The Daily Devotionals of The Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church of Wichita, Kansas, United States for Thursday, 27 October 2016Today, Please pray for:
Pittsburg First UMC
Pittsburg Korean Love UMC
Parsons District
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Pittsburg First UMC
Pittsburg Wesley House UMC
Parsons District
|
Lectionary Readings:
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost, Year C
Sunday, 23 October 2016
Joel 2:23-32
Psalm 65
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Luke 18:9-14
Scripture Text: Joel 2:23 Be glad, people of Tziyon!
rejoice in Adonai your God!
For he is giving you
the right amount of rain in the fall,
he makes the rain come down for you,
the fall and spring rains — this is what he does first.
24 Then the floors will be full of grain
and the vats overflow with wine and olive oil.
25 “I will restore to you the years that the locusts ate,
the grasshoppers, shearer-worms and cutter-worms,
my great army that I sent against you.
26 You will eat until you are satisfied
and will praise the name of Adonai your God,
who has done with you such wonders.
Then my people will never again be shamed.
27 You will know that I am with Isra’el
and that I am Adonai your God,
and that there is no other.
Then my people will never again be shamed.
Psalm 65:1 (0) For the leader. A psalm of David. A song:
2 (1) To you, God, in Tziyon, silence is praise;
and vows to you are to be fulfilled.
3 (2) You who listen to prayer,
to you all living creatures come.
4 (3) When deeds of wickedness overwhelm me,
you will atone for our crimes.
5 (4) How blessed are those you choose and bring near,
so that they can remain in your courtyards!
We will be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
the Holy Place of your temple.
6 (5) It is just that you answer us with awesome deeds,
God of our salvation,
you in whom all put their trust,
to the ends of the earth and on distant seas.
7 (6) By your strength you set up the mountains.
You are clothed with power.
8 (7) You still the roaring of the seas,
their crashing waves, and the peoples’ turmoil.
9 (8) This is why those living at the ends of the earth
stand in awe of your signs.
The places where the sun rises and sets
you cause to sing for joy.
10 (9) You care for the earth and water it,
you enrich it greatly;
with the river of God, full of water,
you provide them grain and prepare the ground.
11 (10) Soaking its furrows and settling its soil,
you soften it with showers and bless its growth.
12 (11) You crown the year with your goodness,
your tracks overflow with richness.
13 (12) The desert pastures drip water,
the hills are wrapped with joy,
14 (13) the meadows are clothed with flocks
and the valleys blanketed with grain,
so they shout for joy and break into song.
2 Timothy 4:6 For as for me, I am already being poured out on the altar; yes, the time for my departure has arrived. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 All that awaits me now is the crown of righteousness which the Lord, “the Righteous Judge,” will award to me on that Day — and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for him to appear.
16 The first time I had to present my defense, no one stood by me; everyone deserted me — may it not be counted against them. 17 But the Lord stood by me and gave me power to proclaim the full message for all the Goyim to hear, and I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.[2 Timothy 4:17 Psalm 22:22(21); Daniel 6:21(20), 23(22)] 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luke 18:9 Also, to some who were relying on their own righteousness and looking down on everyone else, he told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Parush and the other a tax-collector. 11 The Parush stood and prayed to himself, ‘O God! I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity — greedy, dishonest, immoral, or like this tax-collector! 12 I fast twice a week, I pay tithes on my entire income, . . . ’ 13 But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes toward heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God! Have mercy on me, sinner that I am!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his home right with God rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but everyone who humbles himself will be exalted.”
The John Wesley's Notes-Commentary: Joel 2:23-32
Verse 23
[23] Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
The former rain — The autumn rain which is needful to mellow the earth and fit it to receive the corn.
The latter rain — Needful to bring forward and ripen the fruits, accounted the latter rain because these husbandmen and vine-dressers reckoned from seed time to spring and harvest.
The first month — That is, our March.
Verse 24
[24] And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.
The fats — The vessels into which the liquor ran out of the press.
Verse 25
[25] And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
Restore — Make up to you.
Verse 26
[26] And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
Wondrously — In one year giving as much as the locusts wasted in the years foregoing.
Ashamed — Neither disappointed of your hopes, nor necessitated to seek relief among the heathen.
