The Upper Room Daily Reflections, daily words of wisdom and faith in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "Listen to Jesus" for Thursday, 1 September 2016Today’s Reflection:
MY FIRST ENCOUNTER with Jesus’ amazing love came over two decades ago, when my first marriage was crumbling. Though I was an agnostic at the time, one afternoon I knelt down beside our bed, weeping, and heard myself cry out almost involuntarily, “Jesus, please help me.” In the wake of that prayer a peace flooded over me that did pass all understanding.
In the months that followed that awesome experience, the fabric of my life continued its relentless unraveling. My heart broke as my husband decided to leave our home and our marriage. Yet spiritually I experienced this time as one of great blessing. Immersing myself in the Bible day after day and late into the night, several translations of scripture and dozens of theological commentaries piled all over the desk, I had one goal in mind: to learn to listen to Jesus.
One night a frightening thought hit me: Aren’t you afraid of going crazy, shutting yourself up all alone like this with all these books, night after night after night? In response, I heard a reassuring voice with the ears of my heart:Keep focusing on me in those Gospel stories. Pay attention to my effect on people, the way I healed them and brought them to new wholeness. You have nothing to fear if you’re centered in me. Just keep listening. Gradually, as I listened to the many different “voices” I heard, I learned to distinguish between the whispered words of the Holy Spirit and the thoughts that reflected my anxious fears. I came to understand that the Holy Spirit would always point me to the Bible and make Jesus’ voice alive to me.[Alyssa Phillips, Loving an Addict]
From pages 103-104 of Loving An Addict: Gospel Reflections of Hope and Healing by Alyssa Phillips. Copyright © 2014 by Alyssa Phillips. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question:
Describe the way you hear Jesus’ voice.
Today’s Scripture:
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.[Psalm 139:14, NRSV]
This Week: pray for those who are anxious.
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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 or visit The Living Prayer Center website.
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This week we remember:Aidan of Lindisfarne (August 31).
Aidan of Lindisfarne
August 31
Off England's northeast coast, just south of Scotland lies the holy Island of Lindisfarne where a statue of Saint Aiden attests to his importance in the region. Irish-born Aidan was the premier Christian missionary who restored the Christian faith to people who had returned to paganism after earlier missionaries left.
King Oswald of Northumbria was baptized Christian at the Iona Monastery and asked for help in evangelizing the pagan people under his crown. The first missionary sent from Iona failed. Aidan traveled to Lindisfarne, established a monastery which became a center for learning in northern England, and became its Bishop. He walked from village to village to meet people and share his faith. Many Northumbrians gave their lives to Christ.
Aidan is credited with numerous miracles. When pagans tried to burn down the city of Bambrough, Aidan prayed for help, and the attacking army soon found itself under the smoke as the fire turned away from the city toward them.
Aidan died in 651.
If Aidan of Lindisfarne had taken the Spiritual Types Test, he probably would have been a Lover. Aidan of Lindisfarne is remembered on August 31.
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Lectionary Readings:
Sunday, 4 September 2016
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Jeremiah 18:1-11
Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18
Philemon 1:1-21
Luke 14:25-33
Scripture Text for Jeremiah 18:1 This word came to Yirmeyahu from Adonai: 2 “Get up, and go down to the potter’s house; there I will tell you more.” 3 So I went down to the house of the potter; and there he was, working at the wheels. 4 Whenever a pot he made came out imperfect, the potter took the clay and made another pot with it, in whatever shape suited him.
5 Then the word of Adonai came to me: 6 “House of Isra’el, can’t I deal with you as the potter deals with his clay? — says Adonai. Look! You, house of Isra’el, are the same in my hand as the clay in the potter’s hand. 7 At one time, I may speak about uprooting, breaking down and destroying a nation or kingdom; 8 but if that nation turns from their evil, which prompted me to speak against it, then I relent concerning the disaster I had planned to inflict on it. 9 Similarly, at another time, I may speak about building and planting a nation or kingdom; 10 but if it behaves wickedly from my perspective and doesn’t listen to what I say, then I change my mind and don’t do the good I said I would do that would have helped it.
11 “So now, tell the people of Y’hudah and those living in Yerushalayim that this is what Adonai says:
‘I am designing disaster for you,
working out my plan against you.
