The Upper Room Daily Reflections
– Friday, 31 January 2014 “Redemption”
Today’s
Reflection:
EVERY DAY the reality of our global interconnectedness becomes
more apparent – whether it’s gas prices, the weather, the ripe strawberries
from Chile in the grocery store in January, or the sound of various accents
when we call for assistance with a sick computer. These signs bring home the
reality that God created all and wove all into a single fabric that ultimately
will be saved or lost together.
This profound truth is often missed by the highly
individualistic Christianity of the West. Just as sin spread throughout nature
to touch all creation, so too salvation spreads through all of creation to
redeem this same fallen world. When God promised Abraham that his people would
be a blessing to all the families of the earth (Gen. 12:3), God was expressing
the desire for all creation to be redeemed, not just one part of it.--Daniel
Wolpert-Leading a Life with God
From page 133 of Leading a Life with God: The Practice of
Spiritual Leadership by Daniel Wolpert. Copyright © 2006 by Daniel Wolpert. All
rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/
Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question:
How do you define the words “salvation” and “redemption?”
Today’s Scripture:
But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise;
God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low
and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things
that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God.--1 Corinthians
1:27-29, NRSV
This Week: pray for someone who makes you uncomfortable.
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Saints, Inc.:
This week we remember:
This week we remember:
Agnes (January 21).
Agnes was young and beautiful. She was also, more importantly, a
Roman Christian during Diocletian's persecution against Jesus' followers. When
the girl refused the advances of numerous suitors, charges of being Christian
were brought against her. When at her trial she refused to offer worship of
pagan gods, the judge threatened her with various forms of torture. Agnes remained
true to her faith.
This twelve or thirteen year old girl was then sent to a brothel
to be used by any men who wanted her. According to tradition no man could
violate her because of her pure spirit. The girl was then beheaded (or burned,
or executed by sword, depending on which version of the story). She is buried
at the church of Sant'Agnese on the Piazza Navona in Rome.
Since the fourth century, Agnes has been venerated for her
chastity and faithfulness. Her emblem is the lamb, symbol of innocence and
purity (and also similar to her name in Latin).
Agnes is the patron saint of young girls.
If Agnes had taken the Spiritual Types Test, she probably would
have been a Lover. Agnes is remembered on January 21.
Commemoration of St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr
A SECOND commemoration of St. Agnes occurs on this day in the
ancient Sacramentaries of Pope Gelasius and St. Gregory the Great; as also in
the true Martyrology of Bede. It was perhaps, the day of her burial, or of a
translation of her relics, or of some remarkable favour obtained through her
intercession soon after her death.
Prudence Crandall
January 28
Prudence Crandall was born in Rhode Island in 1803, raised
Quaker, and educated at a Society of Friends school. In 1831 she opened a
private girls school in Canterbury, Connecticut. The school thrived until
Crandall admitted Sarah Harris, a twenty-year old African-American woman who
wanted to be a teacher. The community was appalled and parents twithdrew their
white daughters from the school.
Undeterred from doing what she considered the right thing,
Crandall recruited African American young women students for her next school,
opened in 1833 solely for "young ladies and little misses of color."
Local citizens used vagrancy laws against students to intimidate from attending
the school. In 1834 Connecticut passed "the Black law," making it
illegal to provide black students with free education. Crandall refused to
close her school, was arrested and faced three trials. The final trial was
dismissed for insufficient evidence, but when a mob attacked the school and her
students were threatened, Prudence closed her school.
Prudence Crandall married Rev. Calvin Phileo in 1834 and left
Connecticut, but continued teaching and championing equal rights for women and
people of color. Prudence died on January 28, 1890 in Kansas. Her school is now
the Prudence Crandall Museum.
If Prudence Crandall had taken the Spiritual Types Test, she
probably would have been a Sage. Prudence Crandall is remembered on January 28.
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Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Micah 6: God Challenges Israel
1 Hear what the Lord says:
Rise, plead your case
before the mountains,
and let the hills hear
your voice.
2 Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the Lord,
and you enduring
foundations of the earth;
for the Lord has a controversy with his people,
and he will contend
with Israel.
3 “O my people, what have I done to you?
In what have I wearied
you? Answer me!
4 For I brought you up from the land of Egypt,
and redeemed you from
the house of slavery;
and I sent before you Moses,
Aaron, and Miriam.
