CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER is resting silently in the loving arms of God. No words are needed to express this love. A mother may gently sing or speak to her baby, but she spends hours in silence simply holding the child who is content to be cradled in the mother’s arms. At times hunger or irritation gets expressed in a cry. But for many hours there is a silent communication of trust and intimacy.
In Christian spirituality the word contemplation denotes quiet awareness of God. This consciousness goes deeper than words or thoughts can express, a quiet rest in God. Contemplation implies rapt attention to God, enfolded in God’s loving embrace. Meditation in Christian tradition implies thinking about something, reflecting on its meaning. Contemplation expresses a deeper awareness beyond words, an intimate presence. We get a foretaste of heaven where we are “lost in wonder, love, and praise.”[J. David Muyskens, Forty Days to a Closer Walk with God]
From pages 44-45 of Forty Days to a Closer Walk with God: The Practice of Centering Prayer by J. David Muyskens. Copyright © 2006 by J. David Muyskens. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question:
As you end your prayer time today, spend some time in contemplative prayer.
Today’s Scripture:
My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.[Psalm 22:15, NRSV]
This Week: pray for those who lack clean water.
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Did You Know?:
In need of prayer? The Upper Room Living Prayer Center is a 7-day-a-week intercessory prayer ministry staffed by trained volunteers, call 1-800-251-2468 or visit The Living Prayer Center web site.
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In Christian spirituality the word contemplation denotes quiet awareness of God. This consciousness goes deeper than words or thoughts can express, a quiet rest in God. Contemplation implies rapt attention to God, enfolded in God’s loving embrace. Meditation in Christian tradition implies thinking about something, reflecting on its meaning. Contemplation expresses a deeper awareness beyond words, an intimate presence. We get a foretaste of heaven where we are “lost in wonder, love, and praise.”[J. David Muyskens, Forty Days to a Closer Walk with God]
From pages 44-45 of Forty Days to a Closer Walk with God: The Practice of Centering Prayer by J. David Muyskens. Copyright © 2006 by J. David Muyskens. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question:
As you end your prayer time today, spend some time in contemplative prayer.
Today’s Scripture:
My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.[Psalm 22:15, NRSV]
This Week: pray for those who lack clean water.
____________________________
Did You Know?:
In need of prayer? The Upper Room Living Prayer Center is a 7-day-a-week intercessory prayer ministry staffed by trained volunteers, call 1-800-251-2468 or visit The Living Prayer Center web site.
____________________________
Saints, Inc.:
This week we remember: John Woolman (October 7).
This week we remember: John Woolman (October 7).
John Woolman
October 07
John Woolman (1720-1772), Quaker and abolitionist. Born in Northampton, Burlington County, West Jersey (now New Jersey), of devout Quaker parents, Woolman became acquainted early with the operations of divine love. A serious youth, he developed a conviction that cruelty toward any living creature is inconsistent with the claiming of a love for God. Employed at age twenty-one by a merchant in Mount Holly, he quickly found his creed put to the test when he overrode his conscience to write a bill of sale for a black woman slave owned by his master. At twenty-six he began traveling the American colonies to strengthen various Meetings as a "minister" in the Religious Society of Friends. On the very first of these missions he witnessed the evils of slavery. From that time until his death from smallpox in England, he spent about one month a year traversing the colonies to plead with Quakers to free their slaves.
Woolman gave up a prosperous merchandising business to learn a tailor's trade lest daily demands encumber him and prevent him from doing God's leading. Little by little, he perceived that injustices such as slavery did not result from intentional hurt but from insensitivity to the impact of our desire for comfort and convenience on others' lives. The answer, therefore, begins with love. If we live by agape love, we cannot overlook the hurt we bring, however indirectly, to others. Woolman recognized that looking at such large problems as slavery may cause us to throw up our hands in despair and do nothing in response. Believing that small efforts matter, however, he acted out of the confidence that God would use any good effort. He did not live to see the end of slavery even among Quakers, but largely because of his efforts, by 1787 no American Quaker owned a slave.
Woolman's Journal, the primary source for his life and thought, is available in a variety of editions.
