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The Great Plains Conference of The United Methodist Church Daily Devotional for Saturday, 15 July 2017
Today please be in prayer for
Corning: Trinity UMC
Goff UMC
Wetmore UMC
Topeka District
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District Superintendent
Topeka District
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Chaplain, Michael E. Debakey VA Medical Center, Houston, Tx
Topeka District
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The Great Plains Conference of The United Methodist Church in Wichita, Kansas, United States Daily Devotional for Friday, 14 July 2017
Today please be in prayer for
Topeka: Susanna Wesley UMC
Topeka District
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Topeka: University UMC
Topeka District
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Troy UMC
Wathena UMC
Topeka District
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The Great Plains Conference of The United Methodist Church in Wichita, Kansas, United States Daily Devotional for Thursday, 13 July 2017
Today please be in prayer for
Topeka: Oakland UMC
Topeka District
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Topeka: Pleasant Hill UMC
Topeka District
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Topeka: St Peter's UMC
Topeka District
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The Great Plains Conference of The United Methodist Church in Wichita, Kansas, United States Daily Devotional for Wednesday, 12 July 2017
Today please be in prayer for
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Topeka: Kansas Avenue UMC
Topeka District
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Topeka: Lowman UMC
Topeka District
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Topeka: New Hope UMC
Topeka District
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The Great Plains Conference of The United Methodist Church in Wichita, Kansas, United States Daily Devotional for Tuesday, 11 July 2017
Today please be in prayer for
Topeka: First UMC
Topeka District
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Topeka: Grace UMC
Topeka District
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Topeka: Highland Park UMC
Topeka District
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The Great Plains Conference of The United Methodist Church in Wichita, Kansas, United States Daily Devotional for Monday, 10 July 2017
Today please be in prayer for
Topeka: Countryside UMC
Topeka District
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Topeka: Crestview UMC
Topeka District
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Topeka: First UMC
Topeka District
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The Great Plains Conference of The United Methodist Church in Wichita, Kansas, United States Daily Devotional for Sunday, 09 July 2017
Today please be in prayer for
Sabetha: First UMC
Topeka District
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Topeka: Asbury Mount Olive UMC
Topeka District
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Topeka: Countryside UMC
Topeka District
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| ------- Today's Devotional for Saturday, 15 July 2017 Romans 12:10-18 Romans 12:10 Love each other devotedly and with brotherly love; and set examples for each other in showing respect. 11 Don’t be lazy when hard work is needed, but serve the Lord with spiritual fervor. 12 Rejoice in your hope, be patient in your troubles, and continue steadfastly in prayer. 13 Share what you have with God’s people, and practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you — bless them, don’t curse them! 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be sensitive to each other’s needs — don’t think yourselves better than others, but make humble people your friends. Don’t be conceited. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but try to do what everyone regards as good. 18 If possible, and to the extent that it depends on you, live in peace with all people. ------- Today's Devotional for Friday, 14 July 2017 Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Deuteronomy 6:(A:vi, S: v) 4 “Sh’ma, Yisra’el! Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai echad [Hear, Isra’el! Adonai our God, Adonai is one]; 5 and you are to love Adonai your God with all your heart, all your being and all your resources. 6 These words, which I am ordering you today, are to be on your heart; 7 and you are to teach them carefully to your children. You are to talk about them when you sit at home, when you are traveling on the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them on your hand as a sign, put them at the front of a headband around your forehead, 9 and write them on the door-frames of your house and on your gates. ------- Today's Devotional for Thursday, 13 July 2017 Ezekiel 34:11-16 Ezekiel 34:11 “‘For here is what Adonai Elohim says: “I am taking over! I will search for my sheep and look after them, myself. 12 Just as a shepherd looks after his flock when he finds himself among his scattered sheep, so I will look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered when it was cloudy and dark. 13 I will bring them back from those peoples, gather them from those countries and return them to their own land. Then I will let them feed on the mountains of Isra’el, by the streams and in all the livable places of the land. 14 I will have them feed in good pastures; their grazing ground will be on the high mountains of Isra’el. They will rest in good grazing grounds and feed in rich pastures on Isra’el’s mountains. 15 Yes, I will pasture my sheep; and I will let them rest” says Adonai Elohim. 16 “I will seek the lost, bring back the outcasts, bandage the broken, and strengthen the sick. But the fat and the strong I will destroy — I will feed them with judgment.” ------- Today's Devotional for Wednesday, 12 July 2017 John 2:1-11 John 2:1 On Tuesday[John 2:1 Greek: the third day, equivalent to Hebrew yom shlishi] there was a wedding at Kanah in the Galil; and the mother of Yeshua was there. 2 Yeshua too was invited to the wedding, along with his talmidim. 