Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour "Sort of Sorry" for Monday, November 27, 2017
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1 John 1:8-9 - If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Repentance is an interesting concept. It is interesting because people like to interpret it in a way which is convenient for them.
As proof I share with you the story of Asia Bibi, a 21-year-old Pakistani woman. Recently, Bibi was married. That was fine with Bibi. What wasn't fine was the person she had to marry. You see, Bibi's parents picked her groom. Even though she protested, even though she argued and pleaded, the parents married their daughter not to her lover, but to a distant relative.
Now if you think Bibi settled down, and had children, and lived happily ever after, you would be wrong. She kept asking her parents to take her back. They said, "No."
She said, "I'm desperate, I just might do anything if I don't get to come home."
Her parents still did not take their daughter back. That's when Bibi's boyfriend gave her poison to kill her husband.
Bibi mixed the poison in some milk and gave it to her husband who refused to drink the mixture and set the cup down. Later on in the day, the groom's mother found the milk, and, rather than throwing it away, decided to use it as an ingredient in a yogurt drink she was making.
That night her drink was served to 27 members of the groom's family. Seventeen of those family members died; the other ten received treatment at the local hospital.
Bibi, along with her boyfriend were arrested for murder. As of this writing, the police are trying to decide which of the pair was the mastermind of the plot. That has to be decided before charges are placed against either of them.
In the meantime, Bibi is wrestling with the fact that she is responsible for the deaths of 17 individuals. Now, if this were you, I am sure you would be filled with remorse and regret at this terrible tragedy.
Well, Bibi is repentant, too, sort of. She says she had "warned her parents that she was capable of going to any length to get out of the marriage, but they refused to allow her to get a divorce." When explaining herself, Bibi finished by saying she expressed remorse over the deaths, saying her "target was only her husband." So, there you have it, she is sort of, mostly, kind of, partially sorry.
Which, of course, is not the kind of repentance the Lord is looking for.
Scripture is clear, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. In other words, when we say, "Lord be merciful to me a sinner," our Father in heaven forgives us completely and absolutely.
Because of His Son's substitution and sacrifice, every one of our sins and transgressions is wiped clean, and we are able to stand clean and white before our just Judge.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, forgive us for the excuses we make concerning our sin. When we repent, let that heartfelt sorrow for the past become a Spirit-filled hope for the future, which offers no excuse or qualification. This we ask in the Name of the Savior who has offered Himself as the price which makes our forgiveness a reality. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.
The above devotion was inspired by a number of sources, including one written by Iram Asim on November 1, 2017 for the Associated Press. Those who wish to reference that article may do so at the following link, which was fully functional at the time this devotion was written: click here.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Today's Bible in a Year Reading: Ezekiel 30-32; 1 Peter 4
Ezekiel 30:1 The word of Adonai came to me: 2 “Human being, prophesy; say that Adonai Elohim says,
‘Wail, “Oh no! It’s today!”
3 For the day is near,
the Day of Adonai, a day of clouds,
the time of the Goyim.
4 The sword will come against Egypt,
and Ethiopia will be in anguish,
when the slain fall in Egypt,
when they take away her wealth,
and her foundations are torn down.
5 Ethiopia, Put and Lud,
all the mixed population and Kuv,
and the people of allied lands
will die by the sword with them.’
6 “Adonai says this:
‘Those supporting Egypt will fall;
its arrogant power will be brought down;
from Migdol to S’venah they will die by the sword,’
says Adonai Elohim.
7 “They will be desolate even when compared with other desolate countries, likewise her cities in comparison with other ruined cities. 8 They will know that I am Adonai when I set fire to Egypt, and those supporting it are destroyed. 9 When that day comes, I will send out messengers in ships to terrify the unsuspecting Ethiopians; and anguish will overcome them on the day of Egypt. Yes, here it comes!
10 “Adonai Elohim says:
‘I will destroy the hordes of Egypt
through N’vukhadretzar king of Bavel.