If John Woolman had taken the Spiritual Types Test he probably would have been a Prophet. John Woolman is remembered on October 7.
[Excerpted with permission from the entry on John Woolman by E. Glenn Hinson, from The Upper Room Dictionary of Christian Spiritual Formation, edited by Keith Beasley-Topliffe. Copyright © 2003 by Upper Room Books®. All rights reserved.]
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Lectionary Readings:
Sunday, 13 October 2015
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Job 23:1-9, 16-17
Psalm 22:1-15
Hebrews 4:12-16
Mark 10:17-31
Lectionary Readings:
Sunday, 13 October 2015
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Job 23:1-9, 16-17
Psalm 22:1-15
Hebrews 4:12-16
Mark 10:17-31
Lectionary Texts:Job 23:1 Then Iyov answered:
[2] Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
To-day — Even at this time, notwithstanding all your pretended consolations.
Stroke — The hand or stroke of God upon me.
Groaning — Doth exceed my complaints.
Verse 3
[3] Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!
O — I desire nothing more than his acquaintance and presence; but alas, he hides his face from me.
Seat — To his throne or judgment-seat to plead my cause before him.
Verse 5
[5] I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.
Know — If he should discover to me any secret sins, for which he contendeth with me, I would humble myself before him, and accept of the punishment of mine iniquity.
Verse 6
[6] Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.
No — He would not use his power against me, but for me; by enabling me to plead my cause, and giving sentence according to that clemency, which he uses towards his children.
Verse 7
[7] There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
There — At that throne of grace, where God lays aside his majesty, and judges according to his wonted clemency.
Dispute — Humbly propounding the grounds of their confidence.
So — Upon such a fair and equal hearing.
Delivered — From the damnatory sentence of God. This and some such expressions of Job cannot be excused from irreverence towards God, for which God afterwards reproves him, and Job abhorreth himself.
Verse 8
[8] Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:
Is not — As a judge to hear and determine my causes, otherwise he knew God was essentially present in all places.
2 “Today too my complaint is bitter;
my hand is weighed down because of my groaning.
3 I wish I knew where I could find him;
then I would go to where he is.
4 I would state my case before him
and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would know his answering words
and grasp what he would tell me.
6 Would he browbeat me with his great power?
No, he would pay attention to me.
7 There an upright person could reason with him;
thus I might be forever acquitted by my judge.
8 “If I head east, he isn’t there;
if I head west, I don’t detect him,
9 if I turn north, I don’t spot him;
in the south he is veiled, and I still don’t see him.
16 God has undermined my courage;
Shaddai frightens me.
17 Yet I am not cut off by the darkness;
he has protected me from the deepest gloom.
Psalm 22:(0) For the leader. Set to “Sunrise.” A psalm of David:
2 (1) My God! My God!
Why have you abandoned me?
Why so far from helping me,
so far from my anguished cries?
3 (2) My God, by day I call to you,
but you don’t answer;
likewise at night,
but I get no relief.
4 (3) Nevertheless, you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Isra’el.
5 (4) In you our ancestors put their trust;
they trusted, and you rescued them.
6 (5) They cried to you and escaped;
they trusted in you and were not disappointed.
7 (6) But I am a worm, not a man,
scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
8 (7) All who see me jeer at me;
they sneer and shake their heads:
9 (8) “He committed himself to Adonai,
so let him rescue him!
Let him set him free
if he takes such delight in him!”
10 (9) But you are the one who took me from the womb,
you made me trust when I was on my mother’s breasts.
11 (10) Since my birth I’ve been thrown on you;
you are my God from my mother’s womb.
12 (11) Don’t stay far from me, for trouble is near;
and there is no one to help.
13 (12) Many bulls surround me,
wild bulls of Bashan close in on me.
14 (13) They open their mouths wide against me,
like ravening, roaring lions.
15 (14) I am poured out like water;
all my bones are out of joint;
my heart has become like wax —
it melts inside me;
Hebrews 4:12 See, the Word of God is alive! It is at work and is sharper than any double-edged sword — it cuts right through to where soul meets spirit and joints meet marrow, and it is quick to judge the inner reflections and attitudes of the heart. 13 Before God, nothing created is hidden, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.