5 O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised,
what Balaam son of
Beor answered him,
and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal,
that you may know the
saving acts of the Lord.”
What God Requires
6 “With what shall I come before the Lord,
and bow myself before
God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year
old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousands of
rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body
for the sin of my soul?”
8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord
require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly
with your God?
Psalm 15: Who Shall Abide in God’s Sanctuary?
A Psalm of David.
1 O Lord, who may abide in your tent?
Who may dwell on your
holy hill?
2 Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right,
and speak the truth
from their heart;
3 who do not slander with their tongue,
and do no evil to
their friends,
nor take up a reproach
against their neighbors;
4 in whose eyes the wicked are despised,
but who honor those
who fear the Lord;
who stand by their oath even to their hurt;
5 who do not lend money at interest,
and do not take a
bribe against the innocent.
Those who do these things shall never be moved.
1 Corinthians 1: Christ the Power and Wisdom of God
18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who
are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it
is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of
the discerning I will thwart.”
20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is
the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21
For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God
decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who
believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23 but we proclaim
Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but
to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the
wisdom of God. 25 For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s
weakness is stronger than human strength.
26 Consider your own call, brothers and sisters:[a] not many of
you were wise by human standards,[b] not many were powerful, not many were of
noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise;
God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is
low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things
that are, 29 so that no one[c] might boast in the presence of God. 30 He is the
source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and
righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 in order that, as it is
written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in[d] the Lord.”
Footnotes:
a. 1 Corinthians 1:26 Gk brothers
b. 1 Corinthians 1:26 Gk according to the flesh
c. 1 Corinthians 1:29 Gk no flesh
d. 1 Corinthians 1:31 Or of
Matthew 5: The Beatitudes
1 When Jesus[a] saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and
after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and
taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children
of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’
sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and
utter all kinds of evil against you falsely[b] on my account. 12 Rejoice and be
glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted
the prophets who were before you.
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 5:1 Gk he
b. Matthew 5:11 Other ancient authorities lack falsely
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John Wesley’s Notes-Commentary for
Micah 6:1-8
VI God charges his people with ingratitude, ver. 1-5. The way to
please God, ver. 6-8. He sets their sins in order before them, ver. 9-15.
Verse 1. Arise - This is God's command to Micah. Contend thou -
Argue the case between God and thy people; and speak as if thou wouldst make
the mountains hear thee, to testify for me.
Verse 2. Foundations of the earth - The mountains properly so
called; the sin of Israel is so notorious, that the whole creation may be
summoned as a witness against them.
Verse 3. What have I done - What injustice or unkindness? What
grievous, burdensome impositions have I laid upon thee. Wearied thee - Speak,
what it is hath caused thee to be weary of me?
Verse 4. And Miriam - A prophetess to be assistant to her
brothers, and to be an example and a counsellor to the women.
Verse 5. Shittim - This is the place where Balak began by the
women of Midian to debauch Israel as Baalim had counselled, and so continued to
do, even to Gilgal, all along the borders of his dominion. The righteousness -
His mercy, justice and veracity.
Verse 6. Wherewith - One whose heart was touched by the
preceeding expostulation, may be supposed to make this enquiry.
Verse 7. Thousands - Ever so many. Ten thousands of rivers -
Were it possible to give them.
Verse 8. He - God hath already told you in his word, with what
you ought to come before him. To do justly - To render to every one their due,
superiors, equals, inferiors, to be equal to all, and oppress none, in body,
goods or name; in all your dealings with men carry a chancery in your own
beasts, and do according to equity. To love mercy - To be kind, merciful and
compassionate to all, not using severity towards any. Walk humbly with thy God
- Keep up a constant fellowship with God, by humble, holy faith.
Psalm 15
PS 15 The scope of this short, but excellent psalm, is to shew
us the way to heaven. Here is a question proposed, ver. 1. The answer to it,
ver. 2-5. A psalm of David.
Verse 1. Who - Who shall so dwell in thy church here, as to
dwell with thee for ever in heaven?
Verse 2. Uprightly - Loving, and serving God, and loving his
neighbour not in word only, but in truth; and this constantly. Worketh - Makes
it his business to do justly, to give to every one his due, first to God, and
then to men. Speaketh - His words and professions to God and men, agree with
the thoughts and purposes of his heart.
