to God as a sacrifice without blemish, will purify our conscience from works that lead to death, so that we can serve the living God!
15 It is because of this death that he is mediator of a new covenant [or will].[a] Because a death has occurred which sets people free from the transgressions committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.[Footnotes:
Hebrews 9:15 Jeremiah 31:30(31)]
John 12:1 Six days before Pesach, Yeshua came to Beit-Anyah, where El‘azar lived, the man Yeshua had raised from the dead; 2 so they gave a dinner there in his honor. Marta served the meal, and El‘azar was among those at the table with him. 3 Miryam took a whole pint of pure oil of spikenard, which is very expensive, poured it on Yeshua’s feet and wiped his feet with her hair, so that the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But one of the talmidim, Y’hudah from K’riot, the one who was about to betray him, said, 5 “This perfume is worth a year’s wages! Why wasn’t it sold and the money given to the poor?” 6 Now he said this not out of concern for the poor, but because he was a thief — he was in charge of the common purse and used to steal from it. 7 Yeshua said, “Leave her alone! She kept this for the day of my burial. 8 You always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
9 A large crowd of Judeans learned that he was there; and they came not only because of Yeshua, but also so that they could see El‘azar, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 The head cohanim then decided to do away with El‘azar too, 11 since it was because of him that large numbers of the Judeans were leaving their leaders and putting their trust in Yeshua.
John Wesley's Notes-Commentary for:
Isaiah 42:1-9
Verse 1
[1] Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
Behold — The prophet having given one eminent instance of God's certain fore-knowledge, in the deliverance of the Jews by Cyrus, now adds another more eminent example of it, by foretelling the coming of the Messiah. This place therefore is expressly interpreted of Christ, Matthew 12:18, etc. And to him, and to him only, all the particulars following, truly and evidently belong.
Whom — Whom I will enable to do and suffer all those things which belong to his office.
Elect — Chosen by me to this great work.
Delighteth — Both for himself and for all his people, being fully satisfied with that sacrifice, which he shall offer up to me.
Bring forth — Shall publish or shew, as this word is translated, Matthew 12:18.
Judgment — The law, and will, and counsel of God, concerning man's salvation.
Gentiles — Not only to the Jews, but to the Heathen nations.
Verse 2
[2] He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
Cry — In a way of contention, or ostentation.
Lift — His voice.
Heard — As contentious and vain-glorious persons frequently do.
Verse 3
[3] A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
Break — Christ will not deal rigorously with those that come to him, but he will use all gentleness, cherishing the smallest beginnings of grace, comforting and healing wounded consciences.
Quench — That wick of a candle which is almost extinct, he will not quench, but revive and kindle it again.
Judgment — The law of God, or the doctrine of the gospel, which he will bring forth, unto, with, or according to truth, that is, truly and faithfully.
Verse 4
[4] He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
'Till — 'Till he has established his law or doctrine, among the nations of the earth.
Isles — The countries remote from Judea, shall gladly receive his doctrine.
Verse 5
[5] Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
He — This description of God's infinite power, is seasonably added, to give them assurance of the certain accomplishment of his promises.
Verse 6
[6] I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
Called thee — To declare my righteousness, or faithfulness.
With-hold — Will give thee counsel and strength for the work.
Give thee — To be the mediator in whom my covenant of grace is confirmed with mankind.
The people — Of all people, not only of Jews but Gentiles.
A light — To enlighten them with true and saving knowledge.
Verse 8
[8] I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
The Lord — Heb. Jehovah: who have all being in and of myself, and give being to all my creatures. The everlasting, and unchangeable, and omnipotent God, who therefore both can, and will fulfil all my promises.
Verse 9
[9] Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
I tell you — That when they come to pass, you may know that I am God, and that this is my work.
Psalm 36:5-11
Verse 5
[5] Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
Thy mercy — Mine enemies are cruel and perfidious, but thou art infinite in mercy, and faithfulness.
Heavens — Is infinite and incomprehensible.
Faithfulness — The truth both of thy threatenings against thine enemies, and of thy promises made to good men.
The clouds — Is far above our reach, greater and higher than we can apprehend.
Verse 6
[6] Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.
Mountains — Stedfast and unmoveable: eminent and conspicuous to all men.
Judgments — The executions of thy counsels.
Deep — Unsearchable, as the ocean.
Man — The worst of men; yea, the brute-beasts have experience of thy care and kindness.
