Power to Serve!
Readings for the Day: Psalm 31:21-24;Exodus 8; Matthew 20:17-28
Psalm 31:21-24
21 Praise be to the LORD,
for he showed me the wonders of his love
when I was in a city under siege.
22 In my alarm I said,
“I am cut off from your sight!”
Yet you heard my cry for mercy
when I called to you for help.
23 Love the LORD, all his faithful people!
The LORD preserves those who are true to him,
but the proud he pays back in full.
24 Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the LORD.
Exodus 8
The Plague of Gnats
16 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the ground,’ and throughout the land of Egypt the dust will become gnats.” 17 They did this, and when Aaron stretched out his hand with the staff and struck the dust of the ground, gnats came on people and animals. All the dust throughout the land of Egypt became gnats. 18 But when the magicians tried to produce gnats by their secret arts, they could not.Since the gnats were on people and animals everywhere, 19 the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hard and he would not listen, just as the LORD had said.
The Plague of Flies
20 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and confront Pharaoh as he goes to the river and say to him, ‘This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me. 21 If you do not let my people go, I will send swarms of flies on you and your officials, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians will be full of flies; even the ground will be covered with them. 22 “‘But on that day I will deal differently with the land of Goshen, where my people live; no swarms of flies will be there, so that you will know that I, the LORD, am in this land. 23 I will make a distinction between my people and your people. This sign will occur tomorrow.’” 24 And the LORD did this. Dense swarms of flies poured into Pharaoh’s palace and into the houses of his officials; throughout Egypt the land was ruined by the flies. 25 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God here in the land.” 26 But Moses said, “That would not be right. The sacrifices we offer the LORD our God would be detestable to the Egyptians. And if we offer sacrifices that are detestable in their eyes, will they not stone us? 27 We must take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God, as he commands us.” 28 Pharaoh said, “I will let you go to offer sacrifices to the LORD your God in the wilderness, but you must not go very far. Now pray for me.” 29 Moses answered, “As soon as I leave you, I will pray to the LORD, and tomorrow the flies will leave Pharaoh and his officials and his people. Only let Pharaoh be sure that he does not act deceitfully again by not letting the people go to offer sacrifices to the LORD.” 30 Then Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD, 31 and the LORD did what Moses asked. The flies left Pharaoh and his officials and his people; not a fly remained. 32 But this time also Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let the people go.
Matthew 20:17-28
Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time
17 Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, 18 “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death 19 and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”
A Mother’s Request
20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 21 “What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” 22 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered. 23 Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.” 24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Reflections:
As Moses confronts the hardness of Pharaoh’s heart with the different plagues, we see that at first Pharaoh’s magicians produce their own signs which mimic Moses’. But as the plagues increase in intensity and effect, it is clear that Moses’ signs are coming from a higher power. Of course the purpose of all this is summarized in the phrase in Exodus 8:22, “So that they will know that I the Lord your God are in this land.” God’s purpose is not only to deliver the Israelites from their slavery, but that they may worship Him and give glory to Him in the land.
As God delivers us from different types of bondage, the purpose is that we will know He is God and He is in our lives and we can worship Him knowing that He is Lord. As Jesus nears his final destination on earth, He is going to show them the ultimate sign: victory over sin, death and the power of the devil on the cross and in the empty tomb. Unlike the Pharaoh, who uses his power to dominate, Jesus is going to use his power to serve those He loves. His power is going to be demonstrated by submitting to God’s authority and going to the cross to save the world for the sake of all of us.
Jesus then challenges his disciples, and by application us, to use our power and authority in a similar manner. How do you use the authority you are given as a parent, employee, church member, disciple of Jesus? Do you use it to serve others in obedience to God the highest authority and in following Jesus’ example? Remember, as a child of God and inheritor of all that is Father’s through the Son, you have great power to follow in Jesus’ footsteps to serve and give your life to others.
This is God, our God forever and ever. He will be our guide forever.
Psalm 48:14
Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23
Faithful God, on this special day marking the birth of our church (The Moravian Brethren Church), we are mindful of those who have gone before, especially those saints in 1457 who held fast to their hope. Like them, may we today walk forward unwavering, trusting in your guidance and faithfulness. Amen.
