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Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional “The Chipped Cup” for Monday, 1 December 2014 - Scripture: Exodus 4:10-12

Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional “The Chipped Cup” for Monday, 1 December 2014 - Scripture: Exodus 4:10 Moses raised another objection to God: “Master, please, I don’t talk well. I’ve never been good with words, neither before nor after you spoke to me. I stutter and stammer.”
11-12 God said, “And who do you think made the human mouth? And who makes some mute, some deaf, some sighted, some blind? Isn’t it I, God? So, get going. I’ll be right there with you—with your mouth! I’ll be right there to teach you what to say.”
We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us.[Romans 12:6 (NRSV)]
Recently my wife and I were going through some old dishes to decide which were suitable to give away and which were unsalvageable. At one point, when I rescued a cup that had a large chip in the rim, she looked surprised. “It’s my favorite cup,” I told her. “It reminds me that we can be flawed but still useful.”
Throughout history, God has used people who were less than perfect. Moses was “slow of speech and tongue” (NIV). Rahab was a prostitute. David committed adultery with Bathsheba, then arranged to have her husband die in battle. Peter denied Jesus three times.
I also have many weaknesses and imperfections. And as I near retirement I am beginning to feel my age. My eyesight, hearing, and memory aren’t what they used to be, and the aches and pains are growing more frequent. But that doesn’t mean I can’t be useful. I can go into an uncertain future with confidence in my ability to keep serving the Lord because I know that God will be there with me.
Read more from the author, here.
"Retirement"
I retired a few months after I submitted today’s devotion. I have found that retirement has both its rewards and challenges, but mostly the
experience has been very positive.
I spent most of my career at arboretums and botanical gardens, working either as a curator or administrator. My last position was as director of a university field station. I feel fortunate to have spent all my working years at beautiful places. Nature was always just outside the door!

One of the blessings of retirement is the opportunity to work on projects you didn’t have time to do previously. I am currently writing a book about the native shrubs and vines of the state where I live. My co-author is a colleague who I first worked with on another book 30 years ago.
My wife and I will be moving to a small college town next year. We look forward to being closer to our children and meeting new people through the church and community. We are not sure what the future will bring, but we are confident that God will be with us, guiding us along the way.
And, yes, we still have the chipped cup. My wife lets me use it most of the time, perhaps to remind me I’m far from perfect![Peter van der Linden]
The Author: Peter J. van der Linden (Iowa, USA)
Thought for the Day: We don’t have to be perfect to be useful to God.
Prayer: Dear Lord, remind us that we can be useful in serving you despite our flaws. Amen.
Prayer focus: People nearing retirement
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Wichita, Kansas, United States - Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church Daily Devotional for Monday, 1 December 2014

Wichita, Kansas, United States - Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church Daily Devotional for Monday, 1 December 2014

Today please be in prayer for:

