Thursday, November 2, 2017

The Great Plains Daily Devotional of The United Methodist Church of Wichita, Kansas, United States from Sunday, 29 October 2017 through Saturday, 4 November 2017

The Great Plains Daily Devotional of The United Methodist Church of Wichita, Kansas, United States from Sunday, 29 October 2017 through Saturday, 4 November 2017
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The Great Plains Daily Devotional of The United Methodist Church of Wichita, Kansas, United States for Sunday, 29 October 2017
Today please be in prayer for

Counselor, Linwood Elementary, Wichita
Wichita East District

Asst. Prof. Wesleyan Theo. UMC Liaison, Seattle Pacific Uni. & Seminary
Wichita East District

Campus Minister, Southwestern College
Wichita East District
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The Great Plains Daily Devotional of The United Methodist Church of Wichita, Kansas, United States for Monday, 30 October 2017
Today please be in prayer for

Dir. of Faith Formation for Youth & Young Adults, Southwestern College
Wichita East District

General Secretary, General Board of Discipleship
Wichita East District

Alvo UMC
Prairie Home, NE UMC
Blue River District
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The Great Plains Daily Devotional of The United Methodist Church of Wichita, Kansas, United States for Tuesday, 31 October 2017
Today please be in prayer for

Beatrice Centenary UMC
Blue River District

Ceresco UMC
Ithaca UMC
Valparaiso UMC
Blue River District

Crete Grace UMC
Blue River District
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The Great Plains Daily Devotional of The United Methodist Church of Wichita, Kansas, United States for Wednesday, 1 November 2017
Today please be in prayer for

Arkansas City Grandview UMC
Mount Hope (Ark City) UMC
Wichita West District

Daykin UMC
DeWitt UMC
Plymouth Peace UMC
Swanton UMC
Blue River District

Daykin UMC
DeWitt UMC
Plymouth Peace UMC
Swanton UMC
Blue River District
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The Great Plains Daily Devotional of The United Methodist Church of Wichita, Kansas, United States for Thursday, 2 November 2017
Today please be in prayer for

Denton UMC-NE
Pleasant Dale UMC
Blue River District

Burr UMC
Douglas UMC-NE
Blue River District

Ellis UMC-NE,
Odell UMC
Blue River District
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The Great Plains Daily Devotional of The United Methodist Church of Wichita, Kansas, United States for Friday, 3 November 2017
Today please be in prayer for