11 He and his people, the most barbarous of the nations,
will be brought in to ravage the land.
They will unsheathe their swords against Egypt
and fill the land with corpses.
12 I will dry up the streams of the Nile
and sell the land to the wicked.
Through the power of foreigners I will make the land
and all that is in it desolate.
I, Adonai, have spoken.’
13 “Here is what Adonai Elohim says:
‘I will destroy the idols,
make the false gods in Nof cease to exist.
No longer will there be a prince from the land of Egypt;
I will put fear in the land of Egypt,
14 desolate Patros, set fire to Tzo‘an,
execute judgements in No,
15 pour my fury on Seen the stronghold of Egypt,
and destroy the hordes of No.
16 Yes, I will set fire to Egypt;
Seen will writhe in anguish;
No will be torn apart;
enemies will attack Nof in broad daylight.
17 The young men of On and Pi-Veset
will die by the sword,
while the cities themselves
will go into captivity.
18 At T’chafn’ches the day will grow dark
when I break the yokes of Egypt there,
and the pride she takes in her power ceases.
A cloud will cover her,
and her daughters will go into captivity.
19 Thus will I execute judgments on Egypt.
Then they will know that I am Adonai.’”
20 On the seventh day of the first month of the eleventh year, the word of Adonai came to me: 21 “Human being, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; it has not been bound up with dressings and bandages, so that it can heal and become strong enough again to wield the sword. 22 Therefore Adonai Elohim says this: ‘I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt. I will break his arms, both the sound one and the broken one, and I will make the sword fall from his hand. 23 I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries. 24 I will strengthen the arms of the king of Bavel and put my sword in his hand; but I will break the arms of Pharaoh; he will groan like a man mortally wounded. 25 Yes, I will hold up the arms of the king of Bavel; but the arms of Pharaoh will droop. They will know that I am Adonai when I put my sword in the hand of the king of Bavel, and he stretches it out over the land of Egypt. 26 Yes, I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries; and they will know that I am Adonai.’”
31:1 On the first day of the third month of the eleventh year, the word of Adonai came to me: 2 “Human being, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his hordes:
‘Whom are you like in your greatness?
3 Like Ashur, a cedar in the L’vanon.
It had beautiful branches, dense foliage,
its tall crown surrounded by leafy boughs.
4 The water nourished it; the deep made it grow,
sending its rivers round the place where it was planted,
sending its streams to all the trees in the fields.
5 So it grew taller than any other tree,
its branches grew in number and spread far and wide,
for it had plenty of water to make them grow.
6 In its boughs all the birds of the air had their nests,
beneath its branches all the wild animals gave birth to their young,
and all great nations lived in its shade.
7 It was beautiful in its greatness and the length of its branches,
because its roots went down to plenty of water.
8 No cedar in God’s garden was like it,
no cypress tree could compare with its boughs,
no chestnut tree could rival its branches,
no tree in God’s garden could match its beauty.
9 I made it so beautiful, with its many branches;
all trees in ‘Eden, God’s garden, envied it.’
10 “Therefore here is what Adonai Elohim says: ‘Because you are so tall, because he has lifted his crown above the leafy boughs, because he has grown so arrogant about his height, 11 I am handing him over to the mightiest of the nations, who will certainly deal with him as his wickedness deserves; I reject him. 12 Foreigners, the most barbarous of the nations, will destroy him and leave him lying where he is. His branches will lie fallen on the mountains and in the valleys, his boughs will lie broken in all the rivers of the land, and all the peoples of the earth will withdraw from his shade and leave him. 13 All the birds will settle on his fallen trunk, and all the wild animals will be on his branches. 14 This is to warn all the trees growing near water not to grow so tall, not to lift their crowns above the leafy boughs, and all that take up water not to reach up in their height.
For they are all given over to death,
to the depths of the underworld,
along with human beings,
with those who descend to the pit.’