Russell Anderson Neosho Falls UMC Yates Center UMC Five Rivers District

Richard Lane Bailey Wellsville UMC Five Rivers District

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1st Sunday of Advent – Purple or Blue
This Week's Lectionary Scriptures:
Lectionary Scriptures:
Isaiah 64:1-9
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Mark 13:24-37
Isaiah 64: Can We Be Saved?
1-7 Oh, that you would rip open the heavens and descend,
    make the mountains shudder at your presence—
As when a forest catches fire,
    as when fire makes a pot to boil—
To shock your enemies into facing you,
    make the nations shake in their boots!
You did terrible things we never expected,
    descended and made the mountains shudder at your presence.
Since before time began
    no one has ever imagined,
No ear heard, no eye seen, a God like you
    who works for those who wait for him.
You meet those who happily do what is right,
    who keep a good memory of the way you work.
But how angry you’ve been with us!
    We’ve sinned and kept at it so long!
    Is there any hope for us? Can we be saved?
We’re all sin-infected, sin-contaminated.
    Our best efforts are grease-stained rags.
We dry up like autumn leaves—
    sin-dried, we’re blown off by the wind.
No one prays to you
    or makes the effort to reach out to you
Because you’ve turned away from us,
    left us to stew in our sins.
8-12 Still, God, you are our Father.
    We’re the clay and you’re our potter:
    All of us are what you made us.
Don’t be too angry with us, O God.
    Don’t keep a permanent account of wrongdoing.
    Keep in mind, please, we are your people—all of us.
Your holy cities are all ghost towns:
    Zion’s a ghost town,
    Jerusalem’s a field of weeds.
Our holy and beautiful Temple,
    which our ancestors filled with your praises,
Was burned down by fire,
    all our lovely parks and gardens in ruins.
In the face of all this,
    are you going to sit there unmoved, God?
Aren’t you going to say something?
    Haven’t you made us miserable long enough?
Psalm 100: A Thanksgiving Psalm
1-2 On your feet now—applaud God!
    Bring a gift of laughter,
    sing yourselves into his presence.
3 Know this: God is God, and God, God.
    He made us; we didn’t make him.
    We’re his people, his well-tended sheep.
4 Enter with the password: “Thank you!”
    Make yourselves at home, talking praise.
    Thank him. Worship him.
5 For God is sheer beauty,
    all-generous in love,
    loyal always and ever.
Ephesians 1:15-19 That’s why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn’t stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I’d think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!
20-23 All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.
Matthew 25: The Sheep and the Goats
31-33 “When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left.
34-36 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:
I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’
37-40 “Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’
41-43 “Then he will turn to the ‘goats,’ the ones on his left, and say, ‘Get out, worthless goats! You’re good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because—
I was hungry and you gave me no meal,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
I was homeless and you gave me no bed,
I was shivering and you gave me no clothes,
Sick and in prison, and you never visited.’
44 “Then those ‘goats’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn’t help?’
45 “He will answer them, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.’
46 “Then those ‘goats’ will be herded to their eternal doom, but the ‘sheep’ to their eternal reward.”
John Wesley's Notes-Commentary:
Isaiah 64:1-9
Verse 1
[1] Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence,
Rent — A metaphor taken from men, that when they would resolutely help one in distress, break and fling open doors and whatever may hinder.
Flow down — That all impediments might be removed out of the way: possibly an allusion to God's coming down upon mount Sinai, in those terrible flames of fire.
Verse 2
[2] As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence!
Fire — Come with such zeal for thy people, that the solid mountains may be no more before thy breath, than metal that runs, or water that boils by the force of a vehement fire.
Known — That thine enemies may know thy power, and that thy name may be dreaded among them.
Verse 3
[3] When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence.
Terrible things — This may relate to what he did among the Egyptians, tho' it be not recorded, and afterward in the wilderness.
Looked not for — Such things as we could never expect.
Mountains — Kings, princes, and potentates, may metaphorically be understood by these mountains.
Verse 4
[4] For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
Besides thee — This is to be applied to all the wonderful works, that God at all times wrought for his people: and thus they are a plea with God, that they might well expect such things from him now, that had done such wonderful things for their fathers.
Waiteth — This may be taken with reference both to the state of grace and glory, those incomprehensible things that are exhibited through Christ in the mysteries of the gospel.
Verse 5
[5] Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved.
Meetest — As the father the prodigal.
Worketh — That rejoices to work righteousness.
Continuance — To those that work righteousness.
Be saved — In so doing, in working righteousness.
Verse 6
[6] But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Unclean — Formerly there were some that feared thee; but now we are all as one polluted mass, nothing of good left in us by reason of an universal degeneracy.
And all — The very best of us all are no better than the uncleanest things.
Taken — Carried away to Babylon, as leaves hurried away by a boisterous wind.
Verse 7
[7] And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.
That calleth — That call upon thee as they ought.
Take hold — Either to stay thee from departing from us, or to fetch thee back when departed.
Verse 8
[8] But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
Our father — Notwithstanding all this thou art our father both by creation, and by adoption, therefore pity us thy children.
Verse 9
[9] Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.
Thy people — Thou hast no people in covenant but us, and wilt thou not leave thyself a people in the world?
Psalm 100
An Exhortation to Thanksgiving
1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. 2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
An exhortation to praise God and to rejoice in him, verse 1-5 A psalm of praise.
Ephesians 1:15-23
Verse 15
[15] Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
Since I heard of your faith and love — That is, of their perseverance and increase therein.
Verse 16
[16] Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
I cease not — In all my solemn addresses to God.
To give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers — So he did of all the churches, Colossians 1:9.
Verse 17
[17] That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
That the Father of that infinite glory which shines in the face of Christ, from whom also we receive the glorious inheritance, Ephesians 1:18, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation - The same who is the Spirit of promise is also, in the progress of the faithful, the Spirit of wisdom and revelation; making them wise unto salvation, and revealing to them the deep things of God. He is here speaking of that wisdom and revelation which are common to all real Christians.
Verse 18
[18] The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
The eyes of your understanding — It is with these alone that we discern the things of God. Being first opened, and then enlightened - - By his Spirit.
That ye may know what is the hope of his calling — That ye may experimentally and delightfully know what are the blessings which God has called you to hope for by his word and his Spirit.
And what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints — What an immense treasure of blessedness he hath provided as an inheritance for holy souls.
Verse 19
[19] And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
And what the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe — Both in quickening our dead souls, and preserving them in spiritual life.
