Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from Wordaction of The Global Church of the Nazarene Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States "Search and Worship" by Darlene Harvey for Monday, 19December 2016 with Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12
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"Search and Worship" by Darlene Harvey
Matthew 2:1 After Yeshua was born in Beit-Lechem in the land of Y’hudah during the time when Herod was king, Magi from the east came to Yerushalayim 2 and asked, “Where is the newborn King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard of this he became very agitated, and so did everyone else in Yerushalayim. 4 He called together all the head cohanim and Torah-teachers of the people and asked them, “Where will the Messiah be born?” 5 “In Beit-Lechem of Y’hudah,” they replied, “because the prophet wrote,
6 ‘And you, Beit-Lechem in the land of Y’hudah,
are by no means the least among the rulers of Y’hudah;
for from you will come a Ruler
who will shepherd my people Isra’el.’”[Matthew 2:6 Micah 5:1(2)]
7 Herod summoned the Magi to meet with him privately and asked them exactly when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Beit-Lechem with these instructions: “Search carefully for the child; and when you find him, let me know, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had listened to the king, they went away; and the star which they had seen in the east went in front of them until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 Upon entering the house, they saw the child with his mother Miryam; and they prostrated themselves and worshipped him. Then they opened their bags and presented him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 But they had been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, so they took another route back to their own country.
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In Matthew 2, King Herod felt threatened; he did not want to share his throne with the true Messiah. The magi came to Jerusalem because they assumed that Jesus would be born in a palace. They continued actively searching for Jesus for the purpose of worship–even when it meant going to a small town to find Him–not in a palace, but in a humble situation.
As we go through our day, are we actively seeking to find Jesus? Or, do we only go to worship Him at church on Sunday, the expected place to find Him? Do we persevere enough to search for Jesus in any situation, even though it might not seem fitting or make sense?
Maybe you are struggling with a relationship, finances, or health issues. You could be trying to find Jesus in the midst of the chaos. Be diligent, just like the magi; don’t give up searching for Him in your situation. When you find Him, remember, just like the magi, bow down to Him, give Him your heart of worship, and know that He is the true King-your healer, your strength, provider, your comforter, your savior, and prince of peace.
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Hymn for Today: "O Come, All Ye Faithful," Latin Hymn, attributed to John F. Wade, translated Frederick Oakeley, and others.
1. O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come and behold him, born the King of angels;
Refrain:
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!
2. God of God, Light of Light eternal,
lo, he abhors not the virgin’s womb;
Son of the Father, begotten, not created;
Refrain:
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!
3. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
sing, all ye citizens of heaven above:
“Glory to God, all glory in the highest!”
Refrain:
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!
4. Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be all glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;
Refrain:
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!-------
Thought for Today: Revelation 15:4 Adonai, who will not fear and glorify your name?
because you alone are holy.
All nations will come and worship before you,
for your righteous deeds have been revealed.”
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Please Pray: For many people in Germany will come to know Yeshua the Messiah and receive the fullness of the Ruach HaKpdesh.
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Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from Wordaction of The Global Church of the Nazarene Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States "Sign Up Here for Rewards" by Pat Kissell for Sunday, 18 December 2016 with Scripture: Psalm 19:7-14
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"Sign Up Here for Rewards" by Pat Kissell
Psalm 19:7 (6) It rises at one side of the sky,
circles around to the other side,
and nothing escapes its heat.
8 (7) The Torah of Adonai is perfect,
restoring the inner person.
The instruction of Adonai is sure,
making wise the thoughtless.
9 (8) The precepts of Adonai are right,
rejoicing the heart.
The mitzvah of Adonai is pure,
enlightening the eyes.
10 (9) The fear of Adonai is clean,
enduring forever.
The rulings of Adonai are true,
they are righteous altogether,
11 (10) more desirable than gold,
than much fine gold,
also sweeter than honey
or drippings from the honeycomb.
12 (11) Through them your servant is warned;
in obeying them there is great reward.
