The Daily Devotionals of The Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church of Wichita, Kansas, United States for Tuesday, 13 September 2016
Today, Please pray for:
Oxford NE UMC
Gateway District
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Haven's Chapel UMC
Pleasanton NE UMC
Gateway District
|
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This Week's Lectionary
17th Sunday after Pentecost/in Kingdomtide – Green
Lectionary Readings for Sunday, 12 September 2016
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28
Psalm 14
1 Timothy 1:12-17
Luke 15:1-10
Lectionary Readings for Sunday, 12 September 2016
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28
Psalm 14
1 Timothy 1:12-17
Luke 15:1-10
Scripture Text for Jeremiah 4:11 “At that time it will be said
of this people and of Yerushalayim:
‘A scorching wind from the desert heights
is sweeping down on my people.’
It is not coming to winnow or cleanse;
12 this wind of mine is too strong for that.
Now I will pass sentence on them.”
22 “It is because my people are foolish —
they do not know me; they are stupid children,
without understanding, wise when doing evil;
but they don’t know how to do good.”
23 I looked at the land — it was unformed and void —
and at the sky — it had no light.
24 I looked at the mountains, and they shook —
all the hills moved back and forth.
25 I looked, and there was no human being;
all the birds in the air had fled.
26 I looked, and the fertile fields were a desert,
all the land’s cities were razed to the ground
at the presence of Adonai,
before his burning anger.
27 For here is what Adonai says:
“The whole land will be desolate
(although I will not destroy it completely).
28 Because of this, the land will mourn
and the sky above be black;
for I have spoken, I have decided,
I will not change my mind, I will not turn back.”
Psalm 14:(0) For the leader. By David:
(1) Fools say in their hearts,
“There is no God.”
They deal corruptly, their deeds are vile,
not one does what is right.
2 From heaven Adonai observes humankind
to see if anyone has understanding,
if anyone seeks God.
3 But all turn aside, all alike are corrupt;
no one does what is right,
not a single one.
4 Don’t they ever learn,
all those evildoers,
who eat up my people as if eating bread
and never call on Adonai?
5 There they are, utterly terrified;
for God is with those who are righteous.
6 You may mock the plans of the poor,
but their refuge is Adonai.
7 How I wish Isra’el’s salvation
would come out of Tziyon!
When Adonai restores his people’s fortunes,
Ya‘akov will rejoice, Isra’el will be glad!
1 Timothy 1:12 and I thank the one who has given me strength, the Messiah Yeshua, our Lord, that he considered me trustworthy enough to put me in his service, 13 even though I used to be a man who blasphemed and persecuted and was arrogant! But I received mercy because I had acted in unbelief, not understanding what I was doing. 14 Our Lord’s grace overflowed to me with trust and love that come through the Messiah Yeshua. 15 So here is a statement you can trust, one that fully deserves to be accepted: the Messiah came into the world to save sinners, and I’m the number one sinner! 16 But this is precisely why I received mercy — so that in me, as the number one sinner, Yeshua the Messiah might demonstrate how very patient he is, as an example to those who would later come to trust in him and thereby have eternal life. 17 So to the King — eternal, imperishable and invisible, the only God there is — let there be honor and glory for ever and ever! Amen.
Luke 15:1 The tax-collectors and sinners kept gathering around to hear Yeshua, 2 and the P’rushim and Torah-teachers kept grumbling. “This fellow,” they said, “welcomes sinners — he even eats with them!” 3 So he told them this parable: 4 “If one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, doesn’t he leave the other ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? 5 When he does find it, he joyfully hoists it onto his shoulders; 6 and when he gets home, he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Come, celebrate with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’ 7 I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who turns to God from his sins than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent.
8 “Another example: what woman, if she has ten drachmas and loses one of these valuable coins, won’t light a lamp, sweep the house and search all over until she finds it? 9 And when she does find it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Come, celebrate with me, because I have found the drachma I lost.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy among God’s angels when one sinner repents.”