14 Therefore, since we have a great cohen gadol who has passed through to the highest heaven, Yeshua, the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we acknowledge as true. 15 For we do not have a cohen gadol unable to empathize with our weaknesses; since in every respect he was tempted just as we are, the only difference being that he did not sin. 16 Therefore, let us confidently approach the throne from which God gives grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace in our time of need.
Mark 10:17 As he was starting on his way, a man ran up, kneeled down in front of him and asked, “Good rabbi, what should I do to obtain eternal life?” 18 Yeshua said to him, “Why are you calling me good? No one is good except God! 19 You know the mitzvot — ‘Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t give false testimony, don’t defraud, honor your father and mother, . . .’”[Mark 10:19 Exodus 20:12–13(16); Deuteronomy 5:16–17(20)] 20 “Rabbi,” he said, “I have kept all these since I was a boy.” 21 Yeshua, looking at him, felt love for him and said to him, “You’re missing one thing. Go, sell whatever you own, give to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me!” 22 Shocked by this word, he went away sad; because he was a wealthy man.
23 Yeshua looked around and said to his talmidim, “How hard it is going to be for people with wealth to enter the Kingdom of God!” 24 The talmidim were astounded at these words; but Yeshua said to them again, “My friends, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God! 25 It’s easier for a camel to pass through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.” 26 They were utterly amazed and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Yeshua looked at them and said, “Humanly, it is impossible, but not with God; with God, everything is possible.” 28 Kefa began saying to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 Yeshua said, “Yes! I tell you that there is no one who has left house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, 30 who will not receive a hundred times over, now, in the ‘olam hazeh, homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and lands — with persecutions! — and in the ‘olam haba, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first!”
John Wesley's Notes-Commentary for Job 23:1-9
Verse 2[2] Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
To-day — Even at this time, notwithstanding all your pretended consolations.
Stroke — The hand or stroke of God upon me.
Groaning — Doth exceed my complaints.
Verse 3
[3] Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!
O — I desire nothing more than his acquaintance and presence; but alas, he hides his face from me.
Seat — To his throne or judgment-seat to plead my cause before him.
Verse 5
[5] I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.
Know — If he should discover to me any secret sins, for which he contendeth with me, I would humble myself before him, and accept of the punishment of mine iniquity.
Verse 6
[6] Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.
No — He would not use his power against me, but for me; by enabling me to plead my cause, and giving sentence according to that clemency, which he uses towards his children.
Verse 7
[7] There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
There — At that throne of grace, where God lays aside his majesty, and judges according to his wonted clemency.
Dispute — Humbly propounding the grounds of their confidence.
So — Upon such a fair and equal hearing.
Delivered — From the damnatory sentence of God. This and some such expressions of Job cannot be excused from irreverence towards God, for which God afterwards reproves him, and Job abhorreth himself.
Verse 8
[8] Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:
Is not — As a judge to hear and determine my causes, otherwise he knew God was essentially present in all places.
16-17
Verse 16
[16] For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:
Soft — He hath bruised, and broken, or melted it, so that I have no spirit in me.
Verse 17
[17] Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.
Because — God did not cut me off by death.
Before — These miseries came upon me.
Covered — By hiding me in the grave.
[1] My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
My God — Who art my friend and father, though now thou frownest upon me. The repetition denotes, the depth of his distress, which made him cry so earnestly.
Forsaken — Withdrawn the light of thy countenance, the supports and comforts of thy spirit, and filled me with the terrors of thy wrath: this was in part verified in David, but much more fully in Christ.
Roaring — My out-cries forced from me, by my miseries.
Verse 3
[3] But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
But thou art — Just and true in all thy ways, this he adds to strengthen his faith, and to enforce his prayers, and prevail with God for the honour of his holy name, to hear and help him.
Inhabitest — Whom thy people are perpetually praising.
Verse 6
[6] But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
A worm — Neglected and despised.
People — Not only of the great men, but also of the common people. Which doth not so truly agree to David as to Christ.
Verse 7
[7] All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
Shoot out — They gape with their mouths, in mockery. This and the next verse are applied to Christ, Matthew 27:39,43.
