Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church Wichita, Kansas, United States - Daily Devotional for Wednesday, 1 April 2015
Today please be in prayer for
Norfolk First UMC
Elkhorn Valley District
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Clearwater UMC
Neligh UMC
Oakdale UMC
Elkhorn Valley District
| 
Carroll UMC
Wayne First UMC
Elkhorn Valley District
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Wednesday of Holy Week – Purple, Red or Scarlet
Isaiah 50:4 Adonai Elohim has given me
the ability to speak as a man well taught,
so that I, with my words,
know how to sustain the weary.
Each morning he awakens my ear
to hear like those who are taught.
5 Adonai Elohim has opened my ear,
and I neither rebelled nor turned away.
6 I offered my back to those who struck me,
my cheeks to those who plucked out my beard;
I did not hide my face
from insult and spitting.
7 For Adonai Elohim will help.
This is why no insult can wound me.
This is why I have set my face like flint,
knowing I will not be put to shame.
8 My vindicator is close by;
let whoever dares to accuse me
appear with me in court!
Let whoever has a case against me step forward!
9 Look, if Adonai Elohim helps me,
who will dare to condemn me?
Here, they are all falling apart
like old, moth-eaten clothes.
Psalm 70: (0) For the leader. By David. As a reminder:
2 (1) God, rescue me!
Adonai, hurry and help me!
3 (2) May those who seek my life
be disgraced and humiliated.
May those who take pleasure in doing me harm
be turned back and put to confusion.
4 (3) May those who jeer, “Aha! Aha!”
withdraw because of their shame.
5 (4) But may all those who seek you
be glad and take joy in you.
May those who love your salvation say always,
“God is great and glorious!”
6 (5) But I am poor and needy;
God, hurry for me.
You are my helper and rescuer;
Adonai, don’t delay!
Hebrews 12:1 So then, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us, too, put aside every impediment — that is, the sin which easily hampers our forward movement — and keep running with endurance in the contest set before us, 2 looking away to the Initiator and Completer of that trusting,[a] Yeshua — who, in exchange for obtaining the joy set before him, endured execution on a stake as a criminal, scorning the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.[b] 3 Yes, think about him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you won’t grow tired or become despondent.[Footnotes:
Hebrews 12:2 Habakkuk 2:4
Hebrews 12:2 Psalm 110:1]
John 13:21 After saying this, Yeshua, in deep anguish of spirit, declared, “Yes, indeed! I tell you that one of you will betray me.” 22 The talmidim stared at one another, totally mystified — whom could he mean? 23 One of his talmidim, the one Yeshua particularly loved, was reclining close beside him. 24 So Shim‘on Kefa motioned to him and said, “Ask which one he’s talking about.” 25 Leaning against Yeshua’s chest, he asked Yeshua, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Yeshua answered, “It’s the one to whom I give this piece of matzah after I dip it in the dish.” So he dipped the piece of matzah and gave it to Y’hudah Ben-Shim‘on from K’riot. 27 As soon as Y’hudah took the piece of matzah, the Adversary went into him. “What you are doing, do quickly!” Yeshua said to him. 28 But no one at the table understood why he had said this to him. 29 Some thought that since Y’hudah was in charge of the common purse, Yeshua was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival,” or telling him to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as he had taken the piece of matzah, Y’hudah went out, and it was night.
31 After Y’hudah had left, Yeshua said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32 If the Son has glorified God, God will himself glorify the Son, and will do so without delay.
John Wesley's Notes-Commentary for:
Wednesday of Holy Week
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Verse 4
[4] The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.
Given me — This and the following passages may be in some sort understood of the prophet Isaiah, but they are far more evidently and eminently verified in Christ, and indeed seem to be meant directly of him.
The tongue — All ability of speaking plainly, and convincingly, and persuasively.
Weary — Burdened with the sense of his, deplorable condition.
Wakeneth — Me, from time to time, and continually.
To hear — He by his Divine power assists me to the practice of all his commands and my duties, with all attention and diligence.
Verse 6
[6] I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
I gave — I patiently yielded up myself to those who smote me.
Verse 8
[8] He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.
Justifieth — God will clear up my righteousness, and shew by many and mighty signs and wonders, that I lived and died his faithful servant.
Let him come — l am conscious of mine own innocency, and I know that God will give sentence for me.
Verse 9
[9] Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.
They — Mine accusers and enemies.
