The Great Plains Conference of The United Methodist Church of Wichita, Kansas, United States Daily Devotional for Friday, 15 April 2016

The Great Plains Conference of The United Methodist Church of Wichita, Kansas, United States Daily Devotional for Saturday, 16 April 2016

Today please be in prayer for:

Darryl Burton Church of the Resurrection UMC Kansas City District

Glen Shoup Church of the Resurrection UMC Kansas City District

This Week's Lectionary:
3rd Sunday of Easter – White or Gold
Sunday, 17 April 2016
Acts 9:1-6
Psalm 30
Revelation 5:11-14
John 21:1-19
Scripture Texts:

Acts 9:1 Meanwhile, Sha’ul, still breathing murderous threats against the Lord’s talmidim, went to the cohen hagadol 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Dammesek, authorizing him to arrest any people he might find, whether men or women, who belonged to “the Way,” and bring them back to Yerushalayim.

3 He was on the road and nearing Dammesek, when suddenly a light from heaven flashed all around him. 4 Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Sha’ul! Sha’ul! Why do you keep persecuting me?” 5 “Sir, who are you?” he asked. “I am Yeshua, and you are persecuting me. 6 But get up, and go into the city, and you will be told what you have to do.”

Psalm 30:1 (0) A psalm. A song for the dedication of the house. By David:

2 (1) I will exalt you, Adonai, because you drew me up;

you didn’t let my enemies rejoice over me.

3 (2) Adonai my God, I cried out to you,

and you provided healing for me.

4 (3) Adonai, you lifted me up from Sh’ol;

you kept me alive when I was sinking into a pit.

5 (4) Sing praise to Adonai, you faithful of his;

and give thanks on recalling his holiness.

6 (5) For his anger is momentary,

but his favor lasts a lifetime.

Tears may linger for the night,

but with dawn come cries of joy.

7 (6) Once I was prosperous and used to say,

that nothing could ever shake me —

8 (7) when you showed me favor, Adonai,

I was firm as a mighty mountain.

But when you hid your face,

I was struck with terror.

9 (8) I called to you, Adonai;

to Adonai I pleaded for mercy:

10 (9) “What advantage is there in my death,

in my going down to the pit?

Can the dust praise you?

Can it proclaim your truth?

11 (10) Hear me, Adonai, and show me your favor!

Adonai, be my helper!”

12 (11) You turned my mourning into dancing!

You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

13 (12) so that my well-being can praise you and not be silent;

Adonai my God, I will thank you forever!

Revelation 5:11 Then I looked, and I heard the sound of a vast number of angels — thousands and thousands, millions and millions! They were all around the throne, the living beings and the elders; 12 and they shouted out,

“Worthy is the slaughtered Lamb to receive

power, riches, wisdom, strength,

honor, glory and praise!”

13 And I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth and on the sea — yes, everything in them — saying,

“To the One sitting on the throne

and to the Lamb

belong praise, honor, glory and power

forever and ever!”

14 The four living beings said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshipped.

John 21:1 After this, Yeshua appeared again to the talmidim at Lake Tiberias. Here is how it happened: 2 Shim‘on Kefa and T’oma (his name means “twin”) were together with Natan’el from Kanah in the Galil, the sons of Zavdai, and two other talmidim. 3 Shim‘on Kefa said, “I’m going fishing.” They said to him, “We’re coming with you.” They went and got into the boat, but that night they didn’t catch anything. 4 However, just as day was breaking, Yeshua stood on shore, but the talmidim didn’t know it was he. 5 He said to them, “You don’t have any fish, do you?” “No,” they answered him. 6 He said to them, “Throw in your net to starboard and you will catch some.” So they threw in their net, and there were so many fish in it that they couldn’t haul it aboard. 7 The talmid Yeshua loved said to Kefa, “It’s the Lord!” On hearing it was the Lord, Shim‘on Kefa threw on his coat, because he was stripped for work, and plunged into the lake; 8 but the other talmidim followed in the boat, dragging the net full of fish; for they weren’t far from shore, only about a hundred yards. 9 When they stepped ashore, they saw a fire of burning coals with a fish on it, and some bread. 10 Yeshua said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 Shim‘on Kefa went up and dragged the net ashore. It was full of fish, 153 of them; but even with so many, the net wasn’t torn. 12 Yeshua said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the talmidim dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Yeshua came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Yeshua had appeared to the talmidim after being raised from the dead.

15 After breakfast, Yeshua said to Shim‘on Kefa, “Shim‘on Bar-Yochanan, do you love me more than these?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I’m your friend.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 A second time he said to him, “Shim‘on Bar-Yochanan, do you love me?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I’m your friend.” He said to him, “Shepherd my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Shim‘on Bar-Yochanan, are you my friend?” Shim‘on was hurt that he questioned him a third time: “Are you my friend?” So he replied, “Lord, you know everything! You know I’m your friend!” Yeshua said to him, “Feed my sheep! 18 Yes, indeed! I tell you, when you were younger, you put on your clothes and went where you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 He said this to indicate the kind of death by which Kefa would bring glory to God. Then Yeshua said to him, “Follow me!”

John Wesley's Notes-Commentary for:

Acts 9:1-6

Verse 3

[3] And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

And suddenly — When God suddenly and vehemently attacks a sinner, it is the highest act of mercy. So Saul, when his rage was come to the height, is taught not to breathe slaughter. And what was wanting in time to confirm him in his discipleship, is compensated by the inexpressible terror he sustained. By his also the suddenly constituted apostle was guarded against the grand snare into which novices are apt to fall.