Verse 12
[12] Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
Bulls — Wicked and violent, and potent enemies; for such are so called, Ezekiel 39:18; Amos 4:1.
Of Bashan — As the cattle there bred were, and therefore fierce and furious.
Verse 14
[14] I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
Water — My spirits are spent and gone like water which once spilt can never be recovered; my very flesh is melted within me, and I am become as weak as water.
Bones — I am as unable to help myself, and as full of torment, as if all my bones were disjointed.
Wax — Melted, through fear and overwhelming grief.
Verse 15
[15] My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
Dried — I have in a manner no more moisture left in me, than is in a dry potsherd.
Cleaveth — Through excessive thirst and drought.
Death — Thy providence, delivering me into the power of mine enemies, and by thy terrors in my soul.
[12] For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
For the word of God — Preached, Hebrews 4:2, and armed with threatenings, Hebrews 4:3.
Is living and powerful — Attended with the power of the living God, and conveying either life or death to the hearers.
Sharper than any two-edged sword — Penetrating the heart more than this does the body.
Piercing — Quite through, and laying open.
The soul and spirit, joints and marrow — The inmost recesses of the mind, which the apostle beautifully and strongly expresses by this heap of figurative words.
And is a discerner — Not only of the thoughts, but also of the intentions.
Verse 13
[13] Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
In his sight — It is God whose word is thus "powerful:" it is God in whose sight every creature is manifest; and of this his word, working on the conscience, gives the fullest conviction.
But all things are naked and opened — Plainly alluding to the sacrifices under the law which were first flayed, and then (as the Greek word literally means) cleft asunder through the neck and backbone; so that everything both without and within was exposed to open view.
Verse 14
[14] Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Having therefore a great high priest — Great indeed, being the eternal Son of God, that is passed through the heavens - As the Jewish high priest passed through the veil into the holy of holies, carrying with him the blood of the sacrifices, on the yearly day of atonement; so our great high priest went once for all through the visible heavens, with the virtue of his own blood, into the immediate presence God.
Verse 15
[15] For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
He sympathizes with us even in our innocent infirmities, wants, weaknesses, miseries, dangers.
Yet without sin — And, therefore, is indisputably able to preserve us from it in all our temptations.
Verse 16
[16] Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Let us therefore come boldly — Without any doubt or fear. Unto the throne of God, our reconciled Father, even his throne of grace - Grace erected it, and reigns there, and dispenses all blessings in a way of mere, unmerited favour.
[17] And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
Matthew 19:16; Luke 18:18.
Verse 20
[20] And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
He answering, said to him, Master — He stands reproved now, and drops the epithet good.
Verse 21
[21] Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
Jesus looking upon him — And looking into his heart, loved him - Doubtless for the dawnings of good which he saw in him: and said to him - Out of tender love, One thing thou lackest - The love of God, without which all religion is a dead carcass. In order to this, throw away what is to thee the grand hinderance of it. Give up thy great idol, riches. Go, sell whatsoever thou hast.
Verse 24
[24] And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
Jesus saith to them, Children — See how he softens the harsh truth, by the manner of delivering it! And yet without retracting or abating one tittle: How hard is it for them that trust in riches - Either for defence, or happiness, or deliverance from the thousand dangers that life is continually exposed to. That these cannot enter into God's glorious kingdom, is clear and undeniable: but it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a man to have riches, and not trust in them. Therefore, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom.
Verse 28
[28] Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
Lo, we have left all — Though the young man would not.
Verse 30
[30] But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
He shall receive a hundred fold, houses, … — Not in the same kind: for it will generally be with persecutions: but in value: a hundred fold more happiness than any or all of these did or could afford. But let it be observed, none is entitled to this happiness, but he that will accept it with persecutions.
[16] For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:
Soft — He hath bruised, and broken, or melted it, so that I have no spirit in me.
Verse 17
[17] Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.
Because — God did not cut me off by death.
Before — These miseries came upon me.
Covered — By hiding me in the grave.
Psalm 22:1-15
Verse 1[1] My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
My God — Who art my friend and father, though now thou frownest upon me. The repetition denotes, the depth of his distress, which made him cry so earnestly.