15 “Here is what Adonai Elohim says:
‘On the day he descended to Sh’ol,
I caused the abyss to mourn
and cover itself for him;
I held back its rivers,
so that its deep waters were stopped.
I made the L’vanon mourn for him,
and all the field trees withered because of him.
16 At the sound of his fall
I made the nations shake,
when I hurled him down to Sh’ol
with those who descend to the pit.
All the trees of ‘Eden,
the pick of the best in the L’vanon,
all that take up water,
were consoled in the underworld.
17 They descended with him to Sh’ol
to those who were killed by the sword,
to those who were his fighting arm,
those among the nations who lived in his shade.
18 Which of the trees of ‘Eden
was your equal in glory or size?
Yet you will be brought down to the underworld
along with the trees of ‘Eden.
You will lie there among the uncircumcised,
with those killed by the sword.
This is Pharaoh and his hordes,’
says Adonai Elohim.”
32:1 On the first day of the twelfth month of the twelfth year, the word of Adonai came to me: 2 “Human being, raise a lament for Pharaoh king of Egypt; say to him,
‘You compared yourself to a lion among the nations;
In fact, you are more like a crocodile in the lakes.
You burst out of your streams,
churn the water with your feet
and foul their streams.’
3 “So here is what Adonai Elohim says:
‘With many nations assembled,
I will spread my net over you,
and they will haul you up in my dragnet.
4 Then I will throw you on the shore,
hurl you into an open field,
make all the birds in the air settle on you
and let the animals of the whole earth eat their fill of you.
5 I will leave your flesh on the mountains
and fill the valleys with your rotting carcass.
6 I will drench the land in which you swim
with your blood, as far as the mountains;
the waterways will be full of you.
7 When I extinguish you, I will cover the sky
and make its stars black;
I will cover the sun with a cloud,
and the moon will not give its light.
8 All the shining lights in the sky
I will darken above you;
I will spread darkness over your land,’
says Adonai Elohim.
9 “‘I will anger many peoples
when I bring your destroyed ones
in among the nations,
into countries you have not known.
10 I will make many peoples aghast at you;
their kings will shudder in horror over you
when I brandish my sword before them.
On the day of your downfall
they will tremble continuously,
each man in fear of his life.’
11 “For Adonai Elohim says this:
‘The sword of the king of Bavel
will come against you.
12 With the swords of the warriors
I will cause your hordes to fall.
They are all the most barbarous of the nations,
and they will shatter the glory of Egypt —
all its hordes will be destroyed.
13 I will destroy all her cattle
beside her plentiful waters.
No human foot will trouble them again,
nor the hoof of any animal.
14 Then I will make their water clear
and cause their streams to flow like oil,’
says Adonai Elohim.
15 ‘When I make the land of Egypt a ruined waste,
a land stripped of all that filled it;
when I strike all those who live there;
they will know that I am Adonai.
16 This is the lament that they will raise;
the daughters of the nations will use it to mourn;
they will chant it for Egypt and all its hordes,’
says Adonai Elohim.”
17 On the fifteenth day of the month in the twelfth year, the word of Adonai came to me:
18 “Human being, wail for the hordes of Egypt;
send them with the daughters of mighty nations
down to the underworld,
with those who descend to the pit.
19 Are you more beautiful than the others?
Go down, lie with the uncircumcised dead!
20 They will fall among those killed by the sword;
she is given to the sword; pull her down with her hordes.
21 From the depths of Sh’ol the mightiest warriors
will speak of him with those who helped him.
They went down; they lie still,
the uncircumcised, killed by the sword.
22 “Ashur is there with her hordes;
their graves are all around them,
all of them slain, killed by the sword.
23 Their graves are in the deepest parts of the pit,
her hordes are all around her grave,
all of them slain, killed by the sword,
those who terrorized the land of the living.
24 “‘Eilam is there, with her hordes around her grave,
all of them slain, killed by the sword,
descended uncircumcised to the underworld,
those who terrorized the land of the living;
they bear their shame together with those
who descended to the pit.