Verse 7
[7] How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
Loving-kindness — Though all thine attributes be excellent, yet, above all, thy mercy is most excellent, or precious and amiable.
Verse 8
[8] They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
Satisfied — Who trust in thee, as he now said.
Fatness — With those delightful provisions, which thou hast prepared for them in heaven.
The river — Which denotes both their plenty, and their perpetuity.
Verse 9
[9] For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
Life — It is in God as in a fountain, and from him is derived to us.
But — Of that glorious and blessed, and endless life, which alone is worthy of the name.
Light — In the light of thy glorious presence, which shall be fully manifested, when we see thee face to face.
Light — Joy and comfort, and happiness: the word light is elegantly repeated in another signification; in the former clause it is light discovering, in this light, discovered or enjoyed.
Verse 11
[11] Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.
The foot — Of my proud and insolent enemies.
Come — So as to overthrow me.
Hebrews 9:11-15
Verse 11
[11] But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
An high priest of good things to come — Described, Hebrews 9:15. Entered through a greater, that is, a more noble, and perfect tabernacle - Namely, his own body.
Not of this creation — Not framed by man, as that tabernacle was.
Verse 12
[12] Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
The holy place — Heaven.
For us — All that believe.
Verse 13
[13] For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
If the ashes of an heifer — Consumed by fire as a sin-offering, being sprinkled on them who were legally unclean.
Purified the flesh — Removed that legal uncleanness, and re-admitted them to the temple and the congregation. Numbers 19:17,18,19.
Verse 14
[14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
How much more shall the blood of Christ. — The merit of all his sufferings.
Who through the eternal Spirit — The work of redemption being the work of the whole Trinity. Neither is the Second Person alone concerned even in the amazing condescension that was needful to complete it. The Father delivers up the kingdom to the Son; and the Holy Ghost becomes the gift of the Messiah, being, as it were, sent according to his good pleasure.
Offered himself — Infinitely more precious than any created victim, and that without spot to God.
Purge our conscience — Our inmost soul.
From dead works — From all the inward and outward works of the devil, which spring from spiritual death in the soul, and lead to death everlasting.
To serve the living God — In the life of faith, in perfect love and spotless holiness.
Verse 15
[15] And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
And for this end he is the Mediator of a new covenant, that they who are called — To the engagements and benefits thereof. Might receive the eternal inheritance promised to Abraham: not by means of legal sacrifices, but of his meritorious death.
For the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant — That is, for the redemption of transgressors from the guilt and punishment of those sins which were committed in the time of the old covenant. The article of his death properly divides the old covenant from the new.
John 12:1-11
Verse 2
[2] There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
It seems Martha was a person of some figure, from the great respect which was paid to her and her sister, in visits and condolences on Lazarus's death, as well as from the costly ointment mentioned in the next verse. And probably it was at their house our Lord and his disciples lodged, when he returned from Jerusalem to Bethany, every evening of the last week of his life, upon which he was now entered.
Verse 3
[3] Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
Then Mary, taking a pound of ointment — There were two persons who poured ointment on Christ. One toward the beginning of his ministry, at or near Nain, Luke 7:37, etc. The other six days before his last passover, at Bethany; the account of whom is given here, as well as by St. Matthew and Mark.
Verse 7
[7] Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
Against the day of my burial — Which now draws nigh.
Verse 10
[10] But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
The chief priests consulted, how to kill Lazarus also — Here is the plain reason why the other evangelists, who wrote while Lazarus was living, did not relate his story.
Isaiah 42:1-9
Psalm 36:5-11
Hebrews 9:11-15
John 12:1-11
Scripture Texts:
Monday of Holy week
Isaiah 42:1 “Here is my servant, whom I support,
my chosen one, in whom I take pleasure.
I have put my Spirit on him;
he will bring justice to the Goyim.
2 He will not cry or shout;
no one will hear his voice in the streets.
3 He will not snap off a broken reed
or snuff out a smoldering wick.
He will bring forth justice according to truth;
4 he will not weaken or be crushed
until he has established justice on the earth,
and the coastlands wait for his Torah.”
5 Thus says God, Adonai,
who created the heavens and spread them out,
who stretched out the earth and all that grows from it,
who gives breath to the people on it
and spirit to those who walk on it:
6 “I, Adonai, called you righteously,
I took hold of you by the hand,
I shaped you and made you a covenant for the people,
to be a light for the Goyim,
7 so that you can open blind eyes,
free the prisoners from confinement,
those living in darkness from the dungeon.