Forsaken — Withdrawn the light of thy countenance, the supports and comforts of thy spirit, and filled me with the terrors of thy wrath: this was in part verified in David, but much more fully in Christ.
Roaring — My out-cries forced from me, by my miseries.
Verse 3
[3] But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
But thou art — Just and true in all thy ways, this he adds to strengthen his faith, and to enforce his prayers, and prevail with God for the honour of his holy name, to hear and help him.
Inhabitest — Whom thy people are perpetually praising.
Verse 6
[6] But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
A worm — Neglected and despised.
People — Not only of the great men, but also of the common people. Which doth not so truly agree to David as to Christ.
Verse 7
[7] All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
Shoot out — They gape with their mouths, in mockery. This and the next verse are applied to Christ, Matthew 27:39,43.
Verse 12
[12] Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
Bulls — Wicked and violent, and potent enemies; for such are so called, Ezekiel 39:18; Amos 4:1.
Of Bashan — As the cattle there bred were, and therefore fierce and furious.
Verse 14
[14] I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
Water — My spirits are spent and gone like water which once spilt can never be recovered; my very flesh is melted within me, and I am become as weak as water.
Bones — I am as unable to help myself, and as full of torment, as if all my bones were disjointed.
Wax — Melted, through fear and overwhelming grief.
Verse 15
[15] My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
Dried — I have in a manner no more moisture left in me, than is in a dry potsherd.
Cleaveth — Through excessive thirst and drought.
Death — Thy providence, delivering me into the power of mine enemies, and by thy terrors in my soul.
Hebrews 4:12-16
Verse 12[12] For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
For the word of God — Preached, Hebrews 4:2, and armed with threatenings, Hebrews 4:3.
Is living and powerful — Attended with the power of the living God, and conveying either life or death to the hearers.
Sharper than any two-edged sword — Penetrating the heart more than this does the body.
Piercing — Quite through, and laying open.
The soul and spirit, joints and marrow — The inmost recesses of the mind, which the apostle beautifully and strongly expresses by this heap of figurative words.
And is a discerner — Not only of the thoughts, but also of the intentions.
Verse 13
[13] Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
In his sight — It is God whose word is thus "powerful:" it is God in whose sight every creature is manifest; and of this his word, working on the conscience, gives the fullest conviction.
But all things are naked and opened — Plainly alluding to the sacrifices under the law which were first flayed, and then (as the Greek word literally means) cleft asunder through the neck and backbone; so that everything both without and within was exposed to open view.
Verse 14
[14] Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Having therefore a great high priest — Great indeed, being the eternal Son of God, that is passed through the heavens - As the Jewish high priest passed through the veil into the holy of holies, carrying with him the blood of the sacrifices, on the yearly day of atonement; so our great high priest went once for all through the visible heavens, with the virtue of his own blood, into the immediate presence God.
Verse 15
[15] For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
He sympathizes with us even in our innocent infirmities, wants, weaknesses, miseries, dangers.
Yet without sin — And, therefore, is indisputably able to preserve us from it in all our temptations.
Verse 16
[16] Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Let us therefore come boldly — Without any doubt or fear. Unto the throne of God, our reconciled Father, even his throne of grace - Grace erected it, and reigns there, and dispenses all blessings in a way of mere, unmerited favour.
Mark 10:17-31
Verse 17[17] And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
Matthew 19:16; Luke 18:18.
Verse 20
[20] And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
He answering, said to him, Master — He stands reproved now, and drops the epithet good.
Verse 21
[21] Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
Jesus looking upon him — And looking into his heart, loved him - Doubtless for the dawnings of good which he saw in him: and said to him - Out of tender love, One thing thou lackest - The love of God, without which all religion is a dead carcass. In order to this, throw away what is to thee the grand hinderance of it. Give up thy great idol, riches. Go, sell whatsoever thou hast.
Verse 24
[24] And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
Jesus saith to them, Children — See how he softens the harsh truth, by the manner of delivering it! And yet without retracting or abating one tittle: How hard is it for them that trust in riches - Either for defence, or happiness, or deliverance from the thousand dangers that life is continually exposed to. That these cannot enter into God's glorious kingdom, is clear and undeniable: but it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a man to have riches, and not trust in them. Therefore, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom.