25 They have given her a bed among the slain with her hordes;
her graves are all around them,
all of them uncircumcised, killed by the sword,
because they terrorized the land of the living;
they bear their shame with those who descended to the pit;
they are put among those who were slain.
26 “Meshekh and Tuval with her horde is there,
her graves are all around them,
all of them uncircumcised, killed by the sword,
because they terrorized the land of the living.
27 They do not lie with the fallen warriors
of the uncircumcised who descended to Sh’ol
with their weapons of war,
their swords laid under their heads,
and their crimes upon their bones;
because these warriors terrorized the land of the living.
28 But you will lie broken among the uncircumcised,
with those who were killed by the sword.
29 “There is Edom, her kings and all her princes,
who, despite all their power, are laid with those
who were killed by the sword, with the uncircumcised,
with those who descended to the pit.
30 “There are all the princes of the north, all of them,
and the Tzidoni, who descended with the slain,
ashamed of all the terror they caused by their power;
they lie uncircumcised with those killed by the sword,
bearing their shame with those who descended to the pit.
31 “All of these Pharaoh will see,
and he will be consoled about his hordes,
Pharaoh and all his army, slain by the sword,”
says Adonai Elohim.
32 “For I have put my terror in the land of the living,
and he will lie among the uncircumcised,
with those killed by the sword,
Pharaoh and all his hordes,”
says Adonai Elohim.
1 Peter 4:1 Therefore, since the Messiah suffered physically, you too are to arm yourselves with the same attitude. For whoever has suffered physically is finished with sin, 2 with the result that he lives the rest of his earthly life no longer controlled by human desires, but by God’s will. 3 For you have spent enough time already living the way the pagans want you to live — in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, wild parties and forbidden idol-worship. 4 They think it strange that you don’t plunge with them into the same flood of dissoluteness, and so they heap insults on you. 5 But they will have to give an account to him who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 This is why he was proclaimed to those who have died; it was so that, although physically they would receive the judgment common to all humanity, they might live by the Spirit in the way that God has provided.
7 The accomplishing of the goal of all things is close at hand. Therefore, keep alert and self-controlled, so that you can pray. 8 More than anything, keep loving each other actively; because love covers many sins.[1 Peter 4:8 Proverbs 10:12] 9 Welcome one another into your homes without grumbling. 10 As each one has received some spiritual gift, he should use it to serve others, like good managers of God’s many-sided grace — 11 if someone speaks, let him speak God’s words; if someone serves, let him do so out of strength that God supplies; so that in everything God may be glorified through Yeshua the Messiah — to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.
12 Dear friends, don’t regard as strange the fiery ordeal occurring among you to test you, as if something extraordinary were happening to you. 13 Rather, to the extent that you share the fellowship of the Messiah’s sufferings, rejoice; so that you will rejoice even more when his Sh’khinah is revealed. 14 If you are being insulted because you bear the name of the Messiah, how blessed you are! For the Spirit of the Sh’khinah, that is, the Spirit of God, is resting on you! 15 Let none of you suffer for being a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or a meddler in other people’s affairs. 16 But if anyone suffers for being Messianic, let him not be ashamed; but let him bring glory to God by the way he bears this name. 17 For the time has come for the judgment to begin. It begins with the household of God; and if it starts with us, what will the outcome be for those who are disobeying God’s Good News? —
18 “If the righteous is barely delivered,
where will the ungodly and sinful end up?”[1 Peter 4:18 Proverbs 11:31]
19 So let those who are suffering according to God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator by continuing to do what is good.
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1 John 1:8-9 - If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Repentance is an interesting concept. It is interesting because people like to interpret it in a way which is convenient for them.
As proof I share with you the story of Asia Bibi, a 21-year-old Pakistani woman. Recently, Bibi was married. That was fine with Bibi. What wasn't fine was the person she had to marry. You see, Bibi's parents picked her groom. Even though she protested, even though she argued and pleaded, the parents married their daughter not to her lover, but to a distant relative.
