Devotions: Ps 101, 109: 1-4, 20-30; 119:121-44; Isa 63;14-64:9; 1 Tim 3:1-16; Mk 11:27-12:12
Lord, I dedicate to You my songs about loyalty and justice. I will focus on ways and means that are blameless. I will conduct myself with integrity of heart, in my household and in my walk. I will not set before me anything that is base, and I will turn from perversity of heart, mind and spirit. I will keep my eyes, my hands and my mind from sinning and will look with favor on the faithful. I will continue to work, day by day, against evil wherever I encounter it. Speak out against evil, and let God also oppose those who work with malice against the godly. Let YHWH deal on our behalf for His name's sake; Lord, because Your steadfast love is good, deliver me. Save me and clothe my accusers with dishonor. May shame wrap around them like a cloak, while I praise God for His goodness. He stands at the right hand of the needy, to save us from those who wish we would die. Teach me Your statutes, and let me wait upon God to act. I love Your commands, and I will do the little I can, waiting for Your great deeds of might and compassion. Unfolding Your words brings light. I love Your promises and Your kindness, Lord. Trouble and anguish befall me, but Your testimonies are forever righteous, and help me to live!
God gives us rest, and He longs for us to be at peace in His bosom. Lord, You Are our Father, our Redeemer. Come down in fire and majesty; rock the earth with Your holy Presence! No one can imagine how great and awesome You are! We cling to you, our Father; we are clay, You are the Potter, and we are the work of Your hand. Give us a home and a place to stand.
Paul wrote to Timothy: Anyone who aspires to be a bishop desires a noble task. Here are the qualifications: above reproach, a one-woman man, temperate, sensible, dignified, hospitable, a capable teacher, sober, gentle and not violent, peaceable not quarrelsome, and no lover of money. He must manage his own household well—submissive, respectful children, godly spouse. If he can't manage his home, how could he lead God's church? He must not be a recent convert, not conceited or puffed up. The same with the diaconate: honest, straight talkers, sober, not greedy, holding to the faith with a clear conscience. If they prove blameless, let them serve as deacons. Leading women must be serious, no slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. Deacons must be one-woman men and manage their children and households well. Great is the mystery at the center of our faith: God was manifested in flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on throughout the world, and taken up in glory!
As Jesus returned again to the temple, He was accosted by the chief priests, scribes and elders, who demanded, 'By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority?' Jesus answered them with a question: 'If you answer Me, I will tell you by what Authority I do these things. Was John's baptism from heaven, or from men?' They argued among themselves: If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask why we didn't believe John; but if we say, 'from men,' the crowds will be enraged, for all held that John was a true prophet. So they told Jesus, 'We don't know.' And Jesus said to them, 'Neither, then, will I tell you by what Authoirty I do these things.' And Jesus began to teach in parables. 'A man planted a vineyard, set a hedge around it, dug a pit and built a proper winepress and a guard tower, then rented it out to tenants, and went to another country. At the proper time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants took the servant, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. The landlord sent another servant, whom they wounded and treated shamefully. Then another was sent, whom the tenants murdered. So on with many messengers: some they beat, and others they killed. At last, the master sent his own son, thinking, 'They will surely respect my son.' But they thought differently: 'This is the heir. Let's kill him and the inheritance will belong to us.' So they killed the son and cast him out of the vineyard. Now what will the owner do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. Haven't you read this scripture: "The very stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes."? The authorities tried to arrest Jesus, but they feared the multitudes, for they understood that Jesus had told the parable against them. So they left Him and went away
No comments:
Post a Comment