The moth — Shall be cut off and consumed by a secret curse.Psalm 70
(Read all of Psalm 70)
This psalm is copied almost word for word from the eleventh psalm, and perhaps is for that reason entitled, A psalm to bring remembrance. For it may sometimes be of use to pray over again the prayers we have formerly made to God on like occasions. David here prays, that God would send help to him, shame to his enemies, and joy to his friends. To the chief musician, a psalm of David, to bring to remembrance.
Hebrews 12:1-3
Verse 1
[1] Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Wherefore, being encompassed with a cloud — A great multitude, tending upward with a holy swiftness.
Of witnesses — Of the power of faith.
Let us lay aside every weight — As all who run a race take care to do. Let us throw off whatever weighs us down, or damps the vigour of our Soul.
And the sin which easily besetteth us — As doth the sin of our constitution, the sin of our education, the sin of our profession.
Verse 2
[2] Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Looking — From all other things.
To Jesus — As the wounded Israelites to the brazen serpent. Our crucified Lord was prefigured by the lifting up of this; our guilt, by the stings of the fiery serpents; and our faith, by their looking up to the miraculous remedy.
The author and finisher of our faith — Who begins it in us, carries it on, and perfects it.
Who for the joy that was set before him — Patiently and willingly endured the cross, with all the pains annexed thereto.
And is set down — Where there is fulness of joy.John 13:21-32
Verse 21
[21] When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
One of you — The speaking thus indefinitely at first was profitable to them all.
Verse 23
[23] Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
There was lying in the bosom of Jesus — That is, sitting next to him at table. This phrase only expresses the then customary posture at meals, where the guests all leaned sidewise on couches. And each was said to lie in the bosom of him who was placed next above him.
One of the disciples whom Jesus loved — St. John avoids with great care the expressly naming himself. Perhaps our Lord now gave him the first proof of his peculiar love, by disclosing this secret to him.
Verse 24
[24] Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
Simon Peter — Behind Jesus, who lay between them.
Verse 25
[25] He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
Leaning down, and so asking him privately.
Verse 26
[26] Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
Jesus answered — In his ear. So careful was he not to offend (if it had been possible) even Judas himself.
The sop — Which he took up while he was speaking.
He giveth it to Judas — And probably the other disciples thought Judas peculiarly happy! But when even this instance of our Lord's tenderness could not move him, then Satan took full possession.
Verse 27
[27] And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
What thou doest, do quickly — This is not a permission, much less a command. It is only as if he had said, If thou art determined to do it, why dost thou delay? Hereby showing Judas, that he could not be hid, and expressing his own readiness to suffer.
Verse 28
[28] Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.
None knew why he said this — Save John and Judas.
Verse 30
[30] He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
He went out — To the chief priests. But he returned afterward, and was with them when they ate the passover, Matthew 26:20, though not at the Lord's Supper.
Verse 31
[31] Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
Jesus saith — Namely, the next day; on Thursday, in the morning. Here the scene, as it were, is opened, for the discourse which is continued in the following chapters.
Now — While I speak this, the Son of man is glorified - Being fully entered into his glorious work of redemption. This evidently relates to the glory which belongs to his suffering in so holy and victorious a manner.
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Today's Devotional:Wednesday of Holy Week
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Verse 4
[4] The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.
Given me — This and the following passages may be in some sort understood of the prophet Isaiah, but they are far more evidently and eminently verified in Christ, and indeed seem to be meant directly of him.
The tongue — All ability of speaking plainly, and convincingly, and persuasively.
Weary — Burdened with the sense of his, deplorable condition.
Wakeneth — Me, from time to time, and continually.
To hear — He by his Divine power assists me to the practice of all his commands and my duties, with all attention and diligence.
Verse 6
[6] I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
I gave — I patiently yielded up myself to those who smote me.
Verse 8
[8] He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.
Justifieth — God will clear up my righteousness, and shew by many and mighty signs and wonders, that I lived and died his faithful servant.
Let him come — l am conscious of mine own innocency, and I know that God will give sentence for me.
Verse 9
[9] Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.
They — Mine accusers and enemies.
The moth — Shall be cut off and consumed by a secret curse.Psalm 70
(Read all of Psalm 70)
This psalm is copied almost word for word from the eleventh psalm, and perhaps is for that reason entitled, A psalm to bring remembrance. For it may sometimes be of use to pray over again the prayers we have formerly made to God on like occasions. David here prays, that God would send help to him, shame to his enemies, and joy to his friends. To the chief musician, a psalm of David, to bring to remembrance.
Hebrews 12:1-3
Verse 1
[1] Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Wherefore, being encompassed with a cloud — A great multitude, tending upward with a holy swiftness.