According to the power which he exerted in Christ, raising him from the dead — By the very same almighty power whereby he raised Christ; for no less would suffice.
Verse 20
[20] Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
And he hath seated him at his own right hand — That is, he hath exalted him in his human nature, as a recompence for his sufferings, to a quiet, everlasting possession of all possible blessedness, majesty, and glory.
Verse 21
[21] Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion — That is, God hath invested him with uncontrollable authority over all demons in hell, all angels in heaven, and all the princes and potentates on earth.
And every name that is named — We know the king is above all, though we cannot name all the officers of his court. So we know that Christ is above all, though we are not able to name all his subjects.
Not only in this world, but also in that which is to come — The world to come is so styled, not because it does not yet exist, but because it is not yet visible. Principalities and powers are named now; but those also who are not even named in this world, but shall be revealed in the world to come, are all subject to Christ.
Verse 22
[22] And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
And he hath given him to be head over all things to the church — An head both of guidance and government, and likewise of life and influence, to the whole and every member of it. All these stand in the nearest union with him, and have as continual and effectual a communication of activity, growth, and strength from him, as the natural body from its head.
Verse 23
[23] Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
The fulness of him that filleth all in all — It is hard to say in what sense this can be spoken of the church; but the sense is easy and natural, if we refer it to Christ, who is the fulness of the Father.
Matthew 25:31-46
Verse 31
[31] When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him — With what majesty and grandeur does our Lord here speak of himself Giving us one of the noblest instances of the true sublime. Indeed not many descriptions in the sacred writings themselves seem to equal this. Methinks we can hardly read it without imagining ourselves before the awful tribunal it describes.
Verse 34
[34] Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Inherit the kingdom — Purchased by my blood, for all who have believed in me with the faith which wrought by love.
Prepared for you — On purpose for you. May it not be probably inferred from hence, that man was not created merely to fill up the places of the fallen angels?
Verse 35
[35] For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
I was hungry, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink — All these works of outward mercy suppose faith and love, and must needs he accompanied with works of spiritual mercy. But works of this kind the Judge could not mention in the same manner. He could not say, I was in error, and ye recalled me to the truth; I was in sin, and ye brought me to repentance.
In prison — Prisoners need to be visited above all others, as they are commonly solitary and forsaken by the rest of the world.
Verse 37
[37] Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Then shall the righteous answer — It cannot be, that either the righteous or the wicked should answer in these very words. What we learn herefrom is, that neither of them have the same estimation of their own works as the Judge hath.
Verse 40
[40] And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Inasmuch as ye did it to one of the least of these my brethren, ye did it to me — What encouragement is here to assist the household of faith? But let us likewise remember to do good to all men.
Verse 41
[41] Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Depart into the everlasting fire, which was prepared for the devil and his angels — Not originally for you: you are intruders into everlasting fire.
Verse 44
[44] Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Then will they answer — So the endeavour to justify themselves, will remain with the wicked even to that day!
Verse 46
[46] And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life everlasting — Either therefore the punishment is strictly eternal, or the reward is not: the very same expression being applied to the former as to the latter. The Judge will speak first to the righteous, in the audience of the wicked. The wicked shall then go away into everlasting fire, in the view of the righteous. Thus the damned shall see nothing of the everlasting life; but the just will see the punishment of the ungodly. It is not only particularly observable here, 1. That the punishment lasts as long as the reward; but, 2. That this punishment is so far from ceasing at the end of the world, that it does not begin till then.
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Today’s Devotion:
Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional “The Chipped Cup” for Monday, 1 December 2014 - Scripture: Exodus 4:10 Moses raised another objection to God: “Master, please, I don’t talk well. I’ve never been good with words, neither before nor after you spoke to me. I stutter and stammer.”
11-12 God said, “And who do you think made the human mouth? And who makes some mute, some deaf, some sighted, some blind? Isn’t it I, God? So, get going. I’ll be right there with you—with your mouth! I’ll be right there to teach you what to say.”
We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us.[Romans 12:6 (NRSV)]
Recently my wife and I were going through some old dishes to decide which were suitable to give away and which were unsalvageable. At one point, when I rescued a cup that had a large chip in the rim, she looked surprised. “It’s my favorite cup,” I told her. “It reminds me that we can be flawed but still useful.”
Throughout history, God has used people who were less than perfect. Moses was “slow of speech and tongue” (NIV). Rahab was a prostitute. David committed adultery with Bathsheba, then arranged to have her husband die in battle. Peter denied Jesus three times.
I also have many weaknesses and imperfections. And as I near retirement I am beginning to feel my age. My eyesight, hearing, and memory aren’t what they used to be, and the aches and pains are growing more frequent. But that doesn’t mean I can’t be useful. I can go into an uncertain future with confidence in my ability to keep serving the Lord because I know that God will be there with me.
Read more from the author, here.
"Retirement"
I retired a few months after I submitted today’s devotion. I have found that retirement has both its rewards and challenges, but mostly the
experience has been very positive.
I spent most of my career at arboretums and botanical gardens, working either as a curator or administrator. My last position was as director of a university field station. I feel fortunate to have spent all my working years at beautiful places. Nature was always just outside the door!
One of the blessings of retirement is the opportunity to work on projects you didn’t have time to do previously. I am currently writing a book about the native shrubs and vines of the state where I live. My co-author is a colleague who I first worked with on another book 30 years ago.
My wife and I will be moving to a small college town next year. We look forward to being closer to our children and meeting new people through the church and community. We are not sure what the future will bring, but we are confident that God will be with us, guiding us along the way.
And, yes, we still have the chipped cup. My wife lets me use it most of the time, perhaps to remind me I’m far from perfect![Peter van der Linden]
The Author: Peter J. van der Linden (Iowa, USA)
Thought for the Day: We don’t have to be perfect to be useful to God.
Prayer: Dear Lord, remind us that we can be useful in serving you despite our flaws. Amen.
Prayer focus: People nearing retirement
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Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church
9440 E Boston, Suite 160
Wichita KS 67207
316-686-0600
800-745-2350
info@greatplainsumc.org
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Nashville, Tennessee, United States - Upper Room Daily Reflections - daily words of wisdom and faith “Pause and Breath" for Monday, 1 December 2014