Verse 28
[28] And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
Afterward — After the return out of Babylon, after the various troubles and salvations by which these may know that I am the Lord.
I will pour — In extraordinary gifts on the first preachers of the gospel, and in various graces to all believers.
Upon all flesh — Before these gifts were confined to one particular nation; but now they shall be enlarged to all nations, and all that believe.
Shall prophesy — This was in part fulfilled according to the letter in the first days of the gospel; but the promise means farther, by pouring out of the spirit on your sons and your daughters, they shall have as full a knowledge of the mysteries of God's law, as prophets before time had.
Shalt dream dreams — This also was literally fulfilled in the apostles days. But it may mean farther, the knowledge of God and his will, shall abound among all ranks, sexes and ages in the Messiah's days, and not only equal, but surpass all that formerly was by prophesy, dreams, or visions.
Verse 29
[29] And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
My spirit — Of adoption and sanctification.
Verse 30
[30] And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
Wonders — They who read what historians report of these times, will see this fulfilled in the very letter.
Blood — Possibly eruption of blood, as some fountains have been reported to have run with blood, prefiguring the great effusion of blood by the sword, and wars following.
Fire — Either breaking out of the earth, or lightning in the air.
Verse 31
[31] The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
The sun — Having mentioned the prodigies which were to be wrought on earth, he now specifies what shall be done in heaven.
The terrible day — The unholy day of the destruction of Jerusalem; typifying the day of judgment.
Verse 32
[32] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
Whosoever shall call — Who hearing the gospel repents and believes in Christ.
Delivered — Either from those outward afflictions, or which is infinitely better from eternal miseries, which will swallow up the unbelieving world; "and it will aggravate the ruin of those who perish, that they might have been saved on such easy terms." Is it then easy for a non-elect to repent and believe? May he not as easily pull the sun out of the firmament? In mount Zion - In the true church typified by Zion.
Jerusalem — In mystical Jerusalem, the church and the city of the Messiah.
Deliverance — Temporal and eternal.
Shall call — To believe in Christ, and by him to wait for eternal life.
Psalm 65
Verse 4
[4] Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
Approach — To draw near to God in his house and ordinance, by prayer and praise, and other acts of communion with him.
Satisfied — With the blessings there conferred upon thy people, the favour and fellowship of God, remission of sins, renovation of heart and life, joy and peace, and well-grounded assurance of eternal life.
Verse 5
[5] By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:
Righteousness — By virtue of thy faithfulness, and goodness.
Wilt thou — Thou wilt graciously answer our prayers.
The confidence — Thou art the stay and support of all mankind, by thy powerful and gracious providence.
Verse 7
[7] Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.
Tumult — No less wild and impetuous.
Verse 8
[8] They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.
Thy tokens — Terrible thunders and lightnings, and earthquakes, and comets or other strange meteors, or works of God in the air.
Morning — The successive courses of the morning and evening; or of the sun and moon which go forth at those times. Thus the whole verse speaks of the natural works of God, the former clause, of such as are extraordinary and terrible, the latter of such as are ordinary and delightful.
Verse 9
[9] Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.
River — With rain, which he very significantly calls a river for its plenty, and the river of God, of God's immediate providing.
Them — The inhabitants of the earth.
Provided — Or, disposed, the earth, which without this would be hard and barren.
Verse 10
[10] Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.
Bringest down — For the rain dissolves the high and hard clods of earth.
Verse 12
[12] They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side.
Wilderness — Which though neglected by men, are furnished with food for beasts.
Verse 13
[13] The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.
Sing — They are abundantly satisfied with thy goodness, and in their manner sing forth the praise of their benefactor.
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Verse 6
[6] For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
The time of my departure is at hand — So undoubtedly God had shown him.
I am ready to be offered up — Literally, to be poured out, as the wine and oil were on the ancient sacrifices.
Verse 8
[8] Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
The crown of that righteousness - Which God has imputed to me and wrought in me.
Will render to all — This increases the joy of Paul, and encourages Timotheus. Many of these St. Paul himself had gained.
That have loved his appearing — Which only a real Christian can do. I say a real Christian, to comply with the mode of the times: else they would not understand, although the word Christian necessarily implies whatsoever is holy, as God is holy. Strictly speaking, to join real or sincere to a word of so complete an import, is grievously to debase its noble signification, and is like adding long to eternity or wide to immensity.