Verse 3. He - He that doth not speak evil of his neighbour.
neighbour - That is, any man. Nor taketh - Into his mouth, doth not raise it,
neither spread or propagate it; or believe it without sufficient reason.
Verse 4. Vile - An ungodly man. honoureth - He highly esteems
and loves them, though they be mean as to their worldly condition, and though
they may differ from him in some opinions or practices of lesser moment.
Sweareth - A promissory oath. Hurt - To his own damage. As if a man solemnly
swear, that he will sell him such an estate at a price below the full worth; or
that, he will give a poor man such a sum of money, which afterwards he finds
inconvenient to him. Changeth not - His purpose, but continues firm and
resolved to perform his promise.
Verse 5. To usury - In such a manner as is contrary to God's
law: of which see otherwise, Exod. xxii, 25 Levit xxv, 36, 37, &c. Reward -
Or, a bribe for him who hath a bad cause. Moved - He shall abide with God here,
and when he dies be for ever with the Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Verse 18. To them that perish - By obstinately rejecting the
only name whereby they can be saved. But to us who are saved - Now saved from
our sins, and in the way to everlasting salvation, it is the great instrument
of the power of God.
Verse 19. For it is written - And the words are remarkably applicable
to this great event. Isaiah xxix, 14
Verse 20. Where is the wise? &c. - The deliverance of Judea
from Sennacherib is what Isaiah refers to in these words; in a bold and
beautiful allusion to which, the apostle in the clause that follows triumphs over
all the opposition of human wisdom to the victorious gospel of Christ. What
could the wise men of the gentiles do against this? or the Jewish scribes? or
the disputers of this world? - Those among both, who, proud of their acuteness,
were fond of controversy, and thought they could confute all opponents. Hath
not God made foolish the wisdom of this world - That is, shown it to be very
foolishness. Isaiah xxxiii, 18
Verse 21. For since in the wisdom of God - According to his wise
disposals, leaving them to make the trial. The world - Whether Jewish or
gentile, by all its boasted wisdom knew not God - Though the whole creation
declared its Creator, and though he declared himself by all the prophets; it
pleased God, by a way which those who perish count mere foolishness, to save
them that believe.
Verse 22. For whereas the Jews demand of the apostles, as they
did of their Lord, more signs still, after all they have seen already; and the
Greeks, or gentiles, seek wisdom - The depths of philosophy, and the charms of
eloquence.
Verse 23. We go on to preach, in a plain and historical, not
rhetorical or philosophical, manner, Christ crucified, to the Jews a
stumblingblock - Just opposite to the "signs" they demand. And to the
Greeks foolishness - A silly tale, just opposite to the wisdom they seek.
Verse 24. But to them that are called - And obey the heavenly
calling. Christ - With his cross, his death, his life, his kingdom. And they
experience, first, that he is the power, then, that he is the wisdom, of God.
Verse 25. Because the foolishness of God - The gospel scheme,
which the world judge to be mere foolishness, is wiser than the wisdom of men;
and, weak as they account it, stronger than all the strength of men.
Verse 26. Behold your calling - What manner of men they are whom
God calls. That not many wise men after the flesh - In the account of the
world. Not many mighty - Men of power and authority.
Verse 28. Things that are not - The Jews frequently called the
gentiles, "Them that are not," 2 Esdras vi. 56, 57. In so supreme
contempt did they hold them. The things that are - In high esteem.
Verse 29. That no flesh - A fit appellation. Flesh is fair, but
withering as grass. May glory before God - In God we ought to glory.
Verse 30. Of him - Out of his free grace and mercy. Are ye
Engrafted into Christ Jesus, who is made unto us that believe wisdom, who were
before utterly foolish and ignorant. Righteousness - The sole ground of our
justification, who were before under the wrath and curse of God. Sanctification
- A principle of universal holiness, whereas before we were altogether dead in
sin. And redemption - That is, complete deliverance from all evil, and eternal
bliss both of soul and body.
Verse 31. Let him glory in the Lord - Not in himself, not in the
flesh, not in the world. Jer. ix, 23, 24
Matthew 5:1-12
Verse 1. And seeing the multitudes - At some distance, as they
were coming to him from every quarter. He went up into the mountain - Which was
near: where there was room for them all. His disciples - not only his twelve
disciples, but all who desired to learn of him.