The John Wesley's Notes-Commentary for Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28
Verse 11
[11] At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A dry wind of the high places in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to fan, nor to cleanse,
At that time — There shall be tidings brought both to the country and city.
A dry wind — A drying wind, such as shall blast and scorch where it comes, without any rain or moisture. It points at the stormy and furious irruption of the Babylonian army.
In the plain — Where there is no stop in the way to break its fury.
Toward — Directly, and designedly, coming in the way leading to my people.
Not — Not such a gentle wind, as is made choice of to separate the chaff from the wheat; but so boisterous and violent, that it shall sweep away, and lay waste, all together.
Verse 12
[12] Even a full wind from those places shall come unto me: now also will I give sentence against them.
Full — Heb. Fuller than they. A wind too strong for them.
Shall come — It shall presently come to me, to receive my commission, and do my will.
Verse 23
[23] I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.
I beheld — I Jeremiah saw this in a vision.
It — The land was squalid, and ruined, like the first chaos, for which reason possibly he calls Judah the earth, in allusion to Genesis 1:2.
The heavens — He seems to proceed in his metaphor of the chaos. Every thing above and below seemed to be wrapped up in dismal blackness.
Verse 24
[24] I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.
Trembled — He proceeds in his figurative expressions. Behold how the very mountains of Judea tremble! Moved - As easily as dust, or feathers in a whirl-wind.
Verse 25
[25] I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.
No man — All being either slain, or carried captive, or fled.
Verse 27
[27] For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.
Yet — In the midst of judgment he will remember mercy.
Verse 28
[28] For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.
Mourn — Expressions to set forth the dreadfulness of the judgment; he makes the elements to personate mourners.
Psalm 14
Verse 1
[1] The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
The fool — The wicked man.
Good — That is, actions really good or pleasing to God.
Verse 2
[2] The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
Looked — God knoweth all things without any enquiry: but he speaks after the manner of men.
Upon — Upon the whole Israelitish nation, and upon all mankind for he speaks of all except his people, and the righteous ones, who are opposed to these, verse 4,5.
Verse 3
[3] They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Gone — From God, and from the rule which he hath given them.
Filthy — Loathsome and abominable to God.
Verse 4
[4] Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.
Bread — With as little remorse, and with as much greediness.
Call not — They are guilty not only of gross injustice towards men, but also of horrid impiety and contempt of God.
Verse 5
[5] There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.
There — Upon the spot, where they practised these insolences, God struck them with a panick fear.
For — God is on their side, and therefore their enemies have cause to tremble.
Verse 6
[6] Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.
Because — This was the ground of their contempt, that he lived by faith in God's promise and providence.
Verse 7
[7] Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
O that — These words immediately concern the deliverance of Israel out of that sinful state, in which they now were; which having described, he concludes, with a prayer to God to help them out of Zion, where the ark then was, but principally they design the spiritual redemption and salvation of all God's Israel by the Messiah.
The captivity — His captive people. The children of Jacob, as Aaron is named for his sons, 1 Chronicles 12:27.
1 Timothy 1:12-17
Verse 12
[12] And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
I thank Christ, who hath enabled me, in that he accounted me faithful, having put me into the ministry — The meaning is, I thank him for putting me into the ministry, and enabling me to be faithful therein.
Verse 13
[13] Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
A blasphemer — Of Christ.
A persecutor — Of his church.
A reviler — Of his doctrine and people.
But I obtained mercy — He does not say, because I was unconditionally elected; but because I did it in ignorance. Not that his ignorance took away his sin; but it left him capable of mercy; which he would hardly have been, had he acted thus contrary to his own conviction.
Verse 14
[14] And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
And the grace — Whereby I obtained mercy.
Was exceeding abundant with faith — Opposite to my preceding unbelief.
And love — Opposite to my blasphemy, persecution, and oppression.