Now if you think Bibi settled down, and had children, and lived happily ever after, you would be wrong. She kept asking her parents to take her back. They said, "No."
She said, "I'm desperate, I just might do anything if I don't get to come home."
Her parents still did not take their daughter back. That's when Bibi's boyfriend gave her poison to kill her husband.
Bibi mixed the poison in some milk and gave it to her husband who refused to drink the mixture and set the cup down. Later on in the day, the groom's mother found the milk, and, rather than throwing it away, decided to use it as an ingredient in a yogurt drink she was making.
That night her drink was served to 27 members of the groom's family. Seventeen of those family members died; the other ten received treatment at the local hospital.
Bibi, along with her boyfriend were arrested for murder. As of this writing, the police are trying to decide which of the pair was the mastermind of the plot. That has to be decided before charges are placed against either of them.
In the meantime, Bibi is wrestling with the fact that she is responsible for the deaths of 17 individuals. Now, if this were you, I am sure you would be filled with remorse and regret at this terrible tragedy.
Well, Bibi is repentant, too, sort of. She says she had "warned her parents that she was capable of going to any length to get out of the marriage, but they refused to allow her to get a divorce." When explaining herself, Bibi finished by saying she expressed remorse over the deaths, saying her "target was only her husband." So, there you have it, she is sort of, mostly, kind of, partially sorry.
Which, of course, is not the kind of repentance the Lord is looking for.
Scripture is clear, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. In other words, when we say, "Lord be merciful to me a sinner," our Father in heaven forgives us completely and absolutely.
Because of His Son's substitution and sacrifice, every one of our sins and transgressions is wiped clean, and we are able to stand clean and white before our just Judge.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, forgive us for the excuses we make concerning our sin. When we repent, let that heartfelt sorrow for the past become a Spirit-filled hope for the future, which offers no excuse or qualification. This we ask in the Name of the Savior who has offered Himself as the price which makes our forgiveness a reality. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.
The above devotion was inspired by a number of sources, including one written by Iram Asim on November 1, 2017 for the Associated Press. Those who wish to reference that article may do so at the following link, which was fully functional at the time this devotion was written: click here.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours,Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Today's Bible in a Year Reading: Ezekiel 30-32; 1 Peter 4
Ezekiel 30:1 The word of Adonai came to me: 2 “Human being, prophesy; say that Adonai Elohim says,
‘Wail, “Oh no! It’s today!”
3 For the day is near,
the Day of Adonai, a day of clouds,
the time of the Goyim.
4 The sword will come against Egypt,
and Ethiopia will be in anguish,
when the slain fall in Egypt,
when they take away her wealth,
and her foundations are torn down.
5 Ethiopia, Put and Lud,
all the mixed population and Kuv,
and the people of allied lands
will die by the sword with them.’
6 “Adonai says this:
‘Those supporting Egypt will fall;
its arrogant power will be brought down;
from Migdol to S’venah they will die by the sword,’
says Adonai Elohim.
7 “They will be desolate even when compared with other desolate countries, likewise her cities in comparison with other ruined cities. 8 They will know that I am Adonai when I set fire to Egypt, and those supporting it are destroyed. 9 When that day comes, I will send out messengers in ships to terrify the unsuspecting Ethiopians; and anguish will overcome them on the day of Egypt. Yes, here it comes!
10 “Adonai Elohim says:
‘I will destroy the hordes of Egypt
through N’vukhadretzar king of Bavel.
11 He and his people, the most barbarous of the nations,
will be brought in to ravage the land.
They will unsheathe their swords against Egypt
and fill the land with corpses.
12 I will dry up the streams of the Nile
and sell the land to the wicked.
Through the power of foreigners I will make the land
and all that is in it desolate.
I, Adonai, have spoken.’
13 “Here is what Adonai Elohim says:
‘I will destroy the idols,
make the false gods in Nof cease to exist.