Elmwood St Paul UMC
Blue River District

Endicott UMC
Fairbury First UMC
Blue River District

Dorchester UMC
Friend UMC
Blue River District
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The Great Plains Daily Devotional of The United Methodist Church of Wichita, Kansas, United States for Saturday, 4 November 2017
Today please be in prayer for
Hallam UMC
Martell UMC
Roca UMC
Blue River District
Eagle UMC
Lincoln Havelock UMC
Blue River District
Lincoln Aldersgate UMC
Blue River District
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Today's Devotional for Sunday, 29 October 2017
Matthew 13:31-35
Matthew 13:31 Yeshua put before them another parable. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed which a man takes and sows in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it grows up it is larger than any garden plant and becomes a tree, so that the birds flying about come and nest in its branches.”
33 And he told them yet another parable. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with a bushel of flour, then waited until the whole batch of dough rose.”
34 All these things Yeshua said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without using a parable. 35 This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet,
“I will open my mouth in parables,
I will say what has been hidden since the creation of the universe.”[Matthew 13:35 Psalm 78:2]
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Today's Devotional for Monday, 30 October 2017
John 5:1-15
1 After this, there was a Judean festival; and Yeshua went up to Yerushalayim. 2 In Yerushalayim, by the Sheep Gate, is a pool called in Aramaic, Beit-Zata, 3 in which lay a crowd of invalids — blind, lame, crippled. 4 [John 5:4 Some manuscripts have verses 3b–4: . . . , waiting for the water to move; 4 for at certain times an angel of Adonai went down into the pool and disturbed the water, and whoever stepped into the water first after it was disturbed was healed of whatever disease he had.a] 5 One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. 6 Yeshua, seeing this man and knowing that he had been there a long time, said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” 7 The sick man answered, “I have no one to put me in the pool when the water is disturbed; and while I’m trying to get there, someone goes in ahead of me.” 8 Yeshua said to him, “Get up, pick up your mat and walk!” 9 Immediately the man was healed, and he picked up his mat and walked.
Now that day was Shabbat, 10 so the Judeans said to the man who had been healed, “It’s Shabbat! It’s against Torah for you to carry your mat!” 11 But he answered them, “The man who healed me — he’s the one who told me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’” 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who told you to pick it up and walk?” 13 But the man who had been healed didn’t know who it was, because Yeshua had slipped away into the crowd.
14 Afterwards Yeshua found him in the Temple court and said to him, “See, you are well! Now stop sinning, or something worse may happen to you!” 15 The man went off and told the Judeans it was Yeshua who had healed him;
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Today's Devotional for Tuesday, 31 October 2017
Isaiah 41:9-10
Isaiah 41:9 I have taken you from the ends of the earth,
summoned you from its most distant parts
and said to you, ‘You are my servant’ —
I have chosen you, not rejected you.
10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you;
don’t be distressed, for I am your God.
I give you strength, I give you help,
I support you with my victorious right hand.
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Today's Devotional for Wednesday, 1 November 2017
Psalm 78:1-7
Psalm 78:1 (0) A maskil of Asaf:
(1) Listen, my people, to my teaching;
turn your ears to the words from my mouth.
2 I will speak to you in parables
and explain mysteries from days of old.
3 The things which we have heard and known,
and which our fathers told us
4 we will not hide from their descendants;
we will tell the generation to come
the praises of Adonai and his strength,
the wonders that he has performed.
5 He raised up a testimony in Ya‘akov
and established a Torah in Isra’el.
He commanded our ancestors
to make this known to their children,
6 so that the next generation would know it,
the children not yet born,
who would themselves arise
and tell their own children,
7 who could then put their confidence in God,
not forgetting God’s deeds,
but obeying his mitzvot.
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Today's Devotional for Thursday, 2 November 2017
Matthew 19:16-19
Matthew 19:16 A man approached Yeshua and said, “Rabbi, what good thing should I do in order to have eternal life?” He said to him, 17 “Why are you asking me about good? There is One who is good! But if you want to obtain eternal life, observe the mitzvot.” 18 The man asked him, “Which ones?” and Yeshua said, “Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t give false testimony [Matthew 19:18 Exodus 20:13(13–16); Deuteronomy 5:17(17–20)] 19 honor father and mother [Matthew 19:19 Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16] and love your neighbor as yourself.”[Matthew 19:19 Leviticus 19:18]
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Today's Devotional for Friday, 3 November 2017
John 15:9-17
John 15:9 “Just as my Father has loved me, I too have loved you; so stay in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will stay in my love — just as I have kept my Father’s commands and stay in his love. 11 I have said this to you so that my joy may be in you, and your joy be complete.