3 The wine ran out, and Yeshua’s mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” 4 Yeshua replied, “Mother, why should that concern me? — or you? My time hasn’t come yet.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Now six stone water-jars were standing there for the Jewish ceremonial washings, each with a capacity of twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Yeshua told them, “Fill the jars with water,” and they filled them to the brim. 8 He said, “Now draw some out, and take it to the man in charge of the banquet”; and they took it. 9 The man in charge tasted the water; it had now turned into wine! He did not know where it had come from, but the servants who had drawn the water knew. So he called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone else serves the good wine first and the poorer wine after people have drunk freely. But you have kept the good wine until now!” 11 This, the first of Yeshua’s miraculous signs, he did at Kanah in the Galil; he manifested his glory, and his talmidim came to trust in him. ------- Today's Devotional for Tuesday, 11 July 2017 Romans 14:7-9 Romans 14:7 For none of us lives only in relation to himself, and none of us dies only in relation to himself; 8 for if we live, we live in relation to the Lord; and if we die, we die in relation to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord — 9 indeed, it was for this very reason that the Messiah died and came back to life, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. ------- Today's Devotional for Monday, 10 July 2017 Luke 6:12-19 Luke 6:12 It was around that time that Yeshua went out to the hill country to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. 13 When day came, he called his talmidim and chose from among them twelve to be known as emissaries: 14 Shim‘on, whom he named Kefa; Andrew, his brother; Ya‘akov; Yochanan; Philip; Bar-Talmai; 15 Mattityahu; T’oma; Ya‘akov Ben-Halfai; 16 Shim‘on, the one called the Zealot; Y’hudah Ben-Ya‘akov; and Y’hudah from K’riot, who turned traitor. 17 Then he came down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his talmidim was there with great numbers of people from all Y’hudah, Yerushalayim and the coast around Tzor and Tzidon; they had come to hear him and be healed of their diseases. 18 Those who were troubled with unclean spirits were being healed; 19 and the whole crowd was trying to touch him, because power kept going out from him, healing everyone. ------- Today's Devotional for Sunday. 9 July 2017 Psalm 103:1-5 Psalm 103:1(0) By David: (1) Bless Adonai, my soul! Everything in me, bless his holy name! 2 Bless Adonai, my soul, and forget none of his benefits! 3 He forgives all your offenses, he heals all your diseases, 4 he redeems your life from the pit, he surrounds you with grace and compassion, 5 he contents you with good as long as you live, so that your youth is renewed like an eagle’s. ------- Shared Prayers View Prayer Requests Submit a Prayer Request This Week's Lectionary 5th Sunday after Pentecost/in Kingdomtide – Green Sunday, 9 July 2017 Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 Psalm 45:10-17 or Psalm 72 Romans 7:15-25a Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 ------- Lectionary Readings (Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library) Sunday,9 July 2017 Fifth Sunday After Pentecost, Year A "From Chaos to Community: Legacy" Like all human families, the first families of our faith tradition were not perfect. They had their share of failure and struggles, just like everyone else. But throughout it all they knew the abiding presence of the Lord God was with them—perhaps most clearly known during moments of difficult decision, rites of passage, and periods of painful transition. SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES: Genesis 24:34-38 Psalm 45:10-17 or Psalm 72 (UNITED METHODIST HYMNAL 795 by Gary Alan Smith)
"You Said"
1. You said, "Ask and you will receive
(originally by Reuben Morgan)
Whatever you need" You said, "Pray and I'll hear from Heaven And I'll heal your land" 2. You said, Your glory will fill the earth Like water, the sea
You said, "Lift up your eyes
The harvest is here, yes the Kingdom is near"
3. You said, "Ask and I'll give the nations to you"
Oh, Lord, that's the cry of my heart
Distant shores and the islands will see
Your light, as it rises on us
4. You said, Your glory will fill the earth
Like water the sea
You said, "Lift up your eyes
The harvest is here, the Kingdom is near"
5. You said, "Ask and I'll give the nations to you"
Oh, Lord, that's the cry of my heart
Distant shores and the islands will see
Your light, as it rises on us
6. You said, "Ask and I'll give the nations to you"
Oh, Lord, that's the cry of my heart
Distant shores and the islands will see
Your light, as it rises on us
7. You said, "Ask and I'll give the nations to you"
Oh, Lord, that's the cry of my heart
Distant shores and the islands will see
Your light, as it rises on us
You said that we believe
8. Oh, Lord, I ask for the nation
Oh, Lord, I ask for the nation
Even though you were there Lord
Oh, Lord, I ask for the nation
Oh, Lord, I ask for the nation
Romans 7:15-25a
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
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SCRIPTURAL TEXTS: Genesis 24:34 He said, “I am Avraham’s servant. 35 Adonai has greatly blessed my master, so that he has grown wealthy. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female slaves, camels and donkeys. 36 Sarah my master’s wife bore my master a son when she was old, and he has given him everything he has. 37 My master made me swear, saying, ‘You are not to choose a wife for my son from among the women of the Kena‘ani, among whom I am living; 38 rather, you are to go to my father’s house, to my kinsmen, to choose a wife for my son.’ Psalm 45:10 (9) Daughters of kings are among your favorites; at your right stands the queen in gold from Ofir. 11 (10) Listen, daughter! Think, pay attention! Forget your own people and your father’s house, 12 (11) and the king will desire your beauty; for he is your lord, so honor him. 13 (12) Then the daughter of Tzor, the richest of peoples,
will court your favor with gifts.