8 I am Adonai; that is my name.
I yield my glory to no one else,
nor my praise to any idol.
9 See how the former predictions come true;
and now new things do I declare —
before they sprout I tell you about them.”
Psalm 36:5 (4) He devises trouble as he lies in bed;
so set is he on his own bad way
that he doesn’t hate evil.
6 (5) Adonai, in the heavens is your grace;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
7 (6) Your righteousness is like the mountains of God,
your judgments are like the great deep.
You save man and beast, Adonai.
8 (7) How precious, God, is your grace!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings,
9 (8) they feast on the rich bounty of your house,
and you have them drink from the stream of your delights.
10 (9) For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.
11 (10) Continue your grace to those who know you
and your righteousness to the upright in heart.
Hebrews 9:11 But when the Messiah appeared as cohen gadol of the good things that are happening already, then, through the greater and more perfect Tent which is not man-made (that is, it is not of this created world), 12 he entered the Holiest Place once and for all.
And he entered not by means of the blood of goats and calves, but by means of his own blood, thus setting people free forever. 13 For if sprinkling ceremonially unclean persons with the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer restores their outward purity; 14 then how much more the blood of the Messiah, who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself to God as a sacrifice without blemish, will purify our conscience from works that lead to death, so that we can serve the living God!
15 It is because of this death that he is mediator of a new covenant [or will].[a] Because a death has occurred which sets people free from the transgressions committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.[Footnotes:
Hebrews 9:15 Jeremiah 31:30(31)]
John 12:1 Six days before Pesach, Yeshua came to Beit-Anyah, where El‘azar lived, the man Yeshua had raised from the dead; 2 so they gave a dinner there in his honor. Marta served the meal, and El‘azar was among those at the table with him. 3 Miryam took a whole pint of pure oil of spikenard, which is very expensive, poured it on Yeshua’s feet and wiped his feet with her hair, so that the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But one of the talmidim, Y’hudah from K’riot, the one who was about to betray him, said, 5 “This perfume is worth a year’s wages! Why wasn’t it sold and the money given to the poor?” 6 Now he said this not out of concern for the poor, but because he was a thief — he was in charge of the common purse and used to steal from it. 7 Yeshua said, “Leave her alone! She kept this for the day of my burial. 8 You always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
9 A large crowd of Judeans learned that he was there; and they came not only because of Yeshua, but also so that they could see El‘azar, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 The head cohanim then decided to do away with El‘azar too, 11 since it was because of him that large numbers of the Judeans were leaving their leaders and putting their trust in Yeshua.
John Wesley's Notes-Commentary for:
Isaiah 42:1-9
Verse 1
[1] Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
Behold — The prophet having given one eminent instance of God's certain fore-knowledge, in the deliverance of the Jews by Cyrus, now adds another more eminent example of it, by foretelling the coming of the Messiah. This place therefore is expressly interpreted of Christ, Matthew 12:18, etc. And to him, and to him only, all the particulars following, truly and evidently belong.
Whom — Whom I will enable to do and suffer all those things which belong to his office.
Elect — Chosen by me to this great work.
Delighteth — Both for himself and for all his people, being fully satisfied with that sacrifice, which he shall offer up to me.
Bring forth — Shall publish or shew, as this word is translated, Matthew 12:18.
Judgment — The law, and will, and counsel of God, concerning man's salvation.
Gentiles — Not only to the Jews, but to the Heathen nations.
Verse 2
[2] He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
Cry — In a way of contention, or ostentation.
Lift — His voice.
Heard — As contentious and vain-glorious persons frequently do.
Verse 3
[3] A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
Break — Christ will not deal rigorously with those that come to him, but he will use all gentleness, cherishing the smallest beginnings of grace, comforting and healing wounded consciences.
Quench — That wick of a candle which is almost extinct, he will not quench, but revive and kindle it again.
Judgment — The law of God, or the doctrine of the gospel, which he will bring forth, unto, with, or according to truth, that is, truly and faithfully.
Verse 4
[4] He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
'Till — 'Till he has established his law or doctrine, among the nations of the earth.
Isles — The countries remote from Judea, shall gladly receive his doctrine.
Verse 5
[5] Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
He — This description of God's infinite power, is seasonably added, to give them assurance of the certain accomplishment of his promises.
Verse 6
[6] I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
Called thee — To declare my righteousness, or faithfulness.
With-hold — Will give thee counsel and strength for the work.