12 “This is my command: that you keep on loving each other just as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than a person who lays down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends, if you do what I command you. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a slave doesn’t know what his master is about; but I have called you friends, because everything I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, I chose you; and I have commissioned you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last; so that whatever you ask from the Father in my name he may give you. 17 This is what I command you: keep loving each other!
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Today's Devotional for Saturday, 4 November 2017
John 14:1-7
John 14:1 “Don’t let yourselves be disturbed. Trust in God and trust in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many places to live. If there weren’t, I would have told you; because I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 Since I am going and preparing a place for you, I will return to take you with me; so that where I am, you may be also. 4 Furthermore, you know where I’m going; and you know the way there.”
5 T’oma said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you’re going; so how can we know the way?” 6 Yeshua said, “I AM the Way — and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through me. 7 Because you have known me, you will also know my Father; from now on, you do know him — in fact, you have seen him.”
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This Week's Lectionary Readings for Sunday, 29 October 2017
21st Sunday after Pentecost/in Kingdomtide – Green
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
Matthew 22:34-46
Scripture Texts:  Deuteronomy 34:1 (vii) Moshe ascended from the plains of Mo’av to Mount N’vo, to the summit of Pisgah, across from Yericho. There Adonai showed him all the land — Gil‘ad as far as Dan, 2 all Naftali, the land of Efrayim and M’nasheh, the land of Y’hudah all the way to the sea beyond, 3 the Negev, and the ‘Aravah, including the valley where Yericho, the City of Date-Palms, as far away as Tzo‘ar. 4 Adonai said to him, “This is the land concerning which I swore to Avraham, Yitz’chak and Ya‘akov, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over there.”
5 So Moshe, the servant of Adonai, died there in the land of Mo’av, as Adonai had said. 6 He was buried in the valley across from Beit-P‘or in the land of Mo’av, but to this day no one knows where his grave is.
7 Moshe was 120 years old when he died, with eyes undimmed and vigor undiminished. 8 The people of Isra’el mourned Moshe on the plains of Mo’av for thirty days; after this, the days of crying and mourning for Moshe ended.
9 Y’hoshua the son of Nun was full of the Spirit of wisdom, for Moshe had laid his hands on him, and the people of Isra’el heeded him and did what Adonai had ordered Moshe.
10 Since that time there has not arisen in Isra’el a prophet like Moshe, whom Adonai knew face to face. 11 What signs and wonders Adonai sent him to perform in the land of Egypt upon Pharaoh, all his servants and all his land! 12 What might was in his hand! What great terror he evoked before the eyes of all Isra’el!
Psalm 90:1(0) A prayer of Moshe the man of God:
(1) Adonai, you have been our dwelling place
in every generation.
2 Before the mountains were born,
before you had formed the earth and the world,
from eternity past to eternity future
you are God.
3 You bring frail mortals to the point of being crushed,
then say, “People, repent!”
4 For from your viewpoint a thousand years
are merely like yesterday or a night watch.
5 When you sweep them away, they become like sleep;
by morning they are like growing grass,
6 growing and flowering in the morning,
but by evening cut down and dried up., 13 Return, Adonai! How long must it go on?
Take pity on your servants!
14 Fill us at daybreak with your love,
so that we can sing for joy as long as we live.
15 Let our joy last as long as the time you made us suffer,
for as many years as we experienced trouble.
16 Show your deeds to your servants
and your glory to their children.
17 May the favor of Adonai our God be on us,
prosper for us all the work that we do —
yes, prosper the work that we do.
1 Thessalonians 2:1 You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not fruitless. 2 On the contrary, although we had already suffered and been outraged in Philippi, as you know, we had the courage, united with our God, to tell you the Good News even under great pressure. 3 For the appeal we make does not flow from error or from impure motives, neither do we try to trick people. 4 Instead, since God has tested us and found us fit to be entrusted with Good News, this is how we speak: not to win favor with people but with God, who tests our hearts. 5 For, as you know, never did we employ flattering talk, nor did we put on a false front to mask greed — God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek human praise — either from you or from others. 7 As emissaries of the Messiah, we could have made our weight felt; but instead, we were gentle when we were with you, like a mother feeding and caring for her children. 8 We were so devoted to you that we were glad to share with you not only God’s Good News but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.