Verse 2. And he opened his mouth - A phrase which always denotes
a set and solemn discourse; and taught them - To bless men; to make men happy,
was the great business for which our Lord came into the world. And accordingly
he here pronounces eight blessings together, annexing them to so many steps in
Christianity. Knowing that happiness is our common aim, and that an innate
instinct continually urges us to the pursuit of it, he in the kindest manner
applies to that instinct, and directs it to its proper object. Though all men
desire, yet few attain, happiness, because they seek it where it is not to be
found. Our Lord therefore begins his Divine institution, which is the complete
art of happiness, by laying down before all that have ears to hear, the true
and only true method of acquiring it. Observe the benevolent condescension of
our Lord. He seems, as it were, to lay aside his supreme authority as our
legislator, that he may the better act the part of: our friend and saviour.
Instead of using the lofty style, in positive commands, he, in a more gentle
and engaging way, insinuates his will and our duty, by pronouncing those happy
who comply with it.
Verse 3. Happy are the poor - In the following discourse there
is,
1. A sweet invitation to true holiness and happiness, ver. 3-12.
2. A persuasive to impart it to others, ver. 13-16.
Verse 3. A description of true Christian holiness, ver. 17;
chap.vii, 12. (in which it is easy to observe, the latter part exactly answers
the former.)
Verse 4. The conclusion: giving a sure mark of the true way,
warning against false prophets, exhorting to follow after holiness. The poor in
spirit - They who are unfeignedly penitent, they who are truly convinced of
sin; who see and feel the state they are in by nature, being deeply sensible of
their sinfulness, guiltiness, helplessness. For theirs is the kingdom of heaven
- The present inward kingdom: righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy
Ghost, as well as the eternal kingdom, if they endure to the end. Luke vi, 20.
Verse 4. They that mourn - Either for their own sins, or for
other men's, and are steadily and habitually serious. They shall be comforted -
More solidly and deeply even in this world, and eternally in heaven.
Verse 5. Happy are the meek - They that hold all their passions
and affections evenly balanced. They shall inherit the earth - They shall have
all things really necessary for life and godliness. They shall enjoy whatever
portion God hath given them here, and shall hereafter possess the new earth,
wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Verse 6. They that hunger and thirst after righteousness - After
the holiness here described. They shall be satisfied with it.
Verse 7. The merciful - The tender-hearted: they who love all
men as themselves: They shall obtain mercy - Whatever mercy therefore we desire
from God, the same let us show to our brethren. He will repay us a thousand
fold, the love we bear to any for his sake.
Verse 8. The pure in heart - The sanctified: they who love God
with all their hearts. They shall see God - In all things here; hereafter in
glory.
Verse 9. The peace makers - They that out of love to God and man
do all possible good to all men. Peace in the Scripture sense implies all
blessings temporal and eternal. They shall be called the children of God -
Shall be acknowledged such by God and man. One would imagine a person of this
amiable temper and behaviour would be the darling of mankind. But our Lord well
knew it would not be so, as long as Satan was the prince of this world. He
therefore warns them before of the treatment all were to expect, who were
determined thus to tread in his steps, by immediately subjoining, Happy are
they who are persecuted for righteousness' sake. Through this whole discourse
we cannot but observe the most exact method which can possibly be conceived.
Every paragraph, every sentence, is closely connected both with that which
precedes, and that which follows it. And is not this the pattern for every
Christian preacher? If any then are able to follow it without any
premeditation, well: if not, let them not dare to preach without it. No
rhapsody, no incoherency, whether the things spoken be true or false, comes of
the Spirit of Christ.
Verse 10. For righteousness' sake - That is, because they have,
or follow after, the righteousness here described. He that is truly a righteous
man, he that mourns, and he that is pure in heart, yea, all that will live
godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution, 2 Tim. iii, 12. The world will
always say, Away with such fellows from the earth. They are made to reprove our
thoughts. They are grievous to us even to behold. Their lives are not like
other men's; their ways are of another fashion.
Verse 11. Revile - When present: say all evil - When you are
absent.
Verse 12. Your reward - Even over and above the happiness that
naturally and directly results from holiness.
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