Verse 16
[16] At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
All — My friends and companions.
Forsook me — And do we expect to find such as will not forsake us? My first defence - Before the savage emperor Nero.
Verse 17
[17] Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
The preaching — The gospel which we preach.
Verse 18
[18] And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work — Which is far more than delivering me from death. Yea, and, over and above, preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom - Far better than that of Nero.
Luke 18:9-14
Verse 9
[9] And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
He spake this parable — Not to hypocrites; the Pharisee here mentioned was no hypocrite, no more than an outward adulterer: but he sincerely trusted in himself that he was righteous, and accordingly told God so, in the prayer which none but God heard.
Verse 12
[12] I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
I fast twice in the week — So did all the strict Pharisees: every Monday and Thursday.
I give tithes of all that I possess — Many of them gave one full tenth of their income in tithes, and another tenth in alms. the sum of this plea is, I do no harm: I use all the means of grace: I do all the good I can.
Verse 13
[13] And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
The publican standing afar off — From the holy of holies, would not so much as lift up his eyes to heaven - Touched with shame, which is more ingenuous than fear.
Verse 14
[14] I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
This man went down — From the hill on which the temple stood, justified rather than the other - That is, and not the other.
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The Upper Room Ministries
PO Box 340004
Nashville, Tennessee 37203-0004, United States
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Today's Scripture:
Isaiah 43:1 But now this is what Adonai says,
he who created you, Ya‘akov,
he who formed you, Isra’el:
“Don’t be afraid, for I have redeemed you;
I am calling you by your name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through water, I will be with you;
when you pass through rivers, they will not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire, you will not be scorched —
the flame will not burn you.
3 For I am Adonai, your God,
the Holy One of Isra’el, your Savior —
I have given Egypt as your ransom,
Ethiopia and S’va for you.
4 Because I regard you as valued and honored,
and because I love you.
For you I will give people,
nations in exchange for your life.
5 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
I will bring your descendants from the east,
and I will gather you from the west;
6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
and to the south, ‘Don’t hold them back!
Bring my sons from far away,
and my daughters from the ends of the earth,
7 everyone who bears my name,
whom I created for my glory —
I formed him, yes, I made him.’”
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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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(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost, Year C
Sunday, 23 October 2016
Joel 2:23-32
Psalm 65
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Luke 18:9-14
Scripture Text: Joel 2:23 Be glad, people of Tziyon!
rejoice in Adonai your God!
For he is giving you
the right amount of rain in the fall,
he makes the rain come down for you,
the fall and spring rains — this is what he does first.
24 Then the floors will be full of grain
and the vats overflow with wine and olive oil.
25 “I will restore to you the years that the locusts ate,
the grasshoppers, shearer-worms and cutter-worms,
my great army that I sent against you.
26 You will eat until you are satisfied
and will praise the name of Adonai your God,
who has done with you such wonders.
Then my people will never again be shamed.
27 You will know that I am with Isra’el
and that I am Adonai your God,
and that there is no other.
Then my people will never again be shamed.
Psalm 65:1 (0) For the leader. A psalm of David. A song:
2 (1) To you, God, in Tziyon, silence is praise;
and vows to you are to be fulfilled.
3 (2) You who listen to prayer,
to you all living creatures come.
4 (3) When deeds of wickedness overwhelm me,
you will atone for our crimes.
5 (4) How blessed are those you choose and bring near,
so that they can remain in your courtyards!
We will be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
the Holy Place of your temple.
6 (5) It is just that you answer us with awesome deeds,
God of our salvation,
you in whom all put their trust,
to the ends of the earth and on distant seas.
7 (6) By your strength you set up the mountains.
You are clothed with power.
8 (7) You still the roaring of the seas,
their crashing waves, and the peoples’ turmoil.
9 (8) This is why those living at the ends of the earth
stand in awe of your signs.
The places where the sun rises and sets
you cause to sing for joy.
10 (9) You care for the earth and water it,
you enrich it greatly;
with the river of God, full of water,
you provide them grain and prepare the ground.
11 (10) Soaking its furrows and settling its soil,
you soften it with showers and bless its growth.