Nashville, Tennessee, United States - Upper Room Daily Reflections - daily words of wisdom and faith “Pause and Breath" for Monday, 1 December 2014
Today’s Reflection:
IN THE SEASON of Advent, we are called to share the hope that we have in Christ with a hope-famished world. …
Prepare your heart to be open to this season before you, a season full of sights and sounds and needs. Commit to setting aside a brief time every day to read [a] scripture and meditation for the day. Pause and breathe. God is near.[Light of Lights]
From page 9 of Light of Lights: Advent Devotions from The Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide, compiled and edited by Robin Pippin. Copyright © 2014 by Upper Room Books. All rights reserved. Used by permission. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question:
If you do not read scripture and pray each day, consider doing so during the remainder of Advent.
Today’s Scripture:
Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.[Isaiah 40:1-2, NRSV]

This Week: pray for estranged friends.
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Did You Know?
In need of prayer? The Upper Room Living Prayer Center is a 7-day-a-week intercessory prayer ministry staffed by trained volunteers, call 1-800-251-2468.
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Saints, Inc.:
This week we remember:
Nicholas (December 6).
Nicholas
December 06
In the fourth century Nicholas was the bishop of Myra (present day Turkey) in Asia Minor. He was exiled and imprisoned during the Roman Emperor Diocletian's persecution of Christians, and attended the important Council of Nicaea in 325. In the sixth century Emperor Justinian I built a basilica in his honor in Constantinople. Not many more substantiated facts are known about the man who over the centuries was transformed into Jolly Old Saint Nicholas.
From at least 1095 Nicholas has been popular. He is given credit for many miracles. Numerous legends have fostered the image of a man with a generous spirit who loved children. Russia's Vladmir I encouraged veneration of Nicholas. Dutch stories and traditions expanded Nicholas' connection with Christmas.
Nicholas died in Myra and is buried there. Many claim that an oily substance with healing powers known as Manna di Santo Nicola has exuded from his bones since his burial.
If Nicholas had taken the spiritual type test, he probably would have been a Lover. Nicholas is remembered on December 6.

