Many Blessings!
Readings for Today - Go to www.biblegateway.com to access online for full readings
Psalm 28, Genesis 49; Matthew 17:14
Psalm 28
Of David.
1 To you, LORD, I call;
you are my Rock,
do not turn a deaf ear to me.
For if you remain silent,
I will be like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear my cry for mercy
as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands
toward your Most Holy Place.
3 Do not drag me away with the wicked,
with those who do evil,
who speak cordially with their neighbors
but harbor malice in their hearts.
4 Repay them for their deeds
and for their evil work;
repay them for what their hands have done
and bring back on them what they deserve.
5 Because they have no regard for the deeds of the LORD
and what his hands have done,
he will tear them down
and never build them up again.
6 Praise be to the LORD,
for he has heard my cry for mercy.
7 The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
and with my song I praise him.
8 The LORD is the strength of his people,
a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
9 Save your people and bless your inheritance;
be their shepherd and carry them forever.
Genesis 49
22 “Joseph is a fruitful vine,
a fruitful vine near a spring,
whose branches climb over a wall.
23 With bitterness archers attacked him;
they shot at him with hostility.
24 But his bow remained steady,
his strong arms stayed limber,
because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob,
because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,
25 because of your father’s God, who helps you,
because of the Almighty, who blesses you
with blessings of the skies above,
blessings of the deep springs below,
blessings of the breast and womb.
26 Your father’s blessings are greater
than the blessings of the ancient mountains,
than the bounty of the age-old hills.
Let all these rest on the head of Joseph,
on the brow of the prince among his brothers.
Matthew 17 The Temple Tax
24 After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”25 “Yes, he does,” he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?” 26 “From others,” Peter answered. “Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. 27 “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”
Today we see the abundant life for those who trust in the Lord. David recounts as he cried to the Lord for mercy in times of need how God provided for him. I love when he says, “My heart leaps for joy and I praise him with song.” David could recount when God rescued him from his enemies and it was the basis for his praise and thanksgiving and the many psalms/songs he wrote. Maybe you could write a psalm recounting with thanksgiving and praise what God has done for you and how he has delivered you from calamity?
The writer of Genesis gives us an account of the blessings Jacob gave to his twelve sons. Although the blessing and line of Jesus came through Judah, we can see all the blessings that came in Joseph’s life. Note in verses 24 and 25 how all of his blessings start with “because of the hand of the … Mighty One/ the shepherd/the rock/Father’s god/Almighty”. We see clearly the blessings come from God and because of his help for Joseph. We see this throughout Joseph’s life that despite his terrible circumstances that he bears much fruit for God’s kingdom advancement.
Finally, we Jesus and his disciples and another teachable moment. The tax collectors from the temple want to see if Jesus will pay the tax. Since the payment is technically something given to God for the temple was meant to be a place of worship Jesus reasons that since He is the Son of God he doesn’t technically owe it. But to be gracious and not to draw offense he pays the text out of the next fish the disciples catch. Not only is a smart move on his part but gives him another opportunity to show God’s provision which not only pays for his tax but theirs too. Wouldn’t it be cool to hang out with Jesus? We can and he provides for us as we keep our eyes open to teachable moments where His provision comes in ways we could not even imagine either.
You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. Psalm 116:8
Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him. Matthew 14:29-31
Creator of the universe, only you can deliver our souls from death. When we become overwhelmed with the activities of the world, let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Psalm 28, Genesis 49; Matthew 17:14
Psalm 28
Of David.
1 To you, LORD, I call;
you are my Rock,
do not turn a deaf ear to me.
For if you remain silent,
I will be like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear my cry for mercy
as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands
toward your Most Holy Place.
3 Do not drag me away with the wicked,
with those who do evil,
who speak cordially with their neighbors
but harbor malice in their hearts.
4 Repay them for their deeds
and for their evil work;
repay them for what their hands have done
and bring back on them what they deserve.
5 Because they have no regard for the deeds of the LORD
and what his hands have done,
he will tear them down
and never build them up again.
6 Praise be to the LORD,
for he has heard my cry for mercy.
7 The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
and with my song I praise him.
8 The LORD is the strength of his people,
a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
9 Save your people and bless your inheritance;
be their shepherd and carry them forever.
Genesis 49
22 “Joseph is a fruitful vine,
a fruitful vine near a spring,
whose branches climb over a wall.
23 With bitterness archers attacked him;
they shot at him with hostility.
24 But his bow remained steady,
his strong arms stayed limber,
because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob,
because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,
25 because of your father’s God, who helps you,
because of the Almighty, who blesses you
with blessings of the skies above,
blessings of the deep springs below,
blessings of the breast and womb.
26 Your father’s blessings are greater
than the blessings of the ancient mountains,
than the bounty of the age-old hills.
Let all these rest on the head of Joseph,
on the brow of the prince among his brothers.
Matthew 17 The Temple Tax
24 After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”25 “Yes, he does,” he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?” 26 “From others,” Peter answered. “Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. 27 “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”
Today we see the abundant life for those who trust in the Lord. David recounts as he cried to the Lord for mercy in times of need how God provided for him. I love when he says, “My heart leaps for joy and I praise him with song.” David could recount when God rescued him from his enemies and it was the basis for his praise and thanksgiving and the many psalms/songs he wrote. Maybe you could write a psalm recounting with thanksgiving and praise what God has done for you and how he has delivered you from calamity?
The writer of Genesis gives us an account of the blessings Jacob gave to his twelve sons. Although the blessing and line of Jesus came through Judah, we can see all the blessings that came in Joseph’s life. Note in verses 24 and 25 how all of his blessings start with “because of the hand of the … Mighty One/ the shepherd/the rock/Father’s god/Almighty”. We see clearly the blessings come from God and because of his help for Joseph. We see this throughout Joseph’s life that despite his terrible circumstances that he bears much fruit for God’s kingdom advancement.
Finally, we Jesus and his disciples and another teachable moment. The tax collectors from the temple want to see if Jesus will pay the tax. Since the payment is technically something given to God for the temple was meant to be a place of worship Jesus reasons that since He is the Son of God he doesn’t technically owe it. But to be gracious and not to draw offense he pays the text out of the next fish the disciples catch. Not only is a smart move on his part but gives him another opportunity to show God’s provision which not only pays for his tax but theirs too. Wouldn’t it be cool to hang out with Jesus? We can and he provides for us as we keep our eyes open to teachable moments where His provision comes in ways we could not even imagine either.
You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. Psalm 116:8
Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him. Matthew 14:29-31
Creator of the universe, only you can deliver our souls from death. When we become overwhelmed with the activities of the world, let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
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