Tuesday January 10th
(see www.moravian.org/daily_texts/ for more info on Daily Texts I will be using each day)
Readings for Today:
• Psalm 7:10-17
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm7&version=NIV
• Genesis 10:1-11:9
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis10&version=NIV
• Matthew 5:1-16
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew5&version=NIV
Thoughts for the Day:
Today our psalmist again reaffirms that his trust and protection are with the Lord, who is his shield. He doesn’t need to worry about taking matters of justice into his own hands, because God will punish those who are pregnant with evil. Importantly though for those bent on evil, we see that God is willing to relent if they turn from their ways.
Psalm 7:10 My shield is God Most High,
who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge,
a God who displays his wrath every day.
12 If he does not relent,
he will sharpen his sword;
he will bend and string his bow.
In Genesis today we see that as the descendants of Noah’s sons begin to gather in one place, their intent was to build a “name” for themselves. The Lord sees that in their hearts they are trying to put their trust in themselves, rather than Him, and so He scatters them and confuses their language. The name “Babel”, which we still use today (i.e. babbler), means “confusion” in Hebrew. It is also the name for the city of Babylon, which would be a place that opposed God’s purposes throughout Israel’s history, and is the home for modern day Iraq (located approximately 45 miles South of Bagdad).
Genesis 11:3 They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”5 But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. 6 The LORD said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”8 So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why it was called Babel—because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth."
Finally, in Matthew 5, we see the famous “Sermon on the Mount” teaching given by Jesus to the crowds, by way of his disciples. In this passage, we see the upside/down nature of God’s kingdom. I.e. “Blessed” are the meek, the poor in spirit, and those who are persecuted. Jesus shows that the kingdom often comes in ways that are unexpected. The term for “blessed” can also mean “happy ”. “Happy” meaning, not in a superficial way, but truly joyous! As we live out God’s kingdom values, as God’s children, we will not be building a tower for ourselves but His kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. The kingdom is built each day, as we live out the values Jesus expresses in the Beatitudes.
Take a moment to reflect on the “Beatitudes”, or might we say “be-attitudes”, or “attitudes” of “being”! What “be-attitude” do you need to focus on today. Mercy? Humility? Peacemaker? Purity? As you seek out these attitudes as God gives you the grace and power to do you, will find true happiness, which the bible calls, “blessedness”.
Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Prayer for the Day: Forgive us, our Redeemer, when we take on a show of piety but not a heart of piety. Create in us a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within us. Restore to us the joy of salvation. Amen.
Readings for Today:
• Psalm 7:10-17
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm7&version=NIV
• Genesis 10:1-11:9
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis10&version=NIV
• Matthew 5:1-16
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew5&version=NIV
Thoughts for the Day:
Today our psalmist again reaffirms that his trust and protection are with the Lord, who is his shield. He doesn’t need to worry about taking matters of justice into his own hands, because God will punish those who are pregnant with evil. Importantly though for those bent on evil, we see that God is willing to relent if they turn from their ways.
Psalm 7:10 My shield is God Most High,
who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge,
a God who displays his wrath every day.
12 If he does not relent,
he will sharpen his sword;
he will bend and string his bow.
In Genesis today we see that as the descendants of Noah’s sons begin to gather in one place, their intent was to build a “name” for themselves. The Lord sees that in their hearts they are trying to put their trust in themselves, rather than Him, and so He scatters them and confuses their language. The name “Babel”, which we still use today (i.e. babbler), means “confusion” in Hebrew. It is also the name for the city of Babylon, which would be a place that opposed God’s purposes throughout Israel’s history, and is the home for modern day Iraq (located approximately 45 miles South of Bagdad).
Genesis 11:3 They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”5 But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. 6 The LORD said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”8 So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why it was called Babel—because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth."
Finally, in Matthew 5, we see the famous “Sermon on the Mount” teaching given by Jesus to the crowds, by way of his disciples. In this passage, we see the upside/down nature of God’s kingdom. I.e. “Blessed” are the meek, the poor in spirit, and those who are persecuted. Jesus shows that the kingdom often comes in ways that are unexpected. The term for “blessed” can also mean “happy ”. “Happy” meaning, not in a superficial way, but truly joyous! As we live out God’s kingdom values, as God’s children, we will not be building a tower for ourselves but His kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. The kingdom is built each day, as we live out the values Jesus expresses in the Beatitudes.
Take a moment to reflect on the “Beatitudes”, or might we say “be-attitudes”, or “attitudes” of “being”! What “be-attitude” do you need to focus on today. Mercy? Humility? Peacemaker? Purity? As you seek out these attitudes as God gives you the grace and power to do you, will find true happiness, which the bible calls, “blessedness”.
Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Prayer for the Day: Forgive us, our Redeemer, when we take on a show of piety but not a heart of piety. Create in us a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within us. Restore to us the joy of salvation. Amen.
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