No longer will there be a prince from the land of Egypt;
I will put fear in the land of Egypt,
14 desolate Patros, set fire to Tzo‘an,
execute judgements in No,
15 pour my fury on Seen the stronghold of Egypt,
and destroy the hordes of No.
16 Yes, I will set fire to Egypt;
Seen will writhe in anguish;
No will be torn apart;
enemies will attack Nof in broad daylight.
17 The young men of On and Pi-Veset
will die by the sword,
while the cities themselves
will go into captivity.
18 At T’chafn’ches the day will grow dark
when I break the yokes of Egypt there,
and the pride she takes in her power ceases.
A cloud will cover her,
and her daughters will go into captivity.
19 Thus will I execute judgments on Egypt.
Then they will know that I am Adonai.’”
20 On the seventh day of the first month of the eleventh year, the word of Adonai came to me: 21 “Human being, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; it has not been bound up with dressings and bandages, so that it can heal and become strong enough again to wield the sword. 22 Therefore Adonai Elohim says this: ‘I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt. I will break his arms, both the sound one and the broken one, and I will make the sword fall from his hand. 23 I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries. 24 I will strengthen the arms of the king of Bavel and put my sword in his hand; but I will break the arms of Pharaoh; he will groan like a man mortally wounded. 25 Yes, I will hold up the arms of the king of Bavel; but the arms of Pharaoh will droop. They will know that I am Adonai when I put my sword in the hand of the king of Bavel, and he stretches it out over the land of Egypt. 26 Yes, I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries; and they will know that I am Adonai.’”
31:1 On the first day of the third month of the eleventh year, the word of Adonai came to me: 2 “Human being, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his hordes:
‘Whom are you like in your greatness?
3 Like Ashur, a cedar in the L’vanon.
It had beautiful branches, dense foliage,
its tall crown surrounded by leafy boughs.
4 The water nourished it; the deep made it grow,
sending its rivers round the place where it was planted,
sending its streams to all the trees in the fields.
5 So it grew taller than any other tree,
its branches grew in number and spread far and wide,
for it had plenty of water to make them grow.
6 In its boughs all the birds of the air had their nests,
beneath its branches all the wild animals gave birth to their young,
and all great nations lived in its shade.
7 It was beautiful in its greatness and the length of its branches,
because its roots went down to plenty of water.
8 No cedar in God’s garden was like it,
no cypress tree could compare with its boughs,
no chestnut tree could rival its branches,
no tree in God’s garden could match its beauty.
9 I made it so beautiful, with its many branches;
all trees in ‘Eden, God’s garden, envied it.’
10 “Therefore here is what Adonai Elohim says: ‘Because you are so tall, because he has lifted his crown above the leafy boughs, because he has grown so arrogant about his height, 11 I am handing him over to the mightiest of the nations, who will certainly deal with him as his wickedness deserves; I reject him. 12 Foreigners, the most barbarous of the nations, will destroy him and leave him lying where he is. His branches will lie fallen on the mountains and in the valleys, his boughs will lie broken in all the rivers of the land, and all the peoples of the earth will withdraw from his shade and leave him. 13 All the birds will settle on his fallen trunk, and all the wild animals will be on his branches. 14 This is to warn all the trees growing near water not to grow so tall, not to lift their crowns above the leafy boughs, and all that take up water not to reach up in their height.
For they are all given over to death,
to the depths of the underworld,
along with human beings,
with those who descend to the pit.’
15 “Here is what Adonai Elohim says:
‘On the day he descended to Sh’ol,
I caused the abyss to mourn
and cover itself for him;
I held back its rivers,
so that its deep waters were stopped.
I made the L’vanon mourn for him,
and all the field trees withered because of him.
16 At the sound of his fall
I made the nations shake,
when I hurled him down to Sh’ol
with those who descend to the pit.
All the trees of ‘Eden,
the pick of the best in the L’vanon,
all that take up water,
were consoled in the underworld.
