Upper Room Daily Reflections - daily words of wisdom and faith “Grace”
for Wednesday, 26 February 2014
Today’s Reflection:
I DON’T ESPECIALLY UNDERSTAND the concept of grace. . . . I
confuse it with words like freebie or phew and get out of jail free card. Maybe
that’s not so bad. Maybe I don’t have to know what it means. Maybe I just have
to receive it.--Enuma Okoro-Reluctant Pilgrim
From page 72 of Reluctant Pilgrim: A Moody, Somewhat
Self-Indulgent Introvert’s Search for Spiritual Community by Enuma Okoro.
Copyright © 2010 by Enuma Okoro. 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 “grace?”
Today’s Scripture:
The LORD is king; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned
upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!--Psalm 99:1, NRSV
This Week: pray for struggling churches.
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Did You Know?
Pray your way through Lent in The Upper Room’s online Lenten
retreat featuring Pamela Hawkins’s The Awkward Season. Log in anytime from
anywhere to access audio, video, readings, and group discussion that will
enliven and deepen your Lenten prayer practice. Ash Wednesday through Easter
Sunday.
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Saints, Inc.:
This week we remember:
Gabriel Francis Possenti (February 27).
Like his namesake, St. Francis, Francesco (Francis) Possenti was
born in Assisi, Italy into a wealthy family. As a youth he was known as a
party-goer, clothes horse, and good dancer. His nickname was "The Ladies'
Man." He excelled at horsemanship and was a good marksman. During a
childhood illness he pledged his life to God if he were healed, but didn't make
good on that promise until he joined the Passionist Brothers. He was given the
name of Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows. Possenti is best known for the time he
disarmed a band of mercenary soldiers who were pillaging the village of Isola
and saved the village.
Possenti was stricken with tuberculosis soon after he entered
the priesthood. Despite his illness he was known as a joyful and compassionate
young man. He died in 1862 at the age of 24 at the Passionist monastery at Gran
Sasso, Italy. Saint Gabriel is considered the patron saint of youth.
If Gabriel Francis Possenti had taken the Spiritual Types Test,
he probably would have been a Lover. Gabriel Francis Possenti is remembered on
February 27.
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Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Exodus 24: 12 Yahweh said to Moses, “Come up to me on the
mountain, and stay here, and I will give you the stone tablets with the law and
the commands that I have written, that you may teach them.”
13 Moses rose up with Joshua, his servant, and Moses went up
onto God’s Mountain. 14 He said to the elders, “Wait here for us, until we come
again to you. Behold, Aaron and Hur are with you. Whoever is involved in a
dispute can go to them.”
15 Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the
mountain. 16 Yahweh’s glory settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it
six days. The seventh day he called to Moses out of the middle of the cloud. 17
The appearance of Yahweh’s glory was like devouring fire on the top of the
mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel. 18 Moses entered into the
middle of the cloud, and went up on the mountain; and Moses was on the mountain
forty days and forty nights.
Psalm 2:1 Why do the nations rage,
and the peoples plot a
vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth take a stand,
and the rulers take
counsel together,
against Yahweh, and
against his Anointed,[a] saying,
3 “Let’s break their bonds apart,
and cast their cords
from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens will laugh.
The Lord[b] will have
them in derision.
5 Then he will speak to them in his anger,
and terrify them in
his wrath:
6 “Yet I have set my King on my holy hill of Zion.”
7 I will tell of the
decree.
Yahweh said to me, “You are my son.
Today I have become
your father.
8 Ask of me, and I will give the nations for your inheritance,
the uttermost parts of
the earth for your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron.
You shall dash them in
pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
10 Now therefore be wise, you kings.
Be instructed, you
judges of the earth.
11 Serve Yahweh with fear,
and rejoice with
trembling.
12 Give sincere homage to the Son,[c] lest he be angry, and you
perish on the way,
for his wrath will
soon be kindled.
Blessed are all those
who take refuge in him.
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 2:2 The word “Anointed” is the same as the word for
“Messiah” or “Christ”
b. Psalm 2:4 The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”
c. Psalm 2:12 or, Kiss the son
2 Peter 1: 16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables,
when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we
were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honor
and glory, when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, “This is my
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”[a] 18 We heard this voice come out of
heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.
19 We have the more sure word of prophecy; and you do well that
you heed it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the
morning star arises in your hearts: 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of
Scripture is of private interpretation. 21 For no prophecy ever came by the
will of man: but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.
Footnotes:
a. 2 Peter 1:17 Matthew 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35
Matthew 17: 1 After six days, Jesus took with him Peter,
James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain by
themselves. 2 He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and
his garments became as white as the light. 3 Behold, Moses and Elijah appeared
to them talking with him.