14 (13) Inside [the palace], the king’s daughter looks splendid,
attired in checker-work embroidered with gold.
15 (14) In brocade, she will be led to the king,
to you, with the virgins in her retinue.
16 (15) They will be led in with gladness and joy,
they will enter the king’s palace.
17 (16) You will have sons to succeed your ancestors;
you will make them princes in all the land.
18 (17) I will make your name known through all generations;
thus the peoples will praise you forever and ever.
Psalm 72:1 (0) By Shlomo:
(1) God, give the king your fairness in judgment,
endow this son of kings with your righteousness,
2 so that he can govern your people rightly
and your poor with justice.
3 May mountains and hills provide your people
with peace through righteousness.
4 May he defend the oppressed among the people,
save the needy and crush the oppressor.
5 May they fear you as long as the sun endures
and as long as the moon, through all generations.
6 May he be like rain falling on mown grass,
like showers watering the land.
7 In his days, let the righteous flourish
and peace abound, till the moon is no more.
8 May his empire stretch from sea to sea,
from the [Euphrates] River to the ends of the earth.
9 May desert-dwellers bow before him;
may his enemies lick the dust.
10 The kings of Tarshish and the coasts will pay him tribute;
the kings of Sh’va and S’va will offer gifts.
11 Yes, all kings will prostrate themselves before him;
all nations will serve him.
12 For he will rescue the needy when they cry,
the poor too and those with none to help them.
13 He will have pity on the poor and needy;
and the lives of the needy he will save.
14 He will redeem them from oppression and violence;
their blood will be precious in his view.
15 May [the king] live long!
May they give him gold from the land of Sh’va!
May they pray for him continually;
yes, bless him all day long.
16 May there be an abundance of grain in the land,
all the way to the tops of the mountains.
May its crops rustle like the L’vanon.
May people blossom in the city like the grasses in the fields.
17 May his name endure forever,
his name, Yinnon, as long as the sun.[Psalm 72:17 Or: “May his name flourish/propagate as long as the sun.” Jewish tradition considers Yinnon a name of the Messiah.]
May people bless themselves in him,
may all nations call him happy.
18 Blessed be Adonai, God,
the God of Isra’el,
who alone works wonders.
19 Blessed be his glorious name forever,
and may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen. Amen.
20 This completes the prayers of David the son of Yishai.
Romans 7:15 I don’t understand my own behavior — I don’t do what I want to do; instead, I do the very thing I hate! 16 Now if I am doing what I don’t want to do, I am agreeing that the Torah is good. 17 But now it is no longer “the real me” doing it, but the sin housed inside me. 18 For I know that there is nothing good housed inside me — that is, inside my old nature. I can want what is good, but I can’t do it! 19 For I don’t do the good I want; instead, the evil that I don’t want is what I do! 20 But if I am doing what “the real me” doesn’t want, it is no longer “the real me” doing it but the sin housed inside me. 21 So I find it to be the rule, a kind of perverse “torah,” that although I want to do what is good, evil is right there with me! 22 For in my inner self I completely agree with God’s Torah; 23 but in my various parts, I see a different “torah,” one that battles with the Torah in my mind and makes me a prisoner of sin’s “torah,” which is operating in my various parts. 24 What a miserable creature I am! Who will rescue me from this body bound for death? 25 Thanks be to God [, he will]! — through Yeshua the Messiah, our Lord!
To sum up: with my mind, I am a slave of God’s Torah; but with my old nature, I am a slave of sin’s “Torah.”
Matthew 11:16 “Oh, what can I compare this generation with? They’re like children sitting in the marketplaces, calling out to each other,
17 ‘We made happy music,
but you wouldn’t dance!
We made sad music,
but you wouldn’t cry!’