Matthew 22:34 but when the P’rushim learned that he had silenced the Tz’dukim, they got together, 35 and one of them who was a Torah expert asked a sh’eilah to trap him: 36 “Rabbi, which of the mitzvot in the Torah is the most important?” 37 He told him, “‘You are to love Adonai your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.’[Matthew 22:37 Deuteronomy 6:5] 38 This is the greatest and most important mitzvah. 39 And a second is similar to it, ‘You are to love your neighbor as yourself.’[Matthew 22:39 Leviticus 19:18] 40 All of the Torah and the Prophets are dependent on these two mitzvot.”
41 Then, turning to the assembled P’rushim, Yeshua put a sh’eilah to them: 42 “Tell me your view concerning the Messiah: whose son is he?” They said to him, “David’s.” 43 “Then how is it,” he asked them, “that David, inspired by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord,’ when he says,
44 ‘Adonai said to my Lord,
“Sit here at my right hand
until I put your enemies under your feet”’?[Matthew 22:44 Psalm 110:1]
45 If David thus calls him ‘Lord,’ how is he his son?” 46 No one could think of anything to say in reply; and from that day on, no one dared put to him another sh’eilah.
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John Wesley's Notes-Commentary: Deuteronomy 34:1-12 Verse 1
[1] And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan,
And Moses went up — When he knew the place of his death he chearfully mounted a steep hill to come to it. Those who are well acquainted with another world, are not afraid to leave this. When God's servants are sent for out of the world, the summons runs go up and die! Unto Dan - To that city which after Moses's death was called so.
Verse 2
[2] And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea,
All Naphtali — The land of Naphtali, which together with Dan, was in the north of Canaan, as Ephraim and Manasseh were in the midland parts, and Judah on the south, and the sea, on the west. So these parts lying in the several quarters are put for all the rest. He stood in the east and saw also Gilead, which was in the eastern part of the land, and thence he saw the north and south and west.
The utmost sea — The midland sea, which was the utmost bound of the land of promise on the west.
Verse 3
[3] And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar.
The south — The south quarter of the land of Judah, which is towards the salt sea, the city of palm-trees - Jericho, so called from the multitude of palm-trees, which were in those parts, as Josephus and Strabo write. From whence and the balm there growing it was called Jericho, which signifies, odoriferous or sweet smelling.
Verse 4
[4] And the LORD said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.
I have caused thee to see it — For tho' his sight was good, yet he could not have seen all Canaan, an hundred and sixty miles in length, and fifty or sixty in breadth, if his sight had not been miraculously assisted and enlarged. He saw it at a distance. Such a sight the Old Testament believers had of the kingdom of the Messiah. And such a sight believers have now of the glory that shall he revealed. Such a sight have we now, of the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, which shall cover the earth. Those that come after us shall undoubtedly enter into that promised land: which is a comfort to us, when we find our own carcases falling in this wilderness.
Verse 5
[5] So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.
So Moses the servant of the Lord died — He is called the servant of the Lord, not only as a good man, (all such are his servants) but as a man eminently useful, who had served God's counsels in bringing Israel out of Egypt, and leading them thro' the wilderness. And it was more his honour, to be the servant of the Lord, than to be king in Jeshurun. Yet he dies. Neither his piety nor his usefulness would exempt him from the stroke of death. God's servants must die, that they may rest from their labours, receive their recompense, and make room for others. But when they go hence, they go to serve him better, to serve him day and night in his temple. The Jews say, God sucked his soul out of his body with a kiss. No doubt he died in the embraces of his love.
Verse 6
[6] And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.
He — The Lord, buried him either immediately, or by the ministry of angels, whereof Michael was the chief or prince.
Of his sepulchre — Of the particular place where he was buried: which God hid from the Israelites, to prevent their superstition and idolatry, to which he knew their great proneness. And for this very reason the devil endeavoured to have it known and contended with Michael about it, Jude 1:9. God takes care even of the dead bodies of his servants. As their death is precious, so is their dust. Not one grain of it shall be lost, but the covenant with it shall be remembered.
Verse 7
[7] And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.
His eye was not dim — By a miraculous work of God in mercy to his church and people.
Verse 8
[8] And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.
Thirty day's — Which was the usual time of mourning for persons of high place and eminency. 'Tis a debt owing to the surviving honour of deceased worthies, to follow them with our tears, as those who loved and valued them, are sensible of the loss, and humbled for the sins which have provoked God to deprive us of them.
Verse 9
[9] And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.
Wisdom — And other gifts and graces too, but wisdom is mentioned as being most necessary for the government to which he was now called.
Upon him — And this was the thing which Moses at that time asked of God for him.
Verse 10
[10] And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,