17 They descended with him to Sh’ol
to those who were killed by the sword,
to those who were his fighting arm,
those among the nations who lived in his shade.
18 Which of the trees of ‘Eden
was your equal in glory or size?
Yet you will be brought down to the underworld
along with the trees of ‘Eden.
You will lie there among the uncircumcised,
with those killed by the sword.
This is Pharaoh and his hordes,’
says Adonai Elohim.”
32:1 On the first day of the twelfth month of the twelfth year, the word of Adonai came to me: 2 “Human being, raise a lament for Pharaoh king of Egypt; say to him,
‘You compared yourself to a lion among the nations;
In fact, you are more like a crocodile in the lakes.
You burst out of your streams,
churn the water with your feet
and foul their streams.’
3 “So here is what Adonai Elohim says:
‘With many nations assembled,
I will spread my net over you,
and they will haul you up in my dragnet.
4 Then I will throw you on the shore,
hurl you into an open field,
make all the birds in the air settle on you
and let the animals of the whole earth eat their fill of you.
5 I will leave your flesh on the mountains
and fill the valleys with your rotting carcass.
6 I will drench the land in which you swim
with your blood, as far as the mountains;
the waterways will be full of you.
7 When I extinguish you, I will cover the sky
and make its stars black;
I will cover the sun with a cloud,
and the moon will not give its light.
8 All the shining lights in the sky
I will darken above you;
I will spread darkness over your land,’
says Adonai Elohim.
9 “‘I will anger many peoples
when I bring your destroyed ones
in among the nations,
into countries you have not known.
10 I will make many peoples aghast at you;
their kings will shudder in horror over you
when I brandish my sword before them.
On the day of your downfall
they will tremble continuously,
each man in fear of his life.’
11 “For Adonai Elohim says this:
‘The sword of the king of Bavel
will come against you.
12 With the swords of the warriors
I will cause your hordes to fall.
They are all the most barbarous of the nations,
and they will shatter the glory of Egypt —
all its hordes will be destroyed.
13 I will destroy all her cattle
beside her plentiful waters.
No human foot will trouble them again,
nor the hoof of any animal.
14 Then I will make their water clear
and cause their streams to flow like oil,’
says Adonai Elohim.
15 ‘When I make the land of Egypt a ruined waste,
a land stripped of all that filled it;
when I strike all those who live there;
they will know that I am Adonai.
16 This is the lament that they will raise;
the daughters of the nations will use it to mourn;
they will chant it for Egypt and all its hordes,’
says Adonai Elohim.”
17 On the fifteenth day of the month in the twelfth year, the word of Adonai came to me:
18 “Human being, wail for the hordes of Egypt;
send them with the daughters of mighty nations
down to the underworld,
with those who descend to the pit.
19 Are you more beautiful than the others?
Go down, lie with the uncircumcised dead!
20 They will fall among those killed by the sword;
she is given to the sword; pull her down with her hordes.
21 From the depths of Sh’ol the mightiest warriors
will speak of him with those who helped him.
They went down; they lie still,
the uncircumcised, killed by the sword.
22 “Ashur is there with her hordes;
their graves are all around them,
all of them slain, killed by the sword.
23 Their graves are in the deepest parts of the pit,
her hordes are all around her grave,
all of them slain, killed by the sword,
those who terrorized the land of the living.
24 “‘Eilam is there, with her hordes around her grave,
all of them slain, killed by the sword,
descended uncircumcised to the underworld,
those who terrorized the land of the living;
they bear their shame together with those
who descended to the pit.
25 They have given her a bed among the slain with her hordes;
her graves are all around them,
all of them uncircumcised, killed by the sword,
because they terrorized the land of the living;
they bear their shame with those who descended to the pit;
they are put among those who were slain.
26 “Meshekh and Tuval with her horde is there,
her graves are all around them,
all of them uncircumcised, killed by the sword,
because they terrorized the land of the living.