12 (11) You crown the year with your goodness,
your tracks overflow with richness.
13 (12) The desert pastures drip water,
the hills are wrapped with joy,
14 (13) the meadows are clothed with flocks
and the valleys blanketed with grain,
so they shout for joy and break into song.
2 Timothy 4:6 For as for me, I am already being poured out on the altar; yes, the time for my departure has arrived. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 All that awaits me now is the crown of righteousness which the Lord, “the Righteous Judge,” will award to me on that Day — and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for him to appear.
16 The first time I had to present my defense, no one stood by me; everyone deserted me — may it not be counted against them. 17 But the Lord stood by me and gave me power to proclaim the full message for all the Goyim to hear, and I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.[2 Timothy 4:17 Psalm 22:22(21); Daniel 6:21(20), 23(22)] 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luke 18:9 Also, to some who were relying on their own righteousness and looking down on everyone else, he told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Parush and the other a tax-collector. 11 The Parush stood and prayed to himself, ‘O God! I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity — greedy, dishonest, immoral, or like this tax-collector! 12 I fast twice a week, I pay tithes on my entire income, . . . ’ 13 But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes toward heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God! Have mercy on me, sinner that I am!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his home right with God rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but everyone who humbles himself will be exalted.”
The John Wesley's Notes-Commentary: Joel 2:23-32
Verse 23
[23] Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
The former rain — The autumn rain which is needful to mellow the earth and fit it to receive the corn.
The latter rain — Needful to bring forward and ripen the fruits, accounted the latter rain because these husbandmen and vine-dressers reckoned from seed time to spring and harvest.
The first month — That is, our March.
Verse 24
[24] And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.
The fats — The vessels into which the liquor ran out of the press.
Verse 25
[25] And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
Restore — Make up to you.
Verse 26
[26] And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
Wondrously — In one year giving as much as the locusts wasted in the years foregoing.
Ashamed — Neither disappointed of your hopes, nor necessitated to seek relief among the heathen.
Verse 28
[28] And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
Afterward — After the return out of Babylon, after the various troubles and salvations by which these may know that I am the Lord.
I will pour — In extraordinary gifts on the first preachers of the gospel, and in various graces to all believers.
Upon all flesh — Before these gifts were confined to one particular nation; but now they shall be enlarged to all nations, and all that believe.
Shall prophesy — This was in part fulfilled according to the letter in the first days of the gospel; but the promise means farther, by pouring out of the spirit on your sons and your daughters, they shall have as full a knowledge of the mysteries of God's law, as prophets before time had.
Shalt dream dreams — This also was literally fulfilled in the apostles days. But it may mean farther, the knowledge of God and his will, shall abound among all ranks, sexes and ages in the Messiah's days, and not only equal, but surpass all that formerly was by prophesy, dreams, or visions.
Verse 29
[29] And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
My spirit — Of adoption and sanctification.
Verse 30
[30] And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
Wonders — They who read what historians report of these times, will see this fulfilled in the very letter.
Blood — Possibly eruption of blood, as some fountains have been reported to have run with blood, prefiguring the great effusion of blood by the sword, and wars following.
Fire — Either breaking out of the earth, or lightning in the air.
Verse 31
[31] The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
The sun — Having mentioned the prodigies which were to be wrought on earth, he now specifies what shall be done in heaven.
The terrible day — The unholy day of the destruction of Jerusalem; typifying the day of judgment.
Verse 32
[32] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
Whosoever shall call — Who hearing the gospel repents and believes in Christ.
Delivered — Either from those outward afflictions, or which is infinitely better from eternal miseries, which will swallow up the unbelieving world; "and it will aggravate the ruin of those who perish, that they might have been saved on such easy terms." Is it then easy for a non-elect to repent and believe? May he not as easily pull the sun out of the firmament? In mount Zion - In the true church typified by Zion.
Jerusalem — In mystical Jerusalem, the church and the city of the Messiah.
Deliverance — Temporal and eternal.
Shall call — To believe in Christ, and by him to wait for eternal life.
Psalm 65
Verse 4
[4] Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
Approach — To draw near to God in his house and ordinance, by prayer and praise, and other acts of communion with him.
Satisfied — With the blessings there conferred upon thy people, the favour and fellowship of God, remission of sins, renovation of heart and life, joy and peace, and well-grounded assurance of eternal life.