Image is detail of St. Nicholas icon, compliments of St. Isaac of Syria Skete, www.skete.com.
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Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Lectionary Scriptures:
Isaiah 40:1-11
Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13
2 Peter 3:8-15a

Mark 1:1-8
Isaiah 40: Messages of Comfort
Prepare for God’s Arrival
1-2 “Comfort, oh comfort my people,”
    says your God.
“Speak softly and tenderly to Jerusalem,
    but also make it very clear
That she has served her sentence,
    that her sin is taken care of—forgiven!
She’s been punished enough and more than enough,
    and now it’s over and done with.”
3-5 Thunder in the desert!
    “Prepare for God’s arrival!
Make the road straight and smooth,
    a highway fit for our God.
Fill in the valleys,
    level off the hills,
Smooth out the ruts,
    clear out the rocks.
Then God’s bright glory will shine
    and everyone will see it.
    Yes. Just as God has said.”
6-8 A voice says, “Shout!”
    I said, “What shall I shout?”
“These people are nothing but grass,
    their love fragile as wildflowers.
The grass withers, the wildflowers fade,
    if God so much as puffs on them.
    Aren’t these people just so much grass?
True, the grass withers and the wildflowers fade,
    but our God’s Word stands firm and forever.”
9-11 Climb a high mountain, Zion.
    You’re the preacher of good news.
Raise your voice. Make it good and loud, Jerusalem.
    You’re the preacher of good news.
    Speak loud and clear. Don’t be timid!
Tell the cities of Judah,
    “Look! Your God!”
Look at him! God, the Master, comes in power,
    ready to go into action.
He is going to pay back his enemies
    and reward those who have loved him.
Like a shepherd, he will care for his flock,
    gathering the lambs in his arms,
Hugging them as he carries them,
    leading the nursing ewes to good pasture.
Psalm 85: A Korah Psalm
1-3 God, you smiled on your good earth!
    You brought good times back to Jacob!
You lifted the cloud of guilt from your people,
    you put their sins far out of sight.
You took back your sin-provoked threats,
    you cooled your hot, righteous anger.
8-9 I can’t wait to hear what he’ll say.
    God’s about to pronounce his people well,
The holy people he loves so much,
    so they’ll never again live like fools.
See how close his salvation is to those who fear him?
    Our country is home base for Glory!
10-13 Love and Truth meet in the street,
    Right Living and Whole Living embrace and kiss!
Truth sprouts green from the ground,
    Right Living pours down from the skies!
Oh yes! God gives Goodness and Beauty;
    our land responds with Bounty and Blessing.
Right Living strides out before him,
    and clears a path for his passage.
2 Peter 3: The Day the Sky Will Collapse
8-9 Don’t overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.
10 But when the Day of God’s Judgment does come, it will be unannounced, like a thief. The sky will collapse with a thunderous bang, everything disintegrating in a huge conflagration, earth and all its works exposed to the scrutiny of Judgment.
11-13 Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life? Daily expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival. The galaxies will burn up and the elements melt down that day—but we’ll hardly notice. We’ll be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens and the promised new earth, all landscaped with righteousness.
14-16 So, my dear friends, since this is what you have to look forward to, do your very best to be found living at your best, in purity and peace. Interpret our Master’s patient restraint for what it is: salvation. Our good brother Paul, who was given much wisdom in these matters, refers to this in all his letters, and has written you essentially the same thing. Some things Paul writes are difficult to understand. Irresponsible people who don’t know what they are talking about twist them every which way. They do it to the rest of the Scriptures, too, destroying themselves as they do it.

