Friday, January 3rd
www.moravian.org/daily_texts
Readings for Today:
Psalm 18:46-50
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm18&version=NIV
Genesis: 32:22-33:20
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis32&version=NIV
Matthew 12:22-32
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew12&version=NIV
46 The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!
Exalted be God my Savior!
47 He is the God who avenges me,
who subdues nations under me,
48 who saves me from my enemies.
You exalted me above my foes;
from a violent man you rescued me.
49 Therefore I will praise you, LORD, among the nations;
I will sing the praises of your name.
50 He gives his king great victories;
he shows unfailing love to his anointed,
to David and to his descendants forever.
This Psalm reminds me of the song we used to sing in Youth Ministry that went something like, “The Lord liveth and blessed be the rock, and may the God of my salvation be exalted!” It is so cool to take these ancient psalms and put them into modern form and use for our worship today. As we praise God, the Scriptures say “He inhabits the praises of his people”. This is something people of every age can do.
Whether it is the pre-schoolers in chapel who sing, “Zaccheus was a wee little man and a wee little man was he. He climbed up in a sycamore tree the Lord he wanted to see. And as the Lord passed by that that day he looked up in the tree and he said, ‘Zaccheus you come down for I’m going to your house today.” Or singing Amazing grace with someone in their 80’s or 90’s., you don’t have to be in church to praise the Lord, you can do it anytime, anywhere! In your car, on your run or as you are doing the dishes. As we praise the Lord continually His name will be on our lips and in our hearts and we can make a joyful noise to the Lord!
Genesis 33
Jacob Meets Esau
1 Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two female servants. 2 He put the female servants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear. 3 He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.4 But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept. 5 Then Esau looked up and saw the women and children. “Who are these with you?” he asked. Jacob answered, “They are the children God has graciously given your servant.”6 Then the female servants and their children approached and bowed down. 7 Next, Leah and her children came and bowed down. Last of all came Joseph and Rachel, and they too bowed down. 8 Esau asked, “What’s the meaning of all these flocks and herds I met?” “To find favor in your eyes, my lord,” he said. 9 But Esau said, “I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself.” 10 “No, please!” said Jacob. “If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably. 11 Please accept the present that was brought to you, for God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” And because Jacob insisted, Esau accepted it. 12 Then Esau said, “Let us be on our way; I’ll accompany you.”
Jacob reunites with his brother Esau. You can tell he is quite nervous about this encounter as he sends his wives and kids in waves, starting with the two female servants and ending with Rachel and Joseph who he wants to protect. Jacob offers the flocks and herds as a peace offering, but Esau lets Jacob know that God has given him plenty as well. If we remember when they were born, although the Promise of the Covenant was to come through Jacob, he also promised to make Esau and great nation.
And what Jacob thought would turn out to be a nasty encounter is more like a “love fest”. Esau meets Jacob’s peace offering with grace upon grace. They both realize that all they have is from God, which lowers the sense of entitlement and opens their hearts to be generous to each other. At the heart of most financial arguments is both a sense of entitlement and a fear that one will never have enough. Both Jacob and Esau have learned that all they have is from the LORD, so they are able to be generous thus reconciling their relationship.
Who do you need to reconcile with today? As we realize all we have is from God anyways it is easy to let go of material things and realize that relationships are more important, especially in God’s eyes.
Matthew 12:30 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
After healing the blind and mute man, who was demon possessed, the Pharisees continue to try and dismiss that Jesus is the Son of God. They accuse him of casting out demons in Satan’s power vs. God’s power. Jesus has had enough of the Pharisees rejection, and clearly states that they have crossed the line. They have broken the second commandment and taken the Lord’s name in vain. They have attributed God’s work to Satan, which Jesus calls blasphemy. And then he says that this sin will not be forgiven! This is one of those challenging verses that is hard to interpret, but let’s take a look at it.
If we take a logical view it helps. For one, no one can come to God through Jesus without the power of the Holy Spirit. As Martin Luther said in the Small Catechism in regard to the Third Article of the Creed dealing with the Holy Spirit, “I cannot by my own effort or understanding come to know Jesus as Lord. But the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, and sanctified me in the one true Faith. Just as he calls, enlightens and gathers the whole Christian earth and keeps it in Jesus Christ in the one true faith.”
So logically then if one blasphemes the Holy Spirit there is no power to come to faith and without faith in Jesus, forgiveness is impossible. Indeed it is the power of the Holy Spirit that allows us to confess Jesus as Lord, and empower our witness in the world to stand up for Jesus and live in His power and authority as a son or daughter of God!
Where is God calling you to be bolder in Your faith? Remember it is not by your own effort that you accomplish this, but in God’s power as you yield more and more to His leadership in your life.
Creator God, your steadfast love endures forever. We pray you will infuse us with the strength and power of the Holy Spirit as we boldly approach your throne of grace, asking forgiveness for our sins. Amen.
