The Perfect Way
www.moravian.org/daily_texts/
Readings for Today:
Psalm 19:7-14
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm19&version=NIV
Genesis: 35:1-36:8
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis35&version=NIV
Matthew 12:46-13:9
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew12&version=NIV
Psalm 19:7-14
New International Version (NIV)
7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the LORD are firm,
and all of them are righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.
11 By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
The psalmist lifts up six aspects, or characteristics of God’s Word. It is: perfect, radiant, trustworthy, right, pure, and firm. As someone has said, “You don’t break God’s Word, you break yourself against it.” Meaning God’s Word is like a Rock. Because it is truth it never changes. Jesus who himself said, “I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life.” Meaning, just like God’s word never changes, Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever!
As we keep God’s Word there is great hope. There is one problem, because we have a sinful nature, we are always breaking God’s Word in rebelling. The psalmist says that the Word helps us to discern when we have erred, and corrects us and keeps us back on the right path. He asks God to keep him from willful sins, so that they may not rule over him. I.e. becoming addicted! God wants to set us free from our sinful nature and the Good News is with the coming of Jesus, that is exactly what he did.
Genesis 35
Jacob Returns to Bethel
1 Then God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.”
2 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes. 3 Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone.” 4 So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods they had and the rings in their ears, and Jacob buried them under the oak at Shechem. 5 Then they set out, and the terror of God fell on the towns all around them so that no one pursued them.
6 Jacob and all the people with him came to Luz (that is, Bethel) in the land of Canaan. 7 There he built an altar, and he called the place El Bethel, because it was there that God revealed himself to him when he was fleeing from his brother.
Jacob returns to his Father’s land and on the way the people purge themselves of all their foreign gods they picked up in Paddan Aram. They build an altar as a memorial of the place where God had blessed him so greatly, and also caused the reconciliation with his brother Esau to take place. Instead of being the deceiver, Jacob is now living out his transformation as a new person, Israel. He will be a model for the nation of Israel, being one, as God is one. We also see today the death of Rachel his favored wife as she is giving birth to Benjamin, their 12th son. So as Jacob’s transformation becomes complete, so does the family of Israel with its 12 sons, representing the eventual 12 tribes of Israel.
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers
46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”48 He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
Without disrespecting his family of origin, Jesus describes a new kind of family. The covenant family of God made up of all those who believe in the Father, through the Son, in the power of the Spirit. As we become one with God (Covenant) through God’s gracious gift of His Son, in whom we receive and become children of God, our behavior becomes reflective of our new identity. Jesus describes this as doing the will of my Father. Though Jesus never dishonored his mom and dad and in fact provides for them until the end, His mission was to do the will of the Father all the way to the cross. In fact, the biggest trial in Jesus’ life came in the garden when he realized God’s will was for Him to go to the cross for the sins of the world. His prayer became, “If it is possible Father, please take this cup from me, but not my will but yours be done.”
As you start out a new week, reflect on who you are which is always the basis for what you do. May all of our actions and words this week reflect the will of the Father, as we live out our callings as His sons and daughters by His Spirit.
Father God, thank you for being attentive to the cry of your people! Guide us to the path which will help us to refrain from wrongdoings so we may glory with our brothers and sisters in your kingdom's light. Amen.
Readings for Today:
Psalm 19:7-14
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm19&version=NIV
Genesis: 35:1-36:8
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis35&version=NIV
Matthew 12:46-13:9
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew12&version=NIV
Psalm 19:7-14
New International Version (NIV)
7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the LORD are firm,
and all of them are righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.
11 By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
The psalmist lifts up six aspects, or characteristics of God’s Word. It is: perfect, radiant, trustworthy, right, pure, and firm. As someone has said, “You don’t break God’s Word, you break yourself against it.” Meaning God’s Word is like a Rock. Because it is truth it never changes. Jesus who himself said, “I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life.” Meaning, just like God’s word never changes, Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever!
As we keep God’s Word there is great hope. There is one problem, because we have a sinful nature, we are always breaking God’s Word in rebelling. The psalmist says that the Word helps us to discern when we have erred, and corrects us and keeps us back on the right path. He asks God to keep him from willful sins, so that they may not rule over him. I.e. becoming addicted! God wants to set us free from our sinful nature and the Good News is with the coming of Jesus, that is exactly what he did.
Genesis 35
Jacob Returns to Bethel
1 Then God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.”
2 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes. 3 Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone.” 4 So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods they had and the rings in their ears, and Jacob buried them under the oak at Shechem. 5 Then they set out, and the terror of God fell on the towns all around them so that no one pursued them.
6 Jacob and all the people with him came to Luz (that is, Bethel) in the land of Canaan. 7 There he built an altar, and he called the place El Bethel, because it was there that God revealed himself to him when he was fleeing from his brother.
Jacob returns to his Father’s land and on the way the people purge themselves of all their foreign gods they picked up in Paddan Aram. They build an altar as a memorial of the place where God had blessed him so greatly, and also caused the reconciliation with his brother Esau to take place. Instead of being the deceiver, Jacob is now living out his transformation as a new person, Israel. He will be a model for the nation of Israel, being one, as God is one. We also see today the death of Rachel his favored wife as she is giving birth to Benjamin, their 12th son. So as Jacob’s transformation becomes complete, so does the family of Israel with its 12 sons, representing the eventual 12 tribes of Israel.
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers
46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”48 He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
Without disrespecting his family of origin, Jesus describes a new kind of family. The covenant family of God made up of all those who believe in the Father, through the Son, in the power of the Spirit. As we become one with God (Covenant) through God’s gracious gift of His Son, in whom we receive and become children of God, our behavior becomes reflective of our new identity. Jesus describes this as doing the will of my Father. Though Jesus never dishonored his mom and dad and in fact provides for them until the end, His mission was to do the will of the Father all the way to the cross. In fact, the biggest trial in Jesus’ life came in the garden when he realized God’s will was for Him to go to the cross for the sins of the world. His prayer became, “If it is possible Father, please take this cup from me, but not my will but yours be done.”
As you start out a new week, reflect on who you are which is always the basis for what you do. May all of our actions and words this week reflect the will of the Father, as we live out our callings as His sons and daughters by His Spirit.
Father God, thank you for being attentive to the cry of your people! Guide us to the path which will help us to refrain from wrongdoings so we may glory with our brothers and sisters in your kingdom's light. Amen.
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