The Daily Devotionals of The Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church of Wichita, Kansas, United States for Thursday, 23 February 2017

The Daily Devotionals of The Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church of Wichita, Kansas, United States for Thursday, 23 February 2017
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Today, Please pray for:

Keith Fink kfink@greatplainsumc.org Kiowa UMC Wichita West District

Susan Innes sinnes@greatplainsumc.org Maize UMC Wichita West District

Valjean Warman vwarman@greatplainsumc.org Mayfield Federated UMC Wichita West District

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Lectionary Readings
Sunday, 19 February 2016
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18
Psalm 119:33-40
1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23
Matthew 5:38-48
Scripture Texts: Leviticus 19:1 Adonai said to Moshe, 2 “Speak to the entire community of Isra’el; tell them, ‘You people are to be holy because I, Adonai your God, am holy.

9 “‘When you harvest the ripe crops produced in your land, don’t harvest all the way to corners of your field, and don’t gather the ears of grain left by the harvesters. 10 Likewise, don’t gather the grapes left on the vine or fallen on the ground after harvest; leave them for the poor and the foreigner; I am Adonai your God.

11 “‘Do not steal from, defraud or lie to each other. 12 Do not swear by my name falsely, which would be profaning the name of your God; I am Adonai. 13 Do not oppress or rob your neighbor; specifically, you are not to keep back the wages of a hired worker all night until morning.

14 “‘Do not speak a curse against a deaf person or place an obstacle in the way of a blind person; rather, fear your God; I am Adonai.

(RY: v, LY: ii) 15 “‘Do not be unjust in judging — show neither partiality to the poor nor deference to the mighty, but with justice judge your neighbor.

16 “‘Do not go around spreading slander among your people, but also don’t stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is at stake; I am Adonai.

17 “‘Do not hate your brother in your heart, but rebuke your neighbor frankly, so that you won’t carry sin because of him. 18 Don’t take vengeance on or bear a grudge against any of your people; rather, love your neighbor as yourself; I am Adonai.

Psalm 119:ה (Heh)

33 Teach me, Adonai, the way of your laws;

keeping them will be its own reward for me.

34 Give me understanding; then I will keep your Torah;

I will observe it with all my heart.

35 Guide me on the path of your mitzvot,

for I take pleasure in it.

36 Bend my heart toward your instructions

and not toward selfish gain.

37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things;

with your ways, give me life.

38 Fulfill your promise, which you made to your servant,

which you made to those who fear you.

39 Avert the disgrace which I dread,

for your rulings are good.

40 See how I long for your precepts;

in your righteousness, give me life!

1 Corinthians 3:10 Using the grace God gave me, I laid a foundation, like a skilled master-builder; and another man is building on it. But let each one be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Yeshua the Messiah.

16 Don’t you know that you people are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? 17 So if anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you yourselves are that temple.

18 Let no one fool himself. If someone among you thinks he is wise (by this world’s standards), let him become “foolish,” so that he may become really wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is nonsense, as far as God is concerned; inasmuch as the Tanakh says, “He traps the wise in their own cleverness,”[1 Corinthians 3:19 Job 5:13] 20 and again, “Adonai knows that the thoughts of the wise are worthless.”[1 Corinthians 3:20 Psalm 94:11] 21 So let no one boast about human beings, for all things are yours — 22 whether Sha’ul or Apollos or Kefa or the world or life or death or the present or the future: they all belong to you, 23 and you belong to the Messiah, and the Messiah belongs to God.

Matthew 5:38 “You have heard that our fathers were told, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’[Matthew 5:38 Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21] 39 But I tell you not to stand up against someone who does you wrong. On the contrary, if someone hits you on the right cheek, let him hit you on the left cheek too! 40 If someone wants to sue you for your shirt, let him have your coat as well! 41 And if a soldier forces you to carry his pack for one mile, carry it for two! 42 When someone asks you for something, give it to him; when someone wants to borrow something from you, lend it to him.

43 “You have heard that our fathers were told, ‘Love your neighbor[Matthew 5:43 Leviticus 19:18] — and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 Then you will become children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun shine on good and bad people alike, and he sends rain to the righteous and the unrighteous alike. 46 What reward do you get if you love only those who love you? Why, even tax-collectors do that! 47 And if you are friendly only to your friends, are you doing anything out of the ordinary? Even the Goyim do that! 48 Therefore, be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

John Wesley's Notes-Commentary: Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18

(Read all of Leviticus 19)
Verse 2
[2] Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.

Be ye holy — Separated from all the forementioned defilements, and entirely consecrated to God and obedient to all his laws.