4 Peter answered, and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to
be here. If you want, let’s make three tents here: one for you, one for Moses,
and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud
overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.”
6 When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces, and
were very afraid. 7 Jesus came and touched them and said, “Get up, and don’t be
afraid.” 8 Lifting up their eyes, they saw no one, except Jesus alone. 9 As
they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Don’t
tell anyone what you saw, until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.”
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John Wesley’s Notes/Commentary:
Exodus 24:12-18
Verse 12. Come up to the mount and be there - Expect to continue
there for some time.
Verse 13. Joshua was his minister or servant, and it would be a
satisfaction to him to have him with him as a companion during the six days
that he tarried in the mount before God called to him. Joshua was to be his
successor, and therefore thus he was honoured before the people, and thus he
was prepared by being trained up in communion with God. Joshua was a type of
Christ, and (as the learned Bishop Peirson well observes Moses takes him with
him into the mount, because without Jesus, in whom are hid all the treasures of
wisdom and knowledge, there is no looking into the secrets of heaven, nor
approaching the presence of God.
Verse 16. A cloud covered the mount six days - A visible token
of God's special presence there, for he so shews himself to us, as at the same time
to conceal himself from us, he lets us know so much as to assure us of his
power and grace, but intimates to us that we cannot find him out to perfection.
During these six days Moses staid waiting upon the mountain, for a call into
the presence- chamber. And on the seventh day - Probably the sabbath-day, he
called unto Moses. Now the thick cloud opened in the sight of all Israel, and
the glory of the Lord broke forth like devouring fire.
Verse 18. Moses went into the midst of the cloud - It was an
extraordinary presence of mind, which the grace of God furnished him with, else
he durst not have ventured into the cloud, especially when it broke out in
devouring fire. And Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights - It
should seem the six days, were not part of the forty; for during those six
days, Joshua was with Moses, who did eat of the manna, and drink of the brook
mentioned, Deut. ix, 21, and while they were together, it is probable Moses did
eat and drink with him; but when Moses was called into the midst of the cloud,
he left Joshua without, who continued to eat and drink daily while he waited
for Moses's return, but from thenceforward Moses fasted.
Psalm 2
PS 2 There is nothing in this psalm which is not applicable to
Christ, but some things which are not all applicable to David. Threatenings
denounced against the adversaries of Christ's kingdom, ver. 1-6. Promises made
to Christ, ver. 7-9. Counsel given to all, to submit to him, ver. 10-12.
Verse 1. Heathen - Who did so against David, 2 Sam. v, 6, 17; 1
Chron. xiv, 8, and against Christ, Luke xviii, 32 Acts iv, 25, &c.
Verse 2. The kings - Herod, and Pilate and others with or after
them. Earth - So called in way of contempt and to shew their madness in
opposing the God of heaven. Set - The word denotes the combination of their
counsels and forces. Anointed - Against the king whom God hath chosen and
exalted.
Verse 3. And cast - The same thing expressed with more emphasis.
Let us not only break off their yoke and the cords by which it is fastened upon
us, but let us cast them far away.
Verse 4. Sitteth - As the king of the whole world. Heavens - As
an evidence both of God's clear and certain knowledge of all things that are
done below, and of his sovereign and irresistible power. Laugh - Shall despise
them and all their crafty devices.
Verse 6. Yet - Notwithstanding all their artifices and
combinations. My king - Who ruleth in my stead, and according to my will, and
for my glory. Zion - Over my church and people. Zion strictly taken, was an
hill on the north part of Jerusalem, where there was a strong fort, called the
city of David, but in a more large sense it is put for the city of Jerusalem,
for the temple of Jerusalem, built upon the hill of Moriah, which was either a
part of mount Sion, or adjoining to it; for the church of the Jews, and for the
Christian church.
Verse 7. The decree - The will and appointment of God concerning
this. My son - Which tho' it may in some sort be said to, or of David, yet much
more properly belongs to Christ, who is commonly known by this title both in
the Old and New Testament, and to whom this title is expressly appropriated by
the holy ghost, who is the best interpreter of his own words, Acts xiii, 33
Heb. i, 5. This day - This may be understood either,
1. Of his eternal generation. This day, from all eternity, which
is well described by this day, because in eternity there is no succession, no
[yesterday,] no [tomorrow,] but it is all as one continued day or moment
without change or flux; or,
2. Of the manifestation of Christ's eternal son-ship in time;
which was done both in his birth and life, when his being the son of God was
demonstrated by the testimony of the angel, Luke i, 32, and of God the Father,
Matt. iii, 17; xvii, 5, and by his own words and works; and in his
resurrection, which seems to be here mainly intended, of which day this very
place is expounded, Acts xiii, 33. When Christ was in a most solemn manner
declared to be the son of God with power, Rom. i, 4.