Turn, each of you, from his evil ways;
improve your conduct and actions.’
Psalm 139:(0) For the leader. A psalm of David:
(1) Adonai, you have probed me, and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I stand up,
you discern my inclinations from afar,
3 you scrutinize my daily activities.
You are so familiar with all my ways
4 that before I speak even a word, Adonai,
you know all about it already.
5 You have hemmed me in both behind and in front
and laid your hand on me.
6 Such wonderful knowledge is beyond me,
far too high for me to reach.
13 For you fashioned my inmost being,
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I thank you because I am awesomely made,
wonderfully; your works are wonders —
I know this very well.
15 My bones were not hidden from you
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes could see me as an embryo,
but in your book all my days were already written;
my days had been shaped
before any of them existed.
17 God, how I prize your thoughts!
How many of them there are!
18 If I count them, there are more than grains of sand;
if I finish the count, I am still with you.
Philemon 1 From: Sha’ul, a prisoner for the sake of the Messiah Yeshua, and brother Timothy
To: Our dear fellow-worker Philemon, 2 along with sister Apphia, our fellow-soldier Archippus and the congregation that gathers in your home:
3 Grace and shalom to you from God our Father and the Lord Yeshua the Messiah.
4 I thank my God every time I mention you in my prayers, Philemon, 5 for I am hearing about your love and commitment to the Lord Yeshua and to all God’s people. 6 I pray that the fellowship based on your commitment will produce full understanding of every good thing that is ours in union with the Messiah. 7 For your love has given me much joy and encouragement. Brother, you have refreshed the hearts of God’s people.
8 Therefore, I would not hesitate, in union with the Messiah, to direct you to do the thing you ought to do. 9 But since I Sha’ul, am the kind of person I am, an old man and now for the Messiah Yeshua’s sake a prisoner besides, I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. 10 My request to you concerns my son, of whom I became the father while here in prison, Onesimus. 11 His name means “useful,” and although he was once useless to you, he has now become most useful — not only to you but also to me; 12 so that in returning him to you I am sending a part of my very heart. 13 I would dearly have loved to keep him with me, in order for him to serve me in your place while I am in prison because of the Good News. 14 But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent, so that the good you do for me may be voluntary and not forced.
15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a brief period was so that you could have him back forever, 16 no longer as a slave but as more than a slave, as a dear brother. And that he is, especially to me. But how much dearer he must be to you, both humanly and in union with the Lord!
17 So if you are in fellowship with me, receive him as you would me. 18 And if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me.
19 I, Sha’ul, write with my own hand. I will repay it.
(I won’t mention, of course, that you owe me your very life.) 20 Yes, brother, please do me this favor in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Messiah.
21 Trusting that you will respond positively, I write knowing that you will indeed do more than I am asking.
Luke 14:25 Large crowds were traveling along with Yeshua. Turning, he said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father, his mother, his wife, his children, his brothers and his sisters, yes, and his own life besides, he cannot be my talmid. 27 Whoever does not carry his own execution-stake and come after me cannot be my talmid.
28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Don’t you sit down and estimate the cost, to see if you have enough capital to complete it? 29 If you don’t, then when you have laid the foundation but can’t finish, all the onlookers start making fun of you 30 and say, ‘This is the man who began to build, but couldn’t finish!’
31 “Or again, suppose one king is going out to wage war with another king. Doesn’t he first sit down and consider whether he, with his ten thousand troops, has enough strength to meet the other one, who is coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he hasn’t, then while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation to inquire about terms for peace.
33 “So every one of you who doesn’t renounce all that he has cannot be my talmid.
The John Wesley's Notes-Commentary for Jeremiah 18:1-11
Verse 6
[6] O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
Cannot I do — That God hath an absolute sovereign power to do what he pleases with the work of his hands: but he acts as a just judge, rendering to every man according to his works.
Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18
Verse 2
[2] Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
Afar off — Thou knowest what my thoughts will be in such and such circumstances, long before I know it, yea from all eternity.
Verse 3
[3] Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
Compassest — Thou discernest every step I take. It is a metaphor from soldiers besieging their enemies, and setting watches round about them.
Verse 5
[5] Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
Beset me — With thy all-seeing providence.
And laid — Thou keepest me, as it were with a strong hand, in thy sight and under thy power.