13 (12) Who can discern unintentional sins?
Cleanse me from hidden faults.
14 (13) Also keep your servant from presumptuous sins,
so that they won’t control me.
Then I will be blameless
and free of great offense.
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Who doesn’t like a reward, be it free tickets, free air miles, or free gasoline? My Labrador retriever, Honeybunn, expects a reward every morning when she brings in the paper. Psalm 19:11 is a win-win with great reward: Follow the rules and you get the reward. The earlier verses, 7 through 10, show the moral effect of the Torah–the Law–while verses 11 through 13 describe the personal desire for a life free from sin.*
I liken these verses to road signs that give warnings: The Stop sign, or the No U-Turn, or the dreaded Detour Ahead and Road Closed. These are more than suggestions. The sign Fines Double in a Construction Zone, is great motivation for keeping the speed limit.
The laws, statutes, precepts, commands, and decrees of the Lord are our road signs. Here are the rewards: They refresh the soul, makes us wise, give joy to the heart, and light to our eyes.
And, oh yes, what is the quality of thee decrees? They are perfect, trustworthy, and radiant, enduring forever, as well as firm and righteous. You cannot do better than pure gold, and what is sweeter than honey?
Suggested reading: David's Psalm 103 for Additional benefits/rewards.
Psalm 103:(0) By David:
(1) Bless Adonai, my soul!
Everything in me, bless his holy name!
2 Bless Adonai, my soul,
and forget none of his benefits!
3 He forgives all your offenses,
he heals all your diseases,
4 he redeems your life from the pit,
he surrounds you with grace and compassion,
5 he contents you with good as long as you live,
so that your youth is renewed like an eagle’s.
6 Adonai brings vindication and justice
to all who are oppressed.
7 He made his ways known to Moshe,
his mighty deeds to the people of Isra’el.
8 Adonai is merciful and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in grace.
9 He will not always accuse,
he will not keep his anger forever.
10 He has not treated us as our sins deserve
or paid us back for our offenses,
11 because his mercy toward those who fear him
is as far above earth as heaven.
12 He has removed our sins from us
as far as the east is from the west.
13 Just as a father has compassion on his children,
Adonai has compassion on those who fear him.
14 For he understands how we are made,
he remembers that we are dust.
15 Yes, a human being’s days are like grass,
he sprouts like a flower in the countryside —
16 but when the wind sweeps over, it’s gone;
and its place knows it no more.
17 But the mercy of Adonai on those who fear him
is from eternity past to eternity future,
and his righteousness extends
to his children’s children,
18 provided they keep his covenant
and remember to follow his precepts.
19 Adonai has established his throne in heaven;
his kingly power rules everything.
20 Bless Adonai, you angels of his,
you mighty warriors who obey his word,
who carry out his orders!
21 Bless Adonai, all his troops,
who serve him and do what he wants!
22 Bless Adonai, all his works,
in every place where he rules!
Bless Adonai, my soul!
*D. Guthrie and J.A. Moyer, The New Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, revised 1978), 462-463.
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Hymn for Today: "Break Thou the Bread of Life" by Mary A. Lathbury
1. Break now the bread of life, dear Lord, to me,
as once you broke the loaves beside the sea.
Beyond the sacred page I seek you, Lord;
my spirit waits for you, O living Word.
2. Bless your own word of truth, dear Lord, to me,
as when you blessed the bread by Galilee.
Then shall all bondage cease, all fetters fall;
and I shall find my peace, my All in all!
3. You are the bread of life, dear Lord, to me,
your holy word the truth that rescues me.
Give me to eat and live with you above;
teach me to love your truth, for you are love.
4. O send your Spirit now, dear Lord, to me,
that he may touch my eyes and make me see.
Show me the truth made plain within your Word,
for in your book revealed I see you, Lord.
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Thought for Today: Proverbs 13:13 He who despises a word will suffer for it,
but he who respects a command will be rewarded.
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Please Pray: For the development of Christian leaders in France.
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