Verse 28
[28] Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
Lo, we have left all — Though the young man would not.
Verse 30
[30] But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
He shall receive a hundred fold, houses, … — Not in the same kind: for it will generally be with persecutions: but in value: a hundred fold more happiness than any or all of these did or could afford. But let it be observed, none is entitled to this happiness, but he that will accept it with persecutions.
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Upper Room Ministries
a ministry of Discipleship Ministries
PO Box 340004
Nashville, Tennessee 37203-0004, United States
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Sermon Story "Seeking The Presence of God" by Gary Lee Parker for Sunday, 13 October 2015 with Scripture: Job 23:1 Then Iyov answered:
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Sermon Story "Seeking The Presence of God" by Gary Lee Parker for Sunday, 13 October 2015 with Scripture: Job 23:1 Then Iyov answered:
2 “Today too my complaint is bitter;
my hand is weighed down because of my groaning.
3 I wish I knew where I could find him;
then I would go to where he is.
4 I would state my case before him
and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would know his answering words
and grasp what he would tell me.
6 Would he browbeat me with his great power?
No, he would pay attention to me.
7 There an upright person could reason with him;
thus I might be forever acquitted by my judge.
8 “If I head east, he isn’t there;
if I head west, I don’t detect him,
9 if I turn north, I don’t spot him;
in the south he is veiled, and I still don’t see him.
16 God has undermined my courage;
Shaddai frightens me.
17 Yet I am not cut off by the darkness;
he has protected me from the deepest gloom.
As we heard this passage of Scripture, we still struggle with whether or not this man Job really existed. Yer, we see this man's suffering as an example of The Messiah coming to redeem His creation through suffering and death. Job comes to the place where he did not listen to the people who tried to get him to confess His sins that he had not committed, but now comes to seek the Presence of God. He cries out that his own suffering of the loss of his children and wealth then his sickness yet he is calling out to God that he will be able to defend himself that he has not sinned. He says that the defense is not his own, but the defense is not his but God's own defense. He even speaks that though he is suffering, God has kept him from seeing the darkness or death of this life despite some asking him to curse God and die. Here he is in a similar state that Jesus found Himself except Jesus died on the cross as He cried out asking the Father why He has abandoned Him as is written in the Psalm 22 for today. Then, the rich young ruler coming to Jesus asking Him what he must do to gain eternal life responding that he has kept all the commandments perfectily. Yet, Jesus said to sell all he holds on to and give to the poor and come and follow Him. In Job's case, the temptation came with God's permission from Satan to see how Job's faith was in God or what God has blessed him with. Job cries out that God would come to him in His Presence as the Father did three days after Jesus died to resurrect Him up for all eternity. How do you understand Job's cry for an opportunityto defend himself in God's Presence? How do you feel when your suffering comes to more than you think you can bare? How do you respond to your suffering because of your faith? We come to realize that people who are differently abled suffer much yet many keep their faith in God. Yet the community and church do not see their suffering as beneficial to build up God's KIngdom on earth as it is in Heaven, but God says differently. We are reminded that when we give up all that in this life we will be given back as much as we gave up that comes with persecution. Will you take your suffering as a way to be drawn closer to God or will you desire to what to be given the opportunity to die without pain? Lord, Have mercy on us. We come to seek God's Mercy and Love to go through whatever we do as we take and eat the Body of Jesus and drink His Blood through the participation in the Holy Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. We come to receive singing the Hymn "Be Strong" by Ken Bible
1. Be strong and courageous and bold;
Be strong and courageous and bold.
Away with your fear, For God will be near.
Be strong and courageous and bold.
2. He's with you wherever you go;
He's with you wherever you go.
He's there by your side To help and to guide.
He's with you wherever you go.
3. So trust Him with all of your heart;
So trust Him with all of your heart.
Believe and obey Each hour of the day,
And trust Him with all of your heart.
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Gary Lee Parker
4147 Idaho Street, Apt. 1
San Diego, California 92104-1844, United States
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