Give thee — To be the mediator in whom my covenant of grace is confirmed with mankind.
The people — Of all people, not only of Jews but Gentiles.
A light — To enlighten them with true and saving knowledge.
Verse 8
[8] I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
The Lord — Heb. Jehovah: who have all being in and of myself, and give being to all my creatures. The everlasting, and unchangeable, and omnipotent God, who therefore both can, and will fulfil all my promises.
Verse 9
[9] Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
I tell you — That when they come to pass, you may know that I am God, and that this is my work.
Psalm 36:5-11
Verse 5
[5] Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
Thy mercy — Mine enemies are cruel and perfidious, but thou art infinite in mercy, and faithfulness.
Heavens — Is infinite and incomprehensible.
Faithfulness — The truth both of thy threatenings against thine enemies, and of thy promises made to good men.
The clouds — Is far above our reach, greater and higher than we can apprehend.
Verse 6
[6] Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.
Mountains — Stedfast and unmoveable: eminent and conspicuous to all men.
Judgments — The executions of thy counsels.
Deep — Unsearchable, as the ocean.
Man — The worst of men; yea, the brute-beasts have experience of thy care and kindness.
Verse 7
[7] How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
Loving-kindness — Though all thine attributes be excellent, yet, above all, thy mercy is most excellent, or precious and amiable.
Verse 8
[8] They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
Satisfied — Who trust in thee, as he now said.
Fatness — With those delightful provisions, which thou hast prepared for them in heaven.
The river — Which denotes both their plenty, and their perpetuity.
Verse 9
[9] For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
Life — It is in God as in a fountain, and from him is derived to us.
But — Of that glorious and blessed, and endless life, which alone is worthy of the name.
Light — In the light of thy glorious presence, which shall be fully manifested, when we see thee face to face.
Light — Joy and comfort, and happiness: the word light is elegantly repeated in another signification; in the former clause it is light discovering, in this light, discovered or enjoyed.
Verse 11
[11] Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.
The foot — Of my proud and insolent enemies.
Come — So as to overthrow me.
Hebrews 9:11-15
Verse 11
[11] But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
An high priest of good things to come — Described, Hebrews 9:15. Entered through a greater, that is, a more noble, and perfect tabernacle - Namely, his own body.
Not of this creation — Not framed by man, as that tabernacle was.
Verse 12
[12] Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
The holy place — Heaven.
For us — All that believe.
Verse 13
[13] For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
If the ashes of an heifer — Consumed by fire as a sin-offering, being sprinkled on them who were legally unclean.
Purified the flesh — Removed that legal uncleanness, and re-admitted them to the temple and the congregation. Numbers 19:17,18,19.
Verse 14
[14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
How much more shall the blood of Christ. — The merit of all his sufferings.
Who through the eternal Spirit — The work of redemption being the work of the whole Trinity. Neither is the Second Person alone concerned even in the amazing condescension that was needful to complete it. The Father delivers up the kingdom to the Son; and the Holy Ghost becomes the gift of the Messiah, being, as it were, sent according to his good pleasure.
Offered himself — Infinitely more precious than any created victim, and that without spot to God.
Purge our conscience — Our inmost soul.
From dead works — From all the inward and outward works of the devil, which spring from spiritual death in the soul, and lead to death everlasting.
To serve the living God — In the life of faith, in perfect love and spotless holiness.
Verse 15
[15] And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
And for this end he is the Mediator of a new covenant, that they who are called — To the engagements and benefits thereof. Might receive the eternal inheritance promised to Abraham: not by means of legal sacrifices, but of his meritorious death.
For the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant — That is, for the redemption of transgressors from the guilt and punishment of those sins which were committed in the time of the old covenant. The article of his death properly divides the old covenant from the new.
John 12:1-11
Verse 2
[2] There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
It seems Martha was a person of some figure, from the great respect which was paid to her and her sister, in visits and condolences on Lazarus's death, as well as from the costly ointment mentioned in the next verse. And probably it was at their house our Lord and his disciples lodged, when he returned from Jerusalem to Bethany, every evening of the last week of his life, upon which he was now entered.
Verse 3
[3] Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
Then Mary, taking a pound of ointment — There were two persons who poured ointment on Christ. One toward the beginning of his ministry, at or near Nain, Luke 7:37, etc. The other six days before his last passover, at Bethany; the account of whom is given here, as well as by St. Matthew and Mark.
Verse 7
[7] Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
Against the day of my burial — Which now draws nigh.