27 They do not lie with the fallen warriors
of the uncircumcised who descended to Sh’ol
with their weapons of war,
their swords laid under their heads,
and their crimes upon their bones;
because these warriors terrorized the land of the living.
28 But you will lie broken among the uncircumcised,
with those who were killed by the sword.
29 “There is Edom, her kings and all her princes,
who, despite all their power, are laid with those
who were killed by the sword, with the uncircumcised,
with those who descended to the pit.
30 “There are all the princes of the north, all of them,
and the Tzidoni, who descended with the slain,
ashamed of all the terror they caused by their power;
they lie uncircumcised with those killed by the sword,
bearing their shame with those who descended to the pit.
31 “All of these Pharaoh will see,
and he will be consoled about his hordes,
Pharaoh and all his army, slain by the sword,”
says Adonai Elohim.
32 “For I have put my terror in the land of the living,
and he will lie among the uncircumcised,
with those killed by the sword,
Pharaoh and all his hordes,”
says Adonai Elohim.
1 Peter 4:1 Therefore, since the Messiah suffered physically, you too are to arm yourselves with the same attitude. For whoever has suffered physically is finished with sin, 2 with the result that he lives the rest of his earthly life no longer controlled by human desires, but by God’s will. 3 For you have spent enough time already living the way the pagans want you to live — in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, wild parties and forbidden idol-worship. 4 They think it strange that you don’t plunge with them into the same flood of dissoluteness, and so they heap insults on you. 5 But they will have to give an account to him who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 This is why he was proclaimed to those who have died; it was so that, although physically they would receive the judgment common to all humanity, they might live by the Spirit in the way that God has provided.
7 The accomplishing of the goal of all things is close at hand. Therefore, keep alert and self-controlled, so that you can pray. 8 More than anything, keep loving each other actively; because love covers many sins.[1 Peter 4:8 Proverbs 10:12] 9 Welcome one another into your homes without grumbling. 10 As each one has received some spiritual gift, he should use it to serve others, like good managers of God’s many-sided grace — 11 if someone speaks, let him speak God’s words; if someone serves, let him do so out of strength that God supplies; so that in everything God may be glorified through Yeshua the Messiah — to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.
12 Dear friends, don’t regard as strange the fiery ordeal occurring among you to test you, as if something extraordinary were happening to you. 13 Rather, to the extent that you share the fellowship of the Messiah’s sufferings, rejoice; so that you will rejoice even more when his Sh’khinah is revealed. 14 If you are being insulted because you bear the name of the Messiah, how blessed you are! For the Spirit of the Sh’khinah, that is, the Spirit of God, is resting on you! 15 Let none of you suffer for being a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or a meddler in other people’s affairs. 16 But if anyone suffers for being Messianic, let him not be ashamed; but let him bring glory to God by the way he bears this name. 17 For the time has come for the judgment to begin. It begins with the household of God; and if it starts with us, what will the outcome be for those who are disobeying God’s Good News? —
18 “If the righteous is barely delivered,
where will the ungodly and sinful end up?”[1 Peter 4:18 Proverbs 11:31]
19 So let those who are suffering according to God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator by continuing to do what is good.
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The Lutheran Hour Ministries of Saint Louis, Missouri, United States - for Sunday, 26 November 2017 "Announcing a Special Matching Grant for #GivingTuesday"
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Do you feel conflicted during the Christmas season?
The meaning of the season is often overshadowed by the consumption and materialism that can define this time of year. Giving Tuesday 2017 is November 28th. This day stands as a celebration of how we can give, not just receive, during this season of joy.
Through generous friends of this ministry, the first $25,000 in donations for Giving Tuesday will be matched THREE to ONE.
Think of it this way,
Watch the video below for more information!
November 28th is Giving Tuesday, but we are celebrating early! You can have your gift matched beginning Monday, November 27th! This is a limited-time opportunity.
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Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
CHANGE THEIR WORLD. CHANGE YOURS.
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING.
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