Whom the Lord — Whom God did so freely and familiarly converse with.
Verse 12
[12] And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel.
Moses was greater than any other of the prophets of the Old Testament. By Moses God gave the law, and moulded and formed the Jewish church. By the other prophets he only sent particular reproofs, directions and predictions. But as far as the other prophets came short of him, our Lord Jesus went beyond him. Moses was faithful as a servant, but Christ as a son: his miracles more illustrious, his communion with the father more intimate: for he is in his bosom from eternity. Moses lies buried: but Christ is sitting at the right-hand of God, and of the increase of his government there shall be no end.
Psalm 90:1-6, Verse 2
[2] Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Thou — Thou hadst thy power, and all thy perfections, from all eternity.
Verse 3
[3] Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.
Turnedst — But as for man, his case is far otherwise, though he was made by thee happy. and immortal, yet for his sin thou didst make him mortal and miserable.
Saidst — Didst pronounce that sad sentence, return, O men, to the dust out of which ye were taken, Genesis 3:19.
Verse 4
[4] For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
Past — Indeed time seems long when it is to come, but when it is past, very short and contemptible.
A watch — Which lasted but three or four hours.
Verse 5
[5] Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.
Them — Mankind.
Away — Universally, without exception or distinction.
A sleep — Short and vain, as sleep is, and not minded 'till it be past. 13-17 Verse 13
[13] Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.
Return — To us in mercy.
How long — Will it be before thou return to us? Repent thee - Of thy severe proceedings against us.
Verse 14
[14] O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Early — Speedily.
Verse 17
[17] And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.
The beauty — His gracious influence, and glorious presence.
In us — Do not only work for us, but in us,
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 Verse 1
[1] For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:
What was proposed, 1 Thessalonians 1:5,6, is now more largely treated of: concerning Paul and his fellowlabourers, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12; concerning the Thessalonians, 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16.
Verse 2
[2] But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
We had suffered — In several places.
We are bold — Notwithstanding.
With much contention — Notwithstanding both inward and outward conflicts of all kinds.
Verse 3
[3] For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
For our exhortation — That is, our preaching. A part is put for the whole.
Is not, at any time, of deceit — We preach not a lie, but the truth of God.
Nor of uncleanness — With any unholy or selfish view. This expression is not always appropriated to lust, although it is sometimes emphatically applied thereto.
Nor in guile — But with great plainness of speech.
Verse 5
[5] For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
Flattering words — This ye know.
Nor a cloak of covetousness — Of this God is witness. He calls men to witness an open fact; God, the secret intentions of the heart. In a point of a mixed nature, 1 Thessalonians 2:10, he appeals both to God and man.
Verse 6
[6] Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
Nor from others — Who would have honoured us more, if we had been burdensome - That is, taken state upon ourselves.
Verse 7
[7] But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
But we were gentle — Mild, tender.
In the midst of you — Like a hen surrounded with her young.
Even as a nurse cherisheth her own children — The offspring of her own womb.
Verse 8
[8] So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
To impart our own souls — To lay down our lives for your sake.
Matthew 22:34-46 Verse 34
[34] But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.
Mark 12:28; Luke 10:25.
Verse 35
[35] Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
A scribe asking him a question, trying him — Not, as it seems, with any ill design: but barely to make a farther trial of that wisdom, which he had shown in silencing the Sadducees.
Verse 37
[37] Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Deuteronomy 6:5.
Verse 39
[39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Leviticus 19:18.
Verse 42
[42] Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.
Luke 20:41.
Verse 43
[43] He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,
How doth David then by the Spirit — By inspiration, call him Lord? If he be merely the son (or descendant) of David? If he be, as you suppose, a mere man, the son of a man?
Verse 44
[44] The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?
The Lord said to my Lord — This his dominion, to which David himself was subject, shows both the heavenly majesty of the king, and the nature of his kingdom.
Sit thou on my right hand — That is, remain in the highest authority and power. Psalms 110:1.
Verse 46
[46] And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.
Neither durst any question him any more — Not by way of ensnaring or tempting him.
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Link to GBOD Devotional
Contact Information
The Great Plains Episcopal Office of The United Methodist Church
9440 East Boston, Suite 160
Wichita Kansas 67207, United States
(316)686-0600
(800)745-2350
info@greatplainsumc.org
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