I am holy — Both in my essence, and in all my laws, which are holy and just and good.

Verse 10

[10] And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God.

I am the Lord your God — Who gave you all these things with a reservation of my right in them, and with a charge of giving part of them to the poor.

Verse 12

[12] And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.

Ye shall not swear falsely — This is added, to shew how one sin draws on another, and that when men will lye for their own advantage, they will easily be induced to perjury.

Profane the name — By any unholy use of it. So it is an additional precept, thou shalt not abuse my holy name by swearing either falsely or rashly.

Verse 14

[14] Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD.

Before the blind — To make them fall. Under these two particulars are manifestly forbidden all injuries done to such as are unable to right or defend themselves; of whom God here takes the more care, because they are not able to secure themselves.

Fear thy God — Who both can and will avenge them.

Verse 15

[15] Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.

The poor — So as through pity to him to give an unrighteous sentence.

Verse 16

[16] Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.

Stand against the blood — In judgment as a false accuser or false witness, for accusers and witnesses use to stand, whilst the judges sit in courts of judicature.

Verse 17

[17] Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.

Thou shalt not hate — As thou dost, in effect, if thou dost not rebuke him.

Thy brother — The same as thy neighbour, that is, every man. If thy brother hath done wrong, thou shalt neither divulge it to others, nor hate him, and smother that hatred by sullen silence; nor flatter him therein, but shalt freely and in love, tell him of his fault.

And not suffer sin upon him — Not suffer him to lie under the guilt of any sin, which thou by rebuking him, and thereby bringing him to repentance, couldst free him from.

Verse 18

[18] Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

Thy neighbour — Every man, as plainly appears, 1. By comparing this place with Leviticus 19:34, where this law is applied to strangers. 2. Because the word neighbour is explained by another man, Leviticus 20:10; Romans 13:8.

As thyself — With the same sincerity, though not equality of affection.

Psalm 119:33-40
Verse 36

[36] Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.

Covetousness — He mentions this in particular, because it is most opposite to God's testimonies, and does most commonly hinder men from receiving his word, and from profiting by it: and because it is most pernicious, as being the root of all evil.

Verse 37

[37] Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.

Vanity — The vain things of this present world, such as riches, honours, pleasures: from beholding them, with desire or affection.

Quicken — Make me lively, vigorous and fervent in thy service.

Verse 38

[38] Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.

Stablish — Confirm and perform thy promises.

Verse 39

[39] Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.

I fear — For my instability in thy ways; which in respect to my own weakness, I have great cause to fear.

Verse 40

[40] Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.

Longed — After a more solid knowledge and constant performance of them.

In — According to thy faithfulness.

1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23
Verse 10

[10] According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

According to the grace of God given to me — This he premises, lest he should seem to ascribe it to himself.

Let every one take heed how he buildeth thereon — That all his doctrines may be consistent with the foundation.

Verse 11

[11] For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

For other foundation — On which the whole church: and all its doctrines, duties, and blessings may be built.

Can no man lay than what is laid — In the counsels of divine wisdom, in the promises and prophecies of the Old Testament, in the preaching of the apostles, St. Paul in particular.

Which is Jesus Christ — Who, in his person and offices, is the firm, immovable Rock of Ages, every way sufficient to bear all the weight that God himself, or the sinner, when he believes, can lay upon him.

Verse 16

[16] Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Ye — All Christians.

Are the temple of God — The most noble kind of building, 1 Corinthians 3:9.

Verse 17

[17] If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

If any man destroy the temple of God — Destroy a real Christian, by schisms, or doctrines fundamentally wrong.

Him shall God destroy — He shall not be saved at all; not even as through the fire."

Verse 18

[18] Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

Let him become a fool in this world — Such as the world accounts so.

That he may become wise — In God's account.

Verse 19

[19] For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

For all the boasted wisdom of the world is mere foolishness in the sight of God.

He taketh the wise in their own craftiness — Not only while they think they are acting wisely, but by their very wisdom, which itself is their snare, and the occasion of their destruction. Job 5:13.

Verse 20

[20] And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

That they are but vain — Empty, foolish; they and all their thoughts. Psalms 94:11.

Verse 21

[21] Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;

Therefore — Upon the whole.

Let none glory in men — So as to divide into parties on their account.

For all things are yours — and we in particular. We are not your lords, but rather your servants.

Verse 22

[22] Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;

Whether Paul or Apollos, or Cephas — We are all equally yours, to serve you for Christ's sake.