Mark 1: John the Baptizer
1-3 The good news of Jesus Christ—the Message!—begins here, following to the letter the scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
Watch closely: I’m sending my preacher ahead of you;
He’ll make the road smooth for you.
Thunder in the desert!
Prepare for God’s arrival!
Make the road smooth and straight!
4-6 John the Baptizer appeared in the wild, preaching a baptism of life-change that leads to forgiveness of sins. People thronged to him from Judea and Jerusalem and, as they confessed their sins, were baptized by him in the Jordan River into a changed life. John wore a camel-hair habit, tied at the waist with a leather belt. He ate locusts and wild field honey.
7-8 As he preached he said, “The real action comes next: The star in this drama, to whom I’m a mere stagehand, will change your life. I’m baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. His baptism—a holy baptism by the Holy Spirit—will change you from the inside out.”
John Wesley's Notes-Commentary:
Isaiah 40:1-11
Verse 1
[1] Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
Ye — Ye prophets and ministers.
Verse 2
[2] Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD's hand double for all her sins.
Warfare — The time of her captivity, and misery.
Double — Not twice as much as her sins deserved, but abundantly enough to answer God's design in this chastisement, which was to humble and reform them, and to warn others by their example.
Verse 3
[3] The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
The voice — An abrupt speech. Methinks I hear a voice.
Wilderness — This immediately relates to the deliverance of the Jews out of Babylon, and smoothing their passage from thence to Judea, which lay through a great wilderness; but principally to their redemption by the Messiah, whose coming was ushered in by the cry of John the baptist, in the wilderness.
Prepare ye the way — You to whom this work belongs. He alludes to the custom of princes who send pioneers before them to prepare the way through which they are to pass. The meaning is, God shall by his spirit so dispose mens hearts, and by his providence so order the affairs of the world, as to make way for the accomplishment of his promise. This was eminently fulfilled, when Christ, who was, and is God, blessed for ever, came into the world in a visible manner.
Verse 6
[6] The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
Cry — God speaks unto his ministers.
He — The prophet.
All flesh — The prophet having foretold glorious things, confirms the certainty of them, by representing the vast difference between the nature, and word, and work of men and of God. All that men are or have, yea, their highest accomplishments, are but like the grass of the field, weak and vanishing, soon nipt and brought to nothing; but God's word is like himself, immutable and irresistible: and therefore as the mouth of the Lord, and not of man, hath spoken these things, so doubt not but they shall be fulfilled.
Verse 9
[9] O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
Zion — Zion or Jerusalem is the publisher, and the cities of Judah the hearers.
Get up — That thy voice may be better heard.
Afraid — Lest thou shouldest be found a false prophet.
Say — To all my people in the several places of their abode.
Behold — Take notice of this wonderful work, and glorious appearance of your God.
Verse 10
[10] Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
His arm — He shall need no succours, for his own power shall be sufficient to govern his people, and to destroy his adversaries.
His reward — He comes furnished with recompences as well of blessings for his friends, as of vengeance for his enemies.
His work — He carries on his work effectually: for that is said in scripture to be before a man which is in his power.
Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13
Verse 1
[1] LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
Captivity — The captives.
Verse 8
[8] I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
Will hear — Diligently observe.
Will speak — What answer God will give to my prayers.
Peace — He will give an answer of peace.
Saints — Not to all that are called God's people, but only to those who are truly such.
Verse 9
[9] Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
His salvation — That compleat salvation for which all the Israel of God wait; even the redemption by the Messiah; of which not only Christian, but even Jewish writers understand this place; and to which the following passages properly belong. And the psalmist might well say this salvation was nigh, because the seventy weeks determined by Daniel were begun.
Glory — The glorious presence of God, and the God of glory himself, even Christ, who is the brightness of his father's glory.
Verse 10
[10] Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Kissed — That great work of redemption by Christ, shall clearly manifest God's mercy in redeeming his people Israel, and in the conversion of the Gentiles; his truth in fulfilling that great promise of sending his son, his righteousness in punishing sin, on his son, and in conferring righteousness upon guilty and lost creatures; and his peace or reconciliation to sinners, and that peace of conscience which attends upon it.
Verse 11
[11] Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
Truth — Truth among men.
Righteousness — And God's justice shall be satisfied: he shall look down upon sinful men with a smiling countenance.
Verse 13
[13] Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.
Before him — As his harbinger. He shall fulfil all righteousness, he shall satisfy the righteousness of God, and shall advance righteousness and holiness among men.
Set us — Shall cause us to walk in those righteous ways wherein he walketh.
2 Peter 3:8-15a