Readings for Today:
Psalm 18:46-50
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm18&version=NIV
Genesis: 32:22-33:20
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis32&version=NIV
Matthew 12:22-32
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew12&version=NIV
46 The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!
Exalted be God my Savior!
47 He is the God who avenges me,
who subdues nations under me,
48 who saves me from my enemies.
You exalted me above my foes;
from a violent man you rescued me.
49 Therefore I will praise you, LORD, among the nations;
I will sing the praises of your name.
50 He gives his king great victories;
he shows unfailing love to his anointed,
to David and to his descendants forever.
This Psalm reminds me of the song we used to sing in Youth Ministry that went something like, “The Lord liveth and blessed be the rock, and may the God of my salvation be exalted!” It is so cool to take these ancient psalms and put them into modern form and use for our worship today. As we praise God, the Scriptures say “He inhabits the praises of his people”. This is something people of every age can do.
Whether it is the pre-schoolers in chapel who sing, “Zaccheus was a wee little man and a wee little man was he. He climbed up in a sycamore tree the Lord he wanted to see. And as the Lord passed by that that day he looked up in the tree and he said, ‘Zaccheus you come down for I’m going to your house today.” Or singing Amazing grace with someone in their 80’s or 90’s., you don’t have to be in church to praise the Lord, you can do it anytime, anywhere! In your car, on your run or as you are doing the dishes. As we praise the Lord continually His name will be on our lips and in our hearts and we can make a joyful noise to the Lord!
Genesis 33
Jacob Meets Esau
1 Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two female servants. 2 He put the female servants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear. 3 He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.4 But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept. 5 Then Esau looked up and saw the women and children. “Who are these with you?” he asked. Jacob answered, “They are the children God has graciously given your servant.”6 Then the female servants and their children approached and bowed down. 7 Next, Leah and her children came and bowed down. Last of all came Joseph and Rachel, and they too bowed down. 8 Esau asked, “What’s the meaning of all these flocks and herds I met?” “To find favor in your eyes, my lord,” he said. 9 But Esau said, “I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself.” 10 “No, please!” said Jacob. “If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably. 11 Please accept the present that was brought to you, for God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” And because Jacob insisted, Esau accepted it. 12 Then Esau said, “Let us be on our way; I’ll accompany you.”
Jacob reunites with his brother Esau. You can tell he is quite nervous about this encounter as he sends his wives and kids in waves, starting with the two female servants and ending with Rachel and Joseph who he wants to protect. Jacob offers the flocks and herds as a peace offering, but Esau lets Jacob know that God has given him plenty as well. If we remember when they were born, although the Promise of the Covenant was to come through Jacob, he also promised to make Esau and great nation.
And what Jacob thought would turn out to be a nasty encounter is more like a “love fest”. Esau meets Jacob’s peace offering with grace upon grace. They both realize that all they have is from God, which lowers the sense of entitlement and opens their hearts to be generous to each other. At the heart of most financial arguments is both a sense of entitlement and a fear that one will never have enough. Both Jacob and Esau have learned that all they have is from the LORD, so they are able to be generous thus reconciling their relationship.
Who do you need to reconcile with today? As we realize all we have is from God anyways it is easy to let go of material things and realize that relationships are more important, especially in God’s eyes.
Matthew 12:30 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
After healing the blind and mute man, who was demon possessed, the Pharisees continue to try and dismiss that Jesus is the Son of God. They accuse him of casting out demons in Satan’s power vs. God’s power. Jesus has had enough of the Pharisees rejection, and clearly states that they have crossed the line. They have broken the second commandment and taken the Lord’s name in vain. They have attributed God’s work to Satan, which Jesus calls blasphemy. And then he says that this sin will not be forgiven! This is one of those challenging verses that is hard to interpret, but let’s take a look at it.
If we take a logical view it helps. For one, no one can come to God through Jesus without the power of the Holy Spirit. As Martin Luther said in the Small Catechism in regard to the Third Article of the Creed dealing with the Holy Spirit, “I cannot by my own effort or understanding come to know Jesus as Lord. But the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, and sanctified me in the one true Faith. Just as he calls, enlightens and gathers the whole Christian earth and keeps it in Jesus Christ in the one true faith.”
So logically then if one blasphemes the Holy Spirit there is no power to come to faith and without faith in Jesus, forgiveness is impossible. Indeed it is the power of the Holy Spirit that allows us to confess Jesus as Lord, and empower our witness in the world to stand up for Jesus and live in His power and authority as a son or daughter of God!
Where is God calling you to be bolder in Your faith? Remember it is not by your own effort that you accomplish this, but in God’s power as you yield more and more to His leadership in your life.
Creator God, your steadfast love endures forever. We pray you will infuse us with the strength and power of the Holy Spirit as we boldly approach your throne of grace, asking forgiveness for our sins. Amen.
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