Or the world — This leap from Peter to the world greatly enlarges the thought, and argues a kind of impatience of enumerating the rest. Peter and every one in the whole world, however excellent in gifts, or grace, or office, are also your servants for Christ's sake.

Or life, or death — These, with all their various circumstances, are disposed as will be most for your advantage.

Or things present — On earth.

Or things to come — In heaven. Contend, therefore, no more about these little things; but be ye united in love, as ye are in blessings.

Verse 23

[23] And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

And ye are Christ's — His property, his subjects. his members.

And Christ is God's — As Mediator, he refers all his services to his Father's glory.

Matthew 5:38-48
Verse 38

[38] Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

Ye have heard — Our Lord proceeds to enforce such meekness and love on those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake (which he pursues to the end of the chapter) as were utterly unknown to the scribes and Pharisees.

It hath been said — In the law, as a direction to judges, in ease of violent and barbarous assaults.

An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth — And this has been interpreted, as encouraging bitter and rigorous revenge. Deuteronomy 19:21.

Verse 39

[39] But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

But I say unto you, that ye resist not the evil man — Thus; the Greek word translated resist signifies standing in battle array, striving for victory. If a man smite thee on the right cheek - Return not evil for evil: yea, turn to him the other - Rather than revenge thyself. 40, 41. Where the damage is not great, choose rather to suffer it, though possibly it may on that account be repeated, than to demand an eye for an eye, to enter into a rigorous prosecution of the offender. The meaning of the whole passage seems to be, rather than return evil for evil, when the wrong is purely personal, submit to one bodily wrong after another, give up one part of your goods after another, submit to one instance of compulsion after another. That the words are not literally to be understood, appears from the behaviour of our Lord himself, John 18:22,23.

Verse 41

[41] And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain..

Verse 42

[42] Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Thus much for your behaviour toward the violent. As for those who use milder methods, Give to him that asketh thee - Give and lend to any so far, (but no further, for God never contradicts himself) as is consistent with thy engagements to thy creditors, thy family, and the household of faith. Luke 6:30.

Verse 43

[43] Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

Thou shalt love thy neighbour; And hate thy enemy — God spoke the former part; the scribes added the latter. Leviticus 19:18.

Verse 44

[44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Bless them that curse you — Speak all the good you can to and of them, who speak all evil to and of you. Repay love in thought, word, and deed, to those who hate you, and show it both in word and deed. Luke 6:27,35.

Verse 45

[45] That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

That ye may be the children — That is, that ye may continue and appear such before men and angels.

For he maketh his sun to rise — He gives them such blessings as they will receive at his hands. Spiritual blessings they will not receive.

Verse 46

[46] For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

The publicans — were officers of the revenue, farmers, or receivers of the public money: men employed by the Romans to gather the taxes and customs, which they exacted of the nations they had conquered. These were generally odious for their extortion and oppression, and were reckoned by the Jews as the very scum of the earth.

Verse 47

[47] And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

And if ye salute your friends only — Our Lord probably glances at those prejudices, which different sects had against each other, and intimates, that he would not have his followers imbibe that narrow spirit. Would to God this had been more attended to among the unhappy divisions and subdivisions, into which his Church has been crumbled! And that we might at least advance so far, as cordially to embrace our brethren in Christ, of whatever party or denomination they are!

Verse 48

[48] Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Therefore ye shall be perfect; as your Father who is in heaven is perfect — So the original runs, referring to all that holiness which is described in the foregoing verses, which our Lord in the beginning of the chapter recommends as happiness, and in the close of it as perfection. And how wise and gracious is this, to sum up, and, as it were, seal all his commandments with a promise! Even the proper promise of the Gospel! That he will put those laws in our minds, and write them in our hearts! He well knew how ready our unbelief would be to cry out, this is impossible! And therefore stakes upon it all the power, truth, and faithfulness of him to whom all things are possible.

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The Upper Room Ministries
PO Box 340004
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Today's Scripture:

Mark 12:28 One of the Torah-teachers came up and heard them engaged in this discussion. Seeing that Yeshua answered them well, he asked him, “Which is the most important mitzvah of them all?” 29 Yeshua answered, “The most important is,
‘Sh’ma Yisra’el, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai echad [Hear, O Isra’el, the Lord our God, the Lord is one], 30 and you are to love Adonai your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your understanding and with all your strength.’[Mark 12:30 Deuteronomy 6:4–5]
31 The second is this:
‘You are to love your neighbor as yourself.’[Mark 12:31 Leviticus 19:18]

There is no other mitzvah greater than these.”
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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
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info@gre