Verse 8
[8] But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
But be not ye ignorant — Whatever they are.
Of this one thing — Which casts much light on the point in hand.
That one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day — Moses had said, Psalms 90:4, "A thousand years in thy sight are as one day;" which St. Peter applies with regard to the last day, so as to denote both his eternity, whereby he exceeds all measure of time in his essence and in his operation; his knowledge, to which all things past or to come are present every moment; his power, which needs no long delay, in order to bring its work to perfection; and his longsuffering, which excludes all impatience of expectation, and desire of making haste.
One day is with the Lord as a thousand years — That is, in one day, in one moment he can do the work of a thousand years. Therefore he "is not slow:" he is always equally ready to fulfil his promise.
And a thousand years are as one day — That is, no delay is long to God. A thousand years are as one day to the eternal God. Therefore "he is longsuffering:" he gives us space for repentance, without any inconvenience to himself. In a word, with God time passes neither slower nor swifter than is suitable to him and his economy; nor can there be any reason why it should be necessary for him either to delay or hasten the end of all things. How can we comprehend this? If we could comprehend it, St. Peter needed not to have added, with the Lord.
Verse 9
[9] The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
The Lord is not slow — As if the time fixed for it were past.
Concerning his promise — Which shall surely be fulfilled in its season.
But is longsuffering towards us — Children of men. Not willing that any soul, which he hath made should perish.
Verse 10
[10] But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief — Suddenly, unexpectedly.
In which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise — Surprisingly expressed by the very sound of the original word.
The elements shall melt with fervent heat — The elements seem to mean, the sun, moon, and stars; not the four, commonly so called; for air and water cannot melt, and the earth is mentioned immediately after. The earth and all the works - Whether of nature or art.
That are therein shall be burned up — And has not God already abundantly provided for this? 1. By the stores of subterranean fire which are so frequently bursting out at Aetna, Vesuvius, Hecla, and many other burning mountains. 2. By the ethereal (vulgarly called electrical) fire, diffused through the whole globe; which, if the secret chain that now binds it up were loosed, would immediately dissolve the whole frame of nature. 3. By comets, one of which, if it touch the earth in its course toward the sun, must needs strike it into that abyss of fire; if in its return from the sun, when it is heated, as a great man computes, two thousand times hotter than a red-hot cannonball, it must destroy all vegetables and animals long before their contact, and soon after burn it up.
Verse 11
[11] Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
Seeing then that all these things are dissolved — To the eye of faith it appears as done already.
All these things — Mentioned before; all that are included in that scriptural expression, "the heavens and the earth;" that is, the universe. On the fourth day God made the stars, Genesis 1:16, which will be dissolved together with the earth. They are deceived, therefore, who restrain either the history of the creation, or this description of the destruction, of the world to the earth and lower heavens; imagining the stars to be more ancient than the earth, and to survive it. Both the dissolution and renovation are ascribed, not to the one heaven which surrounds the earth, but to the heavens in general, 2 Peter 3:10,13, without any restriction or limitation.
What persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation — With men.
And godliness — Toward your Creator.
Verse 12
[12] Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
Hastening on — As it were by your earnest desires and fervent prayers.
The coming of the day of God — Many myriads of days he grants to men: one, the last, is the day of God himself.
Verse 13
[13] Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
We look for new heavens and a new earth — Raised as it were out of the ashes of the old; we look for an entire new state of things.
Wherein dwelleth righteousness — Only righteous spirits. How great a mystery!
Verse 14
[14] Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Labour that whenever he cometh ye may be found in peace - May meet him without terror, being sprinkled with his blood, and sanctified by his Spirit, so as to be without spot and blameless. Isaiah 65:17; Isaiah 66:22.
Verse 15
[15] And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
And account the longsuffering of the Lord salvation — Not only designed to lead men to repentance, but actually conducing thereto: a precious means of saving many more souls.
As our beloved brother Paul also hath written to you — This refers not only to the single sentence preceding, but to all that went before. St. Paul had written to the same effect concerning the end of the world, in several parts of his epistles, and particularly in his Epistle to the Hebrews. Romans 2:4.
Mark 1:1-8
Verse 1
[1] The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ — The evangelist speaks with strict propriety: for the beginning of the Gospel is in the account of John the Baptist, contained in the first paragraph; the Gospel itself in the rest of the book. Matthew 3:1; Luke 3:1
Verse 2
[2] As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
Malachi 3:1
Verse 3
[3] The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Isaiah 40:3.
Verse 4
[4] John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Preaching the baptism of repentance — That is, preaching repentance, and baptizing as a sign and means of it.
Verse 7
[7] And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
The latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose — That is, to do him the very meanest service.
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