Psalm 31:21-24
21 Praise be to the LORD,
for he showed me the wonders of his love
when I was in a city under siege.
22 In my alarm I said,
“I am cut off from your sight!”
Yet you heard my cry for mercy
when I called to you for help.
23 Love the LORD, all his faithful people!
The LORD preserves those who are true to him,
but the proud he pays back in full.
24 Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the LORD.
Exodus 8
The Plague of Gnats
16 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the ground,’ and throughout the land of Egypt the dust will become gnats.” 17 They did this, and when Aaron stretched out his hand with the staff and struck the dust of the ground, gnats came on people and animals. All the dust throughout the land of Egypt became gnats. 18 But when the magicians tried to produce gnats by their secret arts, they could not.Since the gnats were on people and animals everywhere, 19 the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hard and he would not listen, just as the LORD had said.
The Plague of Flies
20 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and confront Pharaoh as he goes to the river and say to him, ‘This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me. 21 If you do not let my people go, I will send swarms of flies on you and your officials, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians will be full of flies; even the ground will be covered with them. 22 “‘But on that day I will deal differently with the land of Goshen, where my people live; no swarms of flies will be there, so that you will know that I, the LORD, am in this land. 23 I will make a distinction between my people and your people. This sign will occur tomorrow.’” 24 And the LORD did this. Dense swarms of flies poured into Pharaoh’s palace and into the houses of his officials; throughout Egypt the land was ruined by the flies. 25 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God here in the land.” 26 But Moses said, “That would not be right. The sacrifices we offer the LORD our God would be detestable to the Egyptians. And if we offer sacrifices that are detestable in their eyes, will they not stone us? 27 We must take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God, as he commands us.” 28 Pharaoh said, “I will let you go to offer sacrifices to the LORD your God in the wilderness, but you must not go very far. Now pray for me.” 29 Moses answered, “As soon as I leave you, I will pray to the LORD, and tomorrow the flies will leave Pharaoh and his officials and his people. Only let Pharaoh be sure that he does not act deceitfully again by not letting the people go to offer sacrifices to the LORD.” 30 Then Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD, 31 and the LORD did what Moses asked. The flies left Pharaoh and his officials and his people; not a fly remained. 32 But this time also Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let the people go.
Matthew 20:17-28
Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time
17 Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, 18 “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death 19 and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”
A Mother’s Request
20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 21 “What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” 22 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered. 23 Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.” 24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Reflections:
As Moses confronts the hardness of Pharaoh’s heart with the different plagues, we see that at first Pharaoh’s magicians produce their own signs which mimic Moses’. But as the plagues increase in intensity and effect, it is clear that Moses’ signs are coming from a higher power. Of course the purpose of all this is summarized in the phrase in Exodus 8:22, “So that they will know that I the Lord your God are in this land.” God’s purpose is not only to deliver the Israelites from their slavery, but that they may worship Him and give glory to Him in the land.
As God delivers us from different types of bondage, the purpose is that we will know He is God and He is in our lives and we can worship Him knowing that He is Lord. As Jesus nears his final destination on earth, He is going to show them the ultimate sign: victory over sin, death and the power of the devil on the cross and in the empty tomb. Unlike the Pharaoh, who uses his power to dominate, Jesus is going to use his power to serve those He loves. His power is going to be demonstrated by submitting to God’s authority and going to the cross to save the world for the sake of all of us.
Jesus then challenges his disciples, and by application us, to use our power and authority in a similar manner. How do you use the authority you are given as a parent, employee, church member, disciple of Jesus? Do you use it to serve others in obedience to God the highest authority and in following Jesus’ example? Remember, as a child of God and inheritor of all that is Father’s through the Son, you have great power to follow in Jesus’ footsteps to serve and give your life to others.
This is God, our God forever and ever. He will be our guide forever.
Psalm 48:14
Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23
Faithful God, on this special day marking the birth of our church (The Moravian Brethren Church), we are mindful of those who have gone before, especially those saints in 1457 who held fast to their hope. Like them, may we today walk forward unwavering, trusting in your guidance and faithfulness. Amen.
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