18 For Yochanan came, fasting, not drinking — so they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came, eating freely and drinking wine — so they say, ‘Aha! A glutton and a drunkard! A friend of tax-collectors and sinners!’ Well, the proof of wisdom is in the actions it produces.”
25 It was at that time that Yeshua said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you concealed these things from the sophisticated and educated and revealed them to ordinary folks. 26 Yes, Father, I thank you that it pleased you to do this.
27 “My Father has handed over everything to me. Indeed, no one fully knows the Son except the Father, and no one fully knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.
28 “Come to me, all of you who are struggling and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.[Matthew 11:29 Jeremiah 6:16] 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
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John Wesley's Notes-Commentary: Genesis 24:34-38
Verse 34
[34] And he said, I am Abraham's servant.
Psalm 45:10-17
Verse 10
[10] Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house;
[11] So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.
So — So thou shalt be acceptable to thy husband; which will abundantly recompence thee, for the loss of thy father's house.
Thy Lord — As he is thy husband, and also as he is thy king, and God.
Verse 12
[12] And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.
The daughter — The people of Tyre; as the daughter of Zion or Jerusalem, are put for their inhabitants: he mentions the Tyrians; because they among others, and before many others, were to be converted to Christ, but they are here put for all the Gentiles, whom that city fitly represents, as being the mart of the nations.
A gift — To testify their homage.
The rich — Of other nations.
Verse 13
[13] The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.
Daughter — The spouse; so called, because she was the daughter of one king, and the wife of another.
Within — In her soul.
Her cloathing — She is outwardly adorned with virtuous and honourable actions.
Verse 14
[14] She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.
Brought — He alludes to the custom of conducting the bride to the bride-groom's house.
Companions — Her bride-maidens attending upon her.
Verse 16
[16] Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.
Instead — Having directed his speech to the bride, he now returns to the bridegroom, as may be gathered both from the Hebrew words, which are of the masculine gender; and from the next verse, which unquestionably belongs unto him, and therefore this cannot be understood of Solomon, and his marriage with Pharaoh's daughter, because he had no children by her, and but very few by all his wives and concubines; and his children were so far from being made Princes in all the earth, that they enjoyed but a small part of their father's dominions, but this was fully accomplished in Christ: who instead of his fathers of the Jewish nation, had a numerous posterity of Christians of all the nations of the earth, which here and elsewhere are called princes and kings, because of their great power with God and with men.
Verse 17
[17] I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.
Remembered — As he began the psalm with the celebration of the king's praises, so now he ends with it, and adds this important circumstance, that this nuptial song should not only serve for the present solemnity, but should be remembered and sung in all successive generations.
or
Psalm 72
Verse 1
[1] Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son. Judgments — He saith judgments in the plural number, because though the office of judging and ruling was but one, yet there were divers parts and branches, of it; in all which he begs that Solomon may be directed to do as God would have him to do. Verse 2 [2] He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. Thy afflicted ones — For such are thine in a special manner, thou art their judge and patron. Verse 3
[3] The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.
The mountains — Which are so dangerous to passengers, in regard of robbers and wild beasts. Hereby it is implied, that other places should do so too, and that it should be common and universal.
Verse 4
[4] He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.
Judge — Vindicate them from their oppressors.
Verse 5
[5] They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.
Thee — Thee, O God, this shall be another blessed fruit of this righteous government, that together with peace, true religion shall be established, and that throughout all generations, which was begun in Solomon's days, but not fully accomplished 'till Christ came.
Verse 6
[6] He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.
He shall come — Christ did come down from heaven, and brought or sent down from heaven his doctrine, (which is often compared to rain) and the sweet and powerful influences of his spirit.
Verse 8
[8] He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.
Dominion — From one sea to another, or in all the parts of the habitable world. This was accomplished in Christ, and in him only.
The river — Euphrates: which was the eastern border of the kingdom of Canaan, allotted by God, but enjoyed only by David, Solomon, and Christ. Of whose kingdom this may be mentioned, as one of the borders; because the kingdom of Christ is described under the shadow of Solomon's kingdom.
Verse 10
[10] The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
The sea — Of remote countries, to which they used to go from Canaan by sea; which are frequently called isles in scripture; the kings that rule by sea or by land.
Verse 11
[11] Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.
All nations — Which cannot be said of Solomon with any truth or colour, but was unquestionably verified in Christ,
Verse 14
[14] He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.
Deceit and violence — The two ways whereby the lives of men are usually destroyed.
Precious — He will not be prodigal of the lives of his subjects, but like a true father of his people, will tenderly preserve them, and severely avenge their blood upon those who shall shed it.