Verse 15
[15] This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
This is a faithful saying — A most solemn preface.
And worthy of all acceptation — Well deserving to be accepted, received, embraced, with all the faculties of our whole soul.
That Christ — Promised.
Jesus — Exhibited.
Came into the world to save sinners — All sinners, without exception.
Verse 16
[16] Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
For this cause God showed me mercy, that all his longsuffering might be shown, and that none might hereafter despair.
Verse 17
[17] Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
The King of eternity — A phrase frequent with the Hebrews. How unspeakably sweet is the thought of eternity to believers!
Luke 15:1-10
Verse 3
[3] And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
He spake — Three parables of the same import: for the sheep, the piece of silver, and the lost son, all declare (in direct contrariety to the Pharisees and scribes) in what manner God receiveth sinners.
Verse 4
[4] What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
Leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness — Where they used to feed: all uncultivated ground, like our commons, was by the Jews termed wilderness or desert.
And go after — In recovering a lost soul, God as it were labours. May we not learn hence, that to let them alone who are in sin, is both unchristian and inhuman! Matthew 18:12.
Verse 7
[7] I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Joy shall be — Solemn and festal joy, in heaven - First, in our blessed Lord himself, and then among the angels and spirits of just men, perhaps informed thereof by God himself, or by the angels who ministered to them.
Over one sinner — One gross, open, notorious sinner, that repenteth - That is, thoroughly changed in heart and life; more than over ninety and nine just persons - Comparatively just, outwardly blameless: that need not such a repentance - For they need not, cannot repent of the sins which they never committed. The sum is, as a father peculiarly rejoices when an extravagant child, supposed to be utterly lost, comes to a thorough sense of his duty; or as any other person who has recovered what he had given up for gone, has a more sensible satisfaction in it, than in several other things equally valuable, but not in such danger: so do the angels in heaven peculiarly rejoice in the conversion of the most abandoned sinners. Yea, and God himself so readily forgives and receives them, that he may be represented as having part in the joy.
-------‘A scorching wind from the desert heights
is sweeping down on my people.’
It is not coming to winnow or cleanse;
12 this wind of mine is too strong for that.
Now I will pass sentence on them.”
22 “It is because my people are foolish —
they do not know me; they are stupid children,
without understanding, wise when doing evil;
but they don’t know how to do good.”
23 I looked at the land — it was unformed and void —
and at the sky — it had no light.
24 I looked at the mountains, and they shook —
all the hills moved back and forth.
25 I looked, and there was no human being;
all the birds in the air had fled.
26 I looked, and the fertile fields were a desert,
all the land’s cities were razed to the ground
at the presence of Adonai,
before his burning anger.
27 For here is what Adonai says:
“The whole land will be desolate
(although I will not destroy it completely).
28 Because of this, the land will mourn
and the sky above be black;
for I have spoken, I have decided,
I will not change my mind, I will not turn back.”
Psalm 14:(0) For the leader. By David:
(1) Fools say in their hearts,
“There is no God.”
They deal corruptly, their deeds are vile,
not one does what is right.
2 From heaven Adonai observes humankind
to see if anyone has understanding,
if anyone seeks God.
3 But all turn aside, all alike are corrupt;
no one does what is right,
not a single one.
4 Don’t they ever learn,
all those evildoers,
who eat up my people as if eating bread
and never call on Adonai?
5 There they are, utterly terrified;
for God is with those who are righteous.
6 You may mock the plans of the poor,
but their refuge is Adonai.
7 How I wish Isra’el’s salvation
would come out of Tziyon!
When Adonai restores his people’s fortunes,
Ya‘akov will rejoice, Isra’el will be glad!