Verse 6
[6] Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
I cannot — Apprehend in what manner thou dost so presently know all things.
Verse 16
[16] Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
Imperfect — When I was first conceived.
Book — In thy counsel and providence, by which thou didst contrive and effect this great work, according to that model which thou hadst appointed.
Verse 17
[17] How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
Thoughts — Thy counsels on my behalf. Thou didst not only form me at first, but ever since my conception and birth, thy thoughts have been employed for me.
Verse 18
[18] If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
Them — Thy wonderful counsels and works on my behalf come constantly into my mind.
Philemon 1:1-21
Verse 1
[1] Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,
This single epistle infinitely transcends all the wisdom of the world. And it gives us a specimen how Christians ought to treat of secular affairs from higher principles.
Paul a prisoner of Christ — To whom, as such, Philemon could deny nothing.
And Timotheus — This was written before the second epistle to Timothy, Philemon 22.
Verse 2
[2] And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:
To Apphia — His wife, to whom also the business in part belonged.
And the church in thy house — The Christians who meet there.
Verse 5
[5] Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
Hearing — Probably from Onesimus.
Verse 6
[6] That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
I pray that the communication of thy faith may become effectual - That is, that thy faith may be effectually communicated to others, who see and acknowledge thy piety and charity.
Verse 7
[7] For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
The saints — To whom Philemon's house was open, Philemon 2.
Verse 8
[8] Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,
I might be bold in Christ — Through the authority he hath given me.
Verse 9
[9] Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
Yet out of love I rather entreat thee — In how handsome a manner does the apostle just hint, and immediately drop, the consideration of his power to command, and tenderly entreat Philemon to hearken to his friend, his aged friend, and now prisoner for Christ! With what endearment, in the next verse, does he call Onesimus his son, before he names his name! And as soon as he had mentioned it, with what fine address does he just touch on his former faults, and instantly pass on to the happy change that was now made upon him! So disposing Philemon to attend to his request, and the motives wherewith he was going to enforce it.
Verse 10
[10] I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:
Whom I have begotten in my bonds — The son of my age.
Verse 11
[11] Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
Now profitable — None should be expected to be a good servant before he is a good man. He manifestly alludes to his name, Onesimus, which signifies profitable.
Verse 12
[12] Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:
Receive him, that is, my own bowels — Whom I love as my own soul. Such is the natural affection of a father in Christ toward his spiritual children.
Verse 13
[13] Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:
To serve me in thy stead — To do those services for me which thou, if present, wouldest gladly have done thyself.
Verse 14
[14] But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
That thy benefit might not be by constraint — For Philemon could not have refused it.
Verse 15
[15] For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;
God might permit him to be separated (a soft word) for a season, that thou mightest have him for ever - Both on earth and in heaven.
Verse 16
[16] Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
In the flesh — As a dutiful servant.
In the Lord — As a fellow-Christian.
Verse 17
[17] If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.
If thou accountest me a partner — So that thy things are mine, and mine are thine.
Verse 19
[19] I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.
I will repay it — If thou requirest it.
Not to say, that then owest me thyself — It cannot be expressed, how great our obligation is to those who have gained our souls to Christ.
Beside — Receiving Onesimus.
Verse 20
[20] Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
Refresh my bowels in Christ — Give me the most exquisite and Christian pleasure.
Luke 14:25-33
Verse 26
[26] If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
If any man come to me, and hate not his father — Comparatively to Christ: yea, so as actually to renounce his field, oxen, wife, all things, and act as if he hated them, when they stand in competition with him. Matthew 10:37.
Verse 28
[28] For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
And which of you intending to build a tower — That is, and whoever of you intends to follow me, let him first seriously weigh these things.
Verse 31
[31] Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
Another king — Does this mean, the prince of this world? Certainly he has greater numbers on his side. How numerous are his children and servants!
Verse 33
[33] So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
So — Like this man, who, being afraid to face his enemy, sends to make peace with him, every one who forsaketh not all that he hath - 1. By withdrawing his affections from all the creatures; 2. By enjoying them only in and for God, only in such a measure and manner as leads to him; 3. By hating them all, in the sense above mentioned, cannot be my disciple - But will surely desist from building that tower, neither can he persevere in fighting the good fight of faith.
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"Spirituality of Letting Go: Week 1"