Verse 15
[15] And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised.
Live — Long and prosperous, as Solomon: yea, eternally as Christ.
Gold — This was done to Solomon, 1 Kings 10:15, and to Christ, Matthew 2:11. But such expressions as these being used of Christ and his kingdom, are commonly understood in a spiritual sense.
Verse 16
[16] There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.
A handful — This intimates the small beginnings of his kingdom; and therefore does not agree to Solomon, whose kingdom was in a manner as large at the beginning of his reign, as at the end, but it exactly agrees to Christ.
The earth — Sown in the earth.
Mountains — In the most barren grounds.
Shake — It shall yield such abundance of corn, that the ears being thick and high, shall, when they are shaken with the wind, make a noise not unlike that which the tops of the trees of Lebanon, sometimes make.
Of the city — The citizens of Jerusalem, which are here put for the subjects of this kingdom.
Verse 20
[20] The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.
The prayer — This psalm is the last which David composed: for this was wrote but a little before his death.
Romans 7:15-25a
Verse 16
[16] If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
[18] For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
In my flesh — The flesh here signifies the whole man as he is by nature.
Verse 21
[21] I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
I find then a law — An inward constraining power, flowing from the dictate of corrupt nature.
Verse 22
[22] For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
For I delight in the law of God — This is more than "I consent to," Romans 7:16. The day of liberty draws near.
The inward man — Called the mind, Romans 7:23,25.
Verse 23
[23] But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
But I see another law in my members — Another inward constraining power of evil inclinations and bodily appetites.
Warring against the law of my mind — The dictate of my mind, which delights in the law of God.
And captivating me — In spite of all my resistance
Verse 24
[24] O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Wretched man that I am — The struggle is now come to the height; and the man, finding there is no help in himself, begins almost unawares to pray, Who shall deliver me? He then seeks and looks for deliverance, till God in Christ appears to answer his question. The word which we translate deliver, implies force. And indeed without this there can be no deliverance.
The body of this death — That is, this body of death; this mass of sin, leading to death eternal, and cleaving as close to me as my body to my soul. We may observe, the deliverance is not wrought yet.
Verse 25
[25] I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord — That is, God will deliver me through Christ. But the apostle, as his frequent manner is, beautifully interweaves his assertion with thanksgiving;' the hymn of praise answering in a manner to the voice of sorrow, "Wretched man that I am!" So then - He here sums up the whole, and concludes what he began, Romans 7:7.
I myself — Or rather that I, the person whom I am personating, till this deliverance is wrought.
Serve the law of God with my mind — My reason and conscience declare for God.
But with my flesh the law of sin — But my corrupt passions and appetites still rebel. The man is now utterly weary of his bondage, and upon the brink of liberty.
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
Verse 16
-------[16] But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,
Verse 19
[19] The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
The Son of man came eating and drinking — Conversing in a free, familiar way.
Wisdom is justified by her children — That is, my wisdom herein is acknowledged by those who are truly wise.
Verse 25
[25] At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
Jesus answering — This word does not always imply, that something had been spoken, to which an answer is now made. It often means no more than the speaking in reference to some action or circumstance preceding. The following words Christ speaks in reference to the case of the cities above mentioned: I thank thee - That is, I acknowledge and joyfully adore the justice and mercy of thy dispensations: Because thou hast hid - That is, because thou hast suffered these things to be hid from men, who are in other respects wise and prudent, while thou hast discovered them to those of the weakest understanding, to them who are only wise to Godward. Luke 10:21.
Verse 27
[27] All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
All things are delivered to me — Our Lord, here addressing himself to his disciples, shows why men, wise in other things, do not know this: namely, because none can know it by natural reason: none but those to whom he revealeth it.
Verse 28
[28] Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Come to me — Here he shows to whom he is pleased to reveal these things to the weary and heavy laden; ye that labour - After rest in God: and are heavy laden - With the guilt and power of sin: and I will give you rest - I alone (for none else can) will freely give you (what ye cannot purchase) rest from the guilt of sin by justification, and from the power of sin by sanctification.
Verse 29
[29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Take my yoke upon you — Believe in me: receive me as your prophet, priest, and king.
For I am meek and lowly in heart — Meek toward all men, lowly toward God: and ye shall find rest - Whoever therefore does not find rest of soul, is not meek and lowly. The fault is not in the yoke of Christ: but in thee, who hast not taken it upon thee. Nor is it possible for any one to be discontented, but through want of meekness or lowliness.
Verse 30
[30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
For my yoke is easy — Or rather gracious, sweet, benign, delightful: and my burden - Contrary to those of men, is ease, liberty, and honour.
Contact Information The 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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