Verse 4

[4] And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

He heard a voice — Severe, yet full of grace.

Verse 5

[5] And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

To kick against the goads — is a Syriac proverb, expressing an attempt that brings nothing but pain.

Verse 6

[6] And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

It shall be told thee — So God himself sends Saul to be taught by a man, as the angel does Cornelius, Acts 10:5. Admirable condescension! that the Lord deals with us by men, like ourselves.

Psalm 30

Verse 5

[5] For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Cometh — Speedily and in due season.

Verse 7

[7] LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.

Mountain — My kingdom: kingdoms are usually called mountains in prophetical writings.

Verse 9

[9] What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?

Profit — What wilt thou gain by it? The dust - Shall they that are dead celebrate thy goodness in the land of the living? Or, shall my dust praise thee?

Verse 11

[11] Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

Sackcloth — Given me occasion to put off that sackcloth, which they used to wear in times of mourning, Esther 4:1; Psalms 35:13; Isaiah 32:11; Joel 1:13.

Girded — With joy, as with a garment, surrounding me on every side.

Verse 12

[12] To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

My glory — My tongue.

Revelation 5:11-14

Verse 11

[11] And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

And I saw — The many angels.

And heard — The voice and the number of them.

Round about the elders — So forming the third circle. It is remarkable, that men are represented through this whole vision as nearer to God than any of the angels.

And the number of them was — At least two hundred millions, and two millions over. And yet these were but a part of the holy angels. Afterward, Revelation 7:11, St. John heard them all.

Verse 12

[12] Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

Worthy is the Lamb — The elders said, Revelation 5:9, "Worthy art thou." They were more nearly allied to him than the angels.

To receive the power, … — This sevenfold applause answers the seven seals, of which the four former describe all visible, the latter all invisible, things, made subject to the Lamb. And every one of these seven words bears a resemblance to the seal which it answers.

Verse 13

[13] And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

And every creature — In the whole universe, good or bad.

In the heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea — With these four regions of the world, agrees the fourfold word of praise. What is in heaven, says blessing; what is on earth, honour; what is under the earth, glory: what is on the sea, strength; is unto him. This praise from all creatures begins before the opening of the first seal; but it continues from that time to eternity, according to the capacity of each. His enemies must acknowledge his glory; but those in heaven say, Blessed be God and the Lamb. This royal manifesto is, as it were, a proclamation, showing how Christ fulfils all things, and "every knee bows to him," not only on earth, but also in heaven, and under the earth. This book exhausts all things, 1 Corinthians 15:27,28, and is suitable to an heart enlarged as the sand of the sea. It inspires the attentive and intelligent reader with such a magnanimity, that he accounts nothing in this world great; no, not the whole frame of visible nature, compared to the immense greatness of what he is here called to behold, yea, and in part, to inherit. St. John has in view, through the whole following vision, what he has been now describing, namely, the four living creatures, the elders, the angels, and all creatures, looking together at the opening of the seven seals.

John 21:1-19

Verse 4

[4] But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
They knew not that it was Jesus — Probably their eyes were holden.

Verse 6

[6] And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

They were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes — This was not only a demonstration of the power of our Lord, but a kind supply for them and their families, and such as might be of service to them, when they waited afterward in Jerusalem. It was likewise an emblem of the great success which should attend them as fishers of men.

Verse 7

[7] Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

Peter girt on his upper coat (for he was stript of it before) - Reverencing the presence of his Lord: and threw himself into the sea - To swim to him immediately. The love of Christ draws men through fire and water.

Verse 12

[12] Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.

Come ye and dine — Our Lord needed not food.

And none presumed — To ask a needless question.

Verse 14

[14] This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

The third time — That he appeared to so many of the apostles together.

Verse 15

[15] So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

Simon, son of Jonah — The appellation Christ had given him, when be made that glorious confession, Matthew 16:16, the remembrance of which might make him more deeply sensible of his late denial of him whom he had so confessed.

Lovest thou me? — Thrice our Lord asks him, who had denied him thrice: more than these - Thy fellow disciples do? - Peter thought so once, Matthew 26:33, but he now answers only - I love thee, without adding more than these.

Thou knowest — He had now learnt by sad experience that Jesus knew his heart.

My lambs — The weakest and tenderest of the flock.

Verse 17

[17] He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Because he said the third time — As if he did not believe him.

Verse 18

[18] Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

When thou art old — He lived about thirty-six years after this: another shall gird thee - They were tied to the cross till the nails were driven in; and shall carry thee - With the cross: whither thou wouldest not - According to nature; to the place where the cross was set up.

Verse 19

[19] This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

By what death he should glorify God — It is not only by acting, but chiefly by suffering, that the saints glorify God.

Follow me — Showing hereby likewise what death he should die.

Link to GBOD Devotional

Today's Devotional Scripture Text:
Isaiah 40:1 “Comfort and keep comforting my people,” says your God.
2 “Tell Yerushalayim to take heart; proclaim to her
that she has completed her time of service,
that her guilt has been paid off,
that she has received at the hand of Adonai
double for all her sins.”
3 A voice cries out:
“Clear a road through the desert for Adonai!
Level a highway in the ‘Aravah for our God!
4 Let every valley be filled in,
every mountain and hill lowered,
the bumpy places made level
and the crags become a plain.
5 Then the glory of Adonai will be revealed;
all humankind together will see it,
for the mouth of Adonai has spoken.”
Contact Information:
Great Plains Episcopal Office
9440 E Boston, Suite 160
Wichita KS 67207
316-686-0600
800-745-2350
info@greatplainsumc.org 
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