1 Timothy 1:12 and I thank the one who has given me strength, the Messiah Yeshua, our Lord, that he considered me trustworthy enough to put me in his service, 13 even though I used to be a man who blasphemed and persecuted and was arrogant! But I received mercy because I had acted in unbelief, not understanding what I was doing. 14 Our Lord’s grace overflowed to me with trust and love that come through the Messiah Yeshua. 15 So here is a statement you can trust, one that fully deserves to be accepted: the Messiah came into the world to save sinners, and I’m the number one sinner! 16 But this is precisely why I received mercy — so that in me, as the number one sinner, Yeshua the Messiah might demonstrate how very patient he is, as an example to those who would later come to trust in him and thereby have eternal life. 17 So to the King — eternal, imperishable and invisible, the only God there is — let there be honor and glory for ever and ever! Amen.
Luke 15:1 The tax-collectors and sinners kept gathering around to hear Yeshua, 2 and the P’rushim and Torah-teachers kept grumbling. “This fellow,” they said, “welcomes sinners — he even eats with them!” 3 So he told them this parable: 4 “If one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, doesn’t he leave the other ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? 5 When he does find it, he joyfully hoists it onto his shoulders; 6 and when he gets home, he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Come, celebrate with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’ 7 I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who turns to God from his sins than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent.
8 “Another example: what woman, if she has ten drachmas and loses one of these valuable coins, won’t light a lamp, sweep the house and search all over until she finds it? 9 And when she does find it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Come, celebrate with me, because I have found the drachma I lost.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy among God’s angels when one sinner repents.”
The John Wesley's Notes-Commentary for Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28
Verse 11
[11] At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A dry wind of the high places in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to fan, nor to cleanse,
At that time — There shall be tidings brought both to the country and city.
A dry wind — A drying wind, such as shall blast and scorch where it comes, without any rain or moisture. It points at the stormy and furious irruption of the Babylonian army.
In the plain — Where there is no stop in the way to break its fury.
Toward — Directly, and designedly, coming in the way leading to my people.
Not — Not such a gentle wind, as is made choice of to separate the chaff from the wheat; but so boisterous and violent, that it shall sweep away, and lay waste, all together.
Verse 12
[12] Even a full wind from those places shall come unto me: now also will I give sentence against them.
Full — Heb. Fuller than they. A wind too strong for them.
Shall come — It shall presently come to me, to receive my commission, and do my will.
Verse 23
[23] I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.
I beheld — I Jeremiah saw this in a vision.
It — The land was squalid, and ruined, like the first chaos, for which reason possibly he calls Judah the earth, in allusion to Genesis 1:2.
The heavens — He seems to proceed in his metaphor of the chaos. Every thing above and below seemed to be wrapped up in dismal blackness.
Verse 24
[24] I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.
Trembled — He proceeds in his figurative expressions. Behold how the very mountains of Judea tremble! Moved - As easily as dust, or feathers in a whirl-wind.
Verse 25
[25] I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.
No man — All being either slain, or carried captive, or fled.
Verse 27
[27] For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.
Yet — In the midst of judgment he will remember mercy.
Verse 28
[28] For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.
Mourn — Expressions to set forth the dreadfulness of the judgment; he makes the elements to personate mourners.
Psalm 14
Verse 1
[1] The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
The fool — The wicked man.
Good — That is, actions really good or pleasing to God.
Verse 2
[2] The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
Looked — God knoweth all things without any enquiry: but he speaks after the manner of men.
Upon — Upon the whole Israelitish nation, and upon all mankind for he speaks of all except his people, and the righteous ones, who are opposed to these, verse 4,5.
Verse 3
[3] They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Gone — From God, and from the rule which he hath given them.
Filthy — Loathsome and abominable to God.
Verse 4
[4] Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.
Bread — With as little remorse, and with as much greediness.
Call not — They are guilty not only of gross injustice towards men, but also of horrid impiety and contempt of God.
Verse 5
[5] There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.
There — Upon the spot, where they practised these insolences, God struck them with a panick fear.
For — God is on their side, and therefore their enemies have cause to tremble.
Verse 6
[6] Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.