Of witnesses — Of the power of faith.
Let us lay aside every weight — As all who run a race take care to do. Let us throw off whatever weighs us down, or damps the vigour of our Soul.
And the sin which easily besetteth us — As doth the sin of our constitution, the sin of our education, the sin of our profession.
Verse 2
[2] Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Looking — From all other things.
To Jesus — As the wounded Israelites to the brazen serpent. Our crucified Lord was prefigured by the lifting up of this; our guilt, by the stings of the fiery serpents; and our faith, by their looking up to the miraculous remedy.
The author and finisher of our faith — Who begins it in us, carries it on, and perfects it.
Who for the joy that was set before him — Patiently and willingly endured the cross, with all the pains annexed thereto.
And is set down — Where there is fulness of joy.John 13:21-32
Verse 21
[21] When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
One of you — The speaking thus indefinitely at first was profitable to them all.
Verse 23
[23] Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
There was lying in the bosom of Jesus — That is, sitting next to him at table. This phrase only expresses the then customary posture at meals, where the guests all leaned sidewise on couches. And each was said to lie in the bosom of him who was placed next above him.
One of the disciples whom Jesus loved — St. John avoids with great care the expressly naming himself. Perhaps our Lord now gave him the first proof of his peculiar love, by disclosing this secret to him.
Verse 24
[24] Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
Simon Peter — Behind Jesus, who lay between them.
Verse 25
[25] He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
Leaning down, and so asking him privately.
Verse 26
[26] Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
Jesus answered — In his ear. So careful was he not to offend (if it had been possible) even Judas himself.
The sop — Which he took up while he was speaking.
He giveth it to Judas — And probably the other disciples thought Judas peculiarly happy! But when even this instance of our Lord's tenderness could not move him, then Satan took full possession.
Verse 27
[27] And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
What thou doest, do quickly — This is not a permission, much less a command. It is only as if he had said, If thou art determined to do it, why dost thou delay? Hereby showing Judas, that he could not be hid, and expressing his own readiness to suffer.
Verse 28
[28] Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.
None knew why he said this — Save John and Judas.
Verse 30
[30] He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
He went out — To the chief priests. But he returned afterward, and was with them when they ate the passover, Matthew 26:20, though not at the Lord's Supper.
Verse 31
[31] Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
Jesus saith — Namely, the next day; on Thursday, in the morning. Here the scene, as it were, is opened, for the discourse which is continued in the following chapters.
Now — While I speak this, the Son of man is glorified - Being fully entered into his glorious work of redemption. This evidently relates to the glory which belongs to his suffering in so holy and victorious a manner.
____________________________
The Upper Room Daily Devotional Nashville, Tennessee, United States “This Changes Everything" for Wednesday, 1 April 2015 - Scripture: John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commands; 16 and I will ask the Father, and he will give you another comforting Counselor like me, the Spirit of Truth, to be with you forever. 17 The world cannot receive him, because it neither sees nor knows him. You know him, because he is staying with you and will be united with you. 18 I will not leave you orphans — I am coming to you. 19 In just a little while, the world will no longer see me; but you will see me. Because I live, you too will live. 20 When that day comes, you will know that I am united with my Father, and you with me, and I with you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me, and the one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”
27 “What I am leaving with you is shalom — I am giving you my shalom. I don’t give the way the world gives. Don’t let yourselves be upset or frightened.
God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.[John 3:16 (NIV)]
I had been diagnosed with a rare cancer. On Easter morning, my husband and I clung to each other in church, especially moved by our pastor’s proclamation, “Jesus died for our sins, and today he has risen and is alive. He conquered death so that we can live eternally in heaven with our merciful God. This, friends, changes everything.”
As we let the pastor’s words sink in, my husband and I exchanged a glance. Our minds were whirling with the news of my cancer and with the task of telling our children. In the past, I would have spun out of control with worry. But 12 years ago, I invited Jesus Christ to be Lord of my life. I trust him not only with my cancer but also with every breath I take and with my salvation when I leave this world.
Knowing that life is preparation for eternity and realizing that I am forgiven and will spend eternity with God gives me security and peace. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). This, friends, changes everything. Because I feel Jesus’ constant love and presence, I can cope with my diagnosis, praying constantly, instead of worrying.
The Author: Kathleen Buskirk (California, USA)
Thought for the Day: The promise of Easter changes everything.
Prayer: Loving God, increase our faith, fill our hearts with your peace, and help us to trust you in all the circumstances of our lives. Amen.
Prayer focus: Cancer Patients
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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
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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