Verse 5
[5] By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:
Righteousness — By virtue of thy faithfulness, and goodness.
Wilt thou — Thou wilt graciously answer our prayers.
The confidence — Thou art the stay and support of all mankind, by thy powerful and gracious providence.
Verse 7
[7] Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.
Tumult — No less wild and impetuous.
Verse 8
[8] They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.
Thy tokens — Terrible thunders and lightnings, and earthquakes, and comets or other strange meteors, or works of God in the air.
Morning — The successive courses of the morning and evening; or of the sun and moon which go forth at those times. Thus the whole verse speaks of the natural works of God, the former clause, of such as are extraordinary and terrible, the latter of such as are ordinary and delightful.
Verse 9
[9] Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.
River — With rain, which he very significantly calls a river for its plenty, and the river of God, of God's immediate providing.
Them — The inhabitants of the earth.
Provided — Or, disposed, the earth, which without this would be hard and barren.
Verse 10
[10] Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.
Bringest down — For the rain dissolves the high and hard clods of earth.
Verse 12
[12] They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side.
Wilderness — Which though neglected by men, are furnished with food for beasts.
Verse 13
[13] The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.
Sing — They are abundantly satisfied with thy goodness, and in their manner sing forth the praise of their benefactor.
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Verse 6
[6] For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
The time of my departure is at hand — So undoubtedly God had shown him.
I am ready to be offered up — Literally, to be poured out, as the wine and oil were on the ancient sacrifices.
Verse 8
[8] Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
The crown of that righteousness - Which God has imputed to me and wrought in me.
Will render to all — This increases the joy of Paul, and encourages Timotheus. Many of these St. Paul himself had gained.
That have loved his appearing — Which only a real Christian can do. I say a real Christian, to comply with the mode of the times: else they would not understand, although the word Christian necessarily implies whatsoever is holy, as God is holy. Strictly speaking, to join real or sincere to a word of so complete an import, is grievously to debase its noble signification, and is like adding long to eternity or wide to immensity.
Verse 16
[16] At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
All — My friends and companions.
Forsook me — And do we expect to find such as will not forsake us? My first defence - Before the savage emperor Nero.
Verse 17
[17] Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
The preaching — The gospel which we preach.
Verse 18
[18] And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work — Which is far more than delivering me from death. Yea, and, over and above, preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom - Far better than that of Nero.
Luke 18:9-14
Verse 9
[9] And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
He spake this parable — Not to hypocrites; the Pharisee here mentioned was no hypocrite, no more than an outward adulterer: but he sincerely trusted in himself that he was righteous, and accordingly told God so, in the prayer which none but God heard.
Verse 12
[12] I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
I fast twice in the week — So did all the strict Pharisees: every Monday and Thursday.
I give tithes of all that I possess — Many of them gave one full tenth of their income in tithes, and another tenth in alms. the sum of this plea is, I do no harm: I use all the means of grace: I do all the good I can.
Verse 13
[13] And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
The publican standing afar off — From the holy of holies, would not so much as lift up his eyes to heaven - Touched with shame, which is more ingenuous than fear.
Verse 14
[14] I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
This man went down — From the hill on which the temple stood, justified rather than the other - That is, and not the other.
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The Upper Room Ministries
PO Box 340004
Nashville, Tennessee 37203-0004, United States
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Today's Scripture:
Isaiah 43:1 But now this is what Adonai says,
he who created you, Ya‘akov,
he who formed you, Isra’el:
“Don’t be afraid, for I have redeemed you;
I am calling you by your name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through water, I will be with you;
when you pass through rivers, they will not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire, you will not be scorched —
the flame will not burn you.
3 For I am Adonai, your God,
the Holy One of Isra’el, your Savior —
I have given Egypt as your ransom,
Ethiopia and S’va for you.
4 Because I regard you as valued and honored,
and because I love you.
For you I will give people,
nations in exchange for your life.
5 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
I will bring your descendants from the east,
and I will gather you from the west;
6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
and to the south, ‘Don’t hold them back!
Bring my sons from far away,
and my daughters from the ends of the earth,
7 everyone who bears my name,
whom I created for my glory —
I formed him, yes, I made him.’”
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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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