Because — This was the ground of their contempt, that he lived by faith in God's promise and providence.
Verse 7
[7] Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
O that — These words immediately concern the deliverance of Israel out of that sinful state, in which they now were; which having described, he concludes, with a prayer to God to help them out of Zion, where the ark then was, but principally they design the spiritual redemption and salvation of all God's Israel by the Messiah.
The captivity — His captive people. The children of Jacob, as Aaron is named for his sons, 1 Chronicles 12:27.
1 Timothy 1:12-17
Verse 12
[12] And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
I thank Christ, who hath enabled me, in that he accounted me faithful, having put me into the ministry — The meaning is, I thank him for putting me into the ministry, and enabling me to be faithful therein.
Verse 13
[13] Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
A blasphemer — Of Christ.
A persecutor — Of his church.
A reviler — Of his doctrine and people.
But I obtained mercy — He does not say, because I was unconditionally elected; but because I did it in ignorance. Not that his ignorance took away his sin; but it left him capable of mercy; which he would hardly have been, had he acted thus contrary to his own conviction.
Verse 14
[14] And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
And the grace — Whereby I obtained mercy.
Was exceeding abundant with faith — Opposite to my preceding unbelief.
And love — Opposite to my blasphemy, persecution, and oppression.
Verse 15
[15] This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
This is a faithful saying — A most solemn preface.
And worthy of all acceptation — Well deserving to be accepted, received, embraced, with all the faculties of our whole soul.
That Christ — Promised.
Jesus — Exhibited.
Came into the world to save sinners — All sinners, without exception.
Verse 16
[16] Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
For this cause God showed me mercy, that all his longsuffering might be shown, and that none might hereafter despair.
Verse 17
[17] Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
The King of eternity — A phrase frequent with the Hebrews. How unspeakably sweet is the thought of eternity to believers!
Luke 15:1-10
Verse 3
[3] And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
He spake — Three parables of the same import: for the sheep, the piece of silver, and the lost son, all declare (in direct contrariety to the Pharisees and scribes) in what manner God receiveth sinners.
Verse 4
[4] What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
Leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness — Where they used to feed: all uncultivated ground, like our commons, was by the Jews termed wilderness or desert.
And go after — In recovering a lost soul, God as it were labours. May we not learn hence, that to let them alone who are in sin, is both unchristian and inhuman! Matthew 18:12.
Verse 7
[7] I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Joy shall be — Solemn and festal joy, in heaven - First, in our blessed Lord himself, and then among the angels and spirits of just men, perhaps informed thereof by God himself, or by the angels who ministered to them.
Over one sinner — One gross, open, notorious sinner, that repenteth - That is, thoroughly changed in heart and life; more than over ninety and nine just persons - Comparatively just, outwardly blameless: that need not such a repentance - For they need not, cannot repent of the sins which they never committed. The sum is, as a father peculiarly rejoices when an extravagant child, supposed to be utterly lost, comes to a thorough sense of his duty; or as any other person who has recovered what he had given up for gone, has a more sensible satisfaction in it, than in several other things equally valuable, but not in such danger: so do the angels in heaven peculiarly rejoice in the conversion of the most abandoned sinners. Yea, and God himself so readily forgives and receives them, that he may be represented as having part in the joy.
The Upper Room Ministries
PO Box 340004
Nashville, Tennessee 37203-0004, United States
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Today's Devotional Scripture:
Ecclesiastes 3:1 For everything there is a season,
a right time for every intention under heaven —
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to discard,
7 a time to tear and a time to sew,
a time to keep silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
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a right time for every intention under heaven —
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to discard,
7 a time to tear and a time to sew,
a time to keep silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
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Link to GBOD Devotional
Contact Information:
Great Plains Episcopal Office
9440 East Boston, Suite 160
Wichita Kansas 67207, United States
316-686-0600
800-745-2350
info@greatplainsumc.org
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