Verse 8. Earth - Not only the Jewish nation, but the whole
world.
Verse 9. Them - Those that will not quietly submit to thee,
shall be crushed and destroyed by thee. This was in part fulfilled, when the
Jews who persisted in unbelief, were destroyed by the Roman power: And in the
destruction of the Pagan power, when the Christian religion came to be
established. But it will not be compleatly fulfilled, 'till all opposing power
and principality be put down.
Verse 10. Now - While you have time for repentance and
submission.
Verse 11. Fear - With an awful sense of his great and glorious
majesty. Rejoice - Do not esteem his yoke your dishonour and grievance; but
rejoice in this inestimable grace and benefit. Trembling - This is added to
warn them of taking heed that they do not turn this grace of God into
wantonness.
Verse 12. Kiss - In token of your subjection and adoration;
whereof this was a sign among the eastern nations. The son - The son of God. Ye
perish - Be taken out of the way by death or destruction. Wrath - The least
degree of his anger is terrible.
2 Peter 1:16-21
Verse 16. These things are worthy to be always had in
remembrance For they are not cunningly devised fables - Like those common among
the heathens. While we made known to you the power and coming - That is, the
powerful coming of Christ in glory. But if what they advanced of Christ was not
true, if it was of their own invention, then to impose such a lie on the world
as it was, in the very nature of things, above all human power to defend, and
to do this at the expense of life and all things only to enrage the whole
world, Jews and gentiles, against them, was no cunning, but was the greatest
folly that men could have been guilty of. But were eyewitnesses of his majesty
- At his transfiguration, which was a specimen of his glory at the last day.
Verse 17. For he received divine honour and inexpressible glory
- Shining from heaven above the brightness of the sun. When there came such a
voice from the excellent glory - That is, from God the Father. Matt. xvii, 5.
Verse 18. And we - Peter, James, and John. St. John was still
alive. Being with him in the holy mount - Made so by that glorious
manifestation, as mount Horeb was of old, Exod. iii, 4, 5.
Verse 19. And we - St. Peter here speaks in the name of all
Christians. Have the word of prophecy - The words of Moses, Isaiah, and all the
prophets, are one and the same word, every way consistent with itself. St.
Peter does not cite any particular passage, but speaks of their entire
testimony. More confirmed - By that display of his glorious majesty. To which
word ye do well that ye take heed, as to a lamp which shone in a dark place -
Wherein there was neither light nor window. Such anciently was the whole world,
except that little spot where this lamp shone. Till the day should dawn - Till
the full light of the gospel should break through the darkness. As is the
difference between the light of a lamp and that of the day, such is that
between the light of the Old Testament and of the New. And the morning star -
Jesus Christ, Rev. xxii, 16. Arise in your hearts - Be revealed in you.
Verse 20. Ye do well, as knowing this, that no scripture
prophecy is of private interpretation - It is not any man's own word. It is
God, not the prophet himself, who thereby interprets things till then unknown.
Verse 21. For prophecy came not of old by the will of man - Of
any mere man whatever. But the holy men of God - Devoted to him, and set apart
by him for that purpose, spake and wrote. Being moved - Literally, carried.
They were purely passive therein.
Matthew 17:1-9
Verse 1. A high mountain - Probably Mount Tabor. Mark ix, 2;
Luke ix, 28.
Verse 2. And was transfigured - Or transformed. The indwelling
Deity darted out its rays through the veil of the flesh; and that with such
transcendent splendour, that he no longer bore the form of a servant. His face
shone with Divine majesty, like the sun in its strength; and all his body was
so irradiated by it, that his clothes could not conceal its glory, but became
white and glittering as the very light, with which he covered himself as with a
garment.
Verse 3. There appeared Moses and Elijah - Here for the full
confirmation of their faith in Jesus, Moses, the giver of the law, Elijah, the
most zealous of all the prophets, and God speaking from heaven, all bore
witness to him.
Verse 4. Let us make three tents - The words of rapturous
surprise. He says three, not six: because the apostles desired to be with their
Master.
Verse 5. Hear ye him - As superior even to Moses and the
prophets. See Deut. xviii, 17.
Verse 7. Be not afraid - And doubtless the same moment he gave
them courage and strength.
Verse 9. Tell the vision to no man - Not to the rest of the
disciples, lest they should be grieved and discouraged because they were not
admitted to the sight: nor to any other persons, lest it should enrage some the
more, and his approaching sufferings shall make others disbelieve it; till the
Son of man be risen again - Till the resurrection should make it credible, and
confirm their testimony about it.
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