Verse 10
[10] But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
The chief priests consulted, how to kill Lazarus also — Here is the plain reason why the other evangelists, who wrote while Lazarus was living, did not relate his story.
The Upper Room Daily Devotional Nashville, Tennessee, United States “Not a Hummingbird?" for Monday, 30 March 2015 - Scripture: Psalm 139:13 For you fashioned my inmost being,you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I thank you because I am awesomely made,
wonderfully; your works are wonders —
I know this very well.
15 My bones were not hidden from you
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes could see me as an embryo,
but in your book all my days were already written;
my days had been shaped
before any of them existed.
Romans 12:3 For I am telling every single one of you, through the grace that has been given to me, not to have exaggerated ideas about your own importance. Instead, develop a sober estimate of yourself based on the standard which God has given to each of you, namely, trust. 4 For just as there are many parts that compose one body, but the parts don’t all have the same function; 5 so there are many of us, and in union with the Messiah we comprise one body, with each of us belonging to the others. 6 But we have gifts that differ and which are meant to be used according to the grace that has been given to us. If your gift is prophecy, use it to the extent of your trust; 7 if it is serving, use it to serve; if you are a teacher, use your gift in teaching; 8 if you are a counselor, use your gift to comfort and exhort; if you are someone who gives, do it simply and generously; if you are in a position of leadership, lead with diligence and zeal; if you are one who does acts of mercy, do them cheerfully.
The psalmist wrote, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.[Psalm 139:14 (NIV)]
A beautiful purple finch was trying desperately to drink from our hummingbird feeder. Watching it furiously flap its wings in an attempt to maintain an airborne drinking position, I said, “Don’t you know you’re not a hummingbird?” Eventually the finch hurried to secure footing on a nearby tree branch. It seemed to have realized that it could not hover like a hummingbird.
Observing this finch caused me to ask myself, “How often do I attempt to be, or wish to be, something or somebody I am not?” No matter how much I have wished I had the wood-crafting talent of my two brothers or my wife’s ability to play the piano by ear, I have come to realize that these abilities are not mine. That is not the way my Creator put me together. But God has given me some talents that neither my brothers nor my wife have. In divine wisdom and grace, God made us each different.
Realizing that God has created each of us as unique individuals, we can confidently live as the people God created us to be. This means we can celebrate our personal uniqueness and search for special ways that we may effectively share that uniqueness with family, community, and church. Such celebrating and sharing can be a tangible way for us to praise and thank God for creating us the way we are.
Read more from the author, here."Milestone"
God willing, I will celebrate my 77th birthday in less than two months.
Approaching this milestone in my life provides yet another opportunity for me to give thanks to God for his provisions.
After more than 50 years serving in church music ministry, God continues to give new assignments for service. It has been my delight to transcend denominational boundaries as a church musician. My wife, Jean, and I have been blessed to serve in churches of six denominations, in eight states and Canada. We jokingly call ourselves "Lubapmethoterians." I currently serve as director of choirs at Crown of Life Lutheran Church in Sun City West, Arizona and Jean sings in the choirs.
Some 40 years ago I tried my hand at writing. Along with myriad "rejections" over 400 of my pieces have been published. God enabled and has blessed this additional ministry. Having a devotional published inThe Upper Room, (with over two million readers in over 100 countries) is a highlight in my writing ministry.
God has also blessed us with two sons, two daughters-in-law and two grandchildren who, with their personal uniqueness find meaningful avenues of Christian ministry.
Approaching my 77th birthday, I continue to make this Charles Wesley hymn stanza (from the hymn "A Charge to Keep I Have") my prayer:
"To serve the present age, My calling to fulfill;
O may it all my powers engage To do my Master's will."
It is also my prayer that each of us will celebrate our God-given uniqueness, using that uniqueness to make a positive difference in the lives of others. What are some of your unique opportunities?[Roger Wayne HicksThe Author: Roger Wayne Hicks (Arizona, USA)]
Thought for the Day: Our uniqueness is a living example of God’s boundless grace.
Prayer: Marvelous Creator, help us to celebrate our uniqueness and to use it to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Amen.
Prayer focus: Those Seeking A Way To Serve
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Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church
9440 E Boston, Suite 160
Wichita KS 67207
316-686-0600
800-745-2350
info@greatplainsumc.org
Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church
9440 E Boston, Suite 160
Wichita KS 67207
316-686-0600
800-745-2350
info@greatplainsumc.org
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