Tuesday Morning: 06 Aug 2019 – Ephesians 4:17-32 ~ Put on your new nature.

Tuesday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening (A Collect for Peace – Tuesday)

O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – Ephesians 4:17-32 (NLT)

Living as Children of Light

With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
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Morning Reflection:

Put on your new nature.

“Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.
Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”
– Ephesians 4:23-24 –

Yesterday Paul stressed the importance of living in unity in the church. Today Paul stresses the importance of living in holiness. Both require an extraordinary work of the Holy Spirit to achieve this transformation. We can resist the Holy Spirit and cause him grief, or we can cooperate with the Holy Spirit and bring him joy. The choice is ours – choose joy and be transformed into the righteous and holy likeness of Christ.

+ Throw off: confusion and darkness, closed minds and hardened hearts, lust and lies, anger and abusive language
+ Put on: truth and light, renewed minds and tender hearts, purity and honesty, kindness and forgiveness

Questions for consideration:

When you think of your old sinful nature, what comes to mind? Please explain.
When you think of your old sinful nature, what have you already thrown off? What remains? Please explain.
When you think of your new nature, what comes to mind? Please explain.
When you think of your new nature, what have you already put on? What needs renewal? Please explain.
What do you need the Holy Spirit to do in your life? What do you need to do in order to cooperate with him. Please explain.

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Morning Prayer: For a Virtuous Heart (Thomas Aquinas)

Give me, O Lord, a steadfast heart, which no unworthy thought can drag down; an unconquered heart, which no tribulation can wear out; an upright heart, which no unworthy purpose can tempt aside. Bestow upon me understanding to know you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, and faithfulness that finally may embrace you. Amen.

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“Christ Be All Around Me” – All Sons & Daughters

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Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Tuesday Morning: 30 Jul 2019 – Ephesians 1:1-14 ~ The Mystery of the Church.

Tuesday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening (A Collect for Peace – Tuesday)

Morning Reading – Ephesians 1:1-14 (NLT)

Greetings from Paul

This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.

I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.

May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Spiritual Blessings

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.
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Morning Reflection:

The Mystery of the Church

God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan.
– Ephesians 1:9 –

The Apostle Paul knew Ephesus and the church in that city well. He had ministered in Asia Minor, the Roman province of which Ephesus was the capitol, with Ephesus as his headquarters, for about three years, A.D. 53-56. This letter was written to the Ephesians church while Paul was imprisoned in Rome (A.D. 6-62) with the expectation that they would subsequently circulate it among the other churches. In Ephesians, Paul develops the theme of the mystery of the church – as the body of Christ – a union of both Jewish and Gentile believers bound together in love.

In today’s reading, Paul praises God for the new life of blessing that He has given us in Jesus Christ –

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms
because we are united with Christ. – Ephesians 1:3 –

In the original Greek, vs 3-14 are one sentence, as the Holy Spirit led Paul’s thinking from one blessing to another. Here are the highlights –

+ God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy, without fault in his eyes.
+ God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.
+ God has poured out his grace on all who belong to his dear Son.
+ God has purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgiven our sins.
+ God has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.
+ God has revealed his plan to us – at just the right time, he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ.
+ God has made us one in Christ – he chose us in advance, and makes everything work out according to his plan.
+ God’s purpose was to save the Jews first and then the Gentiles through trust in the truth of Jesus Christ.
+ God identifies believers in Christ by giving us the promised Holy Spirit as the guarantee that we are his people and will receive his promised inheritance.

And God has blessed with every spiritual blessing so that we would praise and glorify him.

Questions for consideration:

Review the highlights listed above, or re-read the passage itself. Which of these blessings stand out for you as a reason to praise and glorify God? Please explain.
For example: What does it mean to you to have been chosen by God?
For example: What does it mean that God decided to adopt you into his family?
For example: What does it mean that God has given you the Holy Spirit?

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Morning Prayer: Gloria in Excelsis.

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

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“We praise Thee, O God (Te Deum laudamus)” – Sung by the Rev. Benjamin Mayes, melody as used within the Lutheran Liturgical Brotherhood Prayerbook. This is the official 1662 book of common prayer translation of the Te Deum laudamus, written by St Nicetas of Remesia in 386 A.D.

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Closing:

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Tuesday Morning: 23 Jul 2019 – 1 John 3:13-4:6 ~ God’s children: love like Christ.

Tuesday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening (A Collect for Peace – Tuesday)

Morning Reading – 1 John 3:13-4:6 (NLT)

So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.

If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead. Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them.

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?

Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.

Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.

And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.

Discerning False Prophets

Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.

But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them. But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.

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Morning Reflection:

God’s children: love like Christ.

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us.
So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.
– 1 John 3:16 –

Love like Christ: Jesus laid down His life once, therefore we ought to lay down our lives repeatedly in self-sacrificing love. John’s concern is to encourage obedient and active love from believers.

+ Demonstrates a believer’s true character, or righteousness.
+ Relieves a believer’s guilt in not being able all needs no matter how generous.
+ Reminds believers that God judges our real motives because he looks at our hearts.

Answered Prayer: “There is nothing mechanical or magical about prayer. For it to be effective, the will of the intercessor needs to be in line with the will of God; and such a conformity of wills is brought about only as the believer lives in Christ.” (Smalley)

Questions for consideration:

Can you think of examples when you sacrificed your self-interest for the good of others? Please explain.
When you think of the needs of the people in your sphere of influence, or believers around the world, which ones touch your heart? How have you responded? Please explain.
When you consider that God knows our motives – “to him all hearts are open, all desires known, and from him no secrets are hidden” – does that comfort you? Please explain.
When you pray, do you want what you want or what God wants? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer: Love So Easy and So Hard (John van de Laar) –

Can it be that easy, Jesus?

Can it be that hard?
That what You want for us is just to love
and be loved?

Is it possible that even those who have tried the hardest,
signed on the dotted line,
sat for years in classes
and strained their eyes from reading,
dressed in all the most appropriate garments,
and spoken with only the most measured words…
that these can miss You?

How can it be when those who have hardly tried at all,
who have damaged themselves and others so much,
that in the end they have nowhere else to turn
but to throw themselves on Your grace…
that these are the ones You search out?

How do we make sense of this, Jesus?
How do we love so scandalously, so inclusively?
How do we allow ourselves to be loved enough,
that all our hard and sharp edges
grow soft and round?

Help us to find the humility and courage,
the boldness and grace,
that in our loving and being loved,
we may somehow ignite our world with a compassion so fierce
that violence and abuse,
rejection and condemnation,
neglect and greed
become unthinkable.

Amen.
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“The Greatest Commands” – Atrium singing at Embassy Suites in Huntsville, Alabama. Exposure Youth Camp 2015.

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Closing:

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Tuesday Morning: 16 Jul 2019 – 2 Peter 2:1-22 ~ Beware of False Teachers.

Tuesday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening (A Collect for Peace – Tuesday)

Morning Reading – 2 Peter 2:11-25 (NLT)

The Danger of False Teachers

But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.

For God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into hell, in gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of judgment. And God did not spare the ancient world—except for Noah and the seven others in his family. Noah warned the world of God’s righteous judgment. So God protected Noah when he destroyed the world of ungodly people with a vast flood. Later, God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and turned them into heaps of ashes. He made them an example of what will happen to ungodly people. But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day. So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment. He is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desire, and who despise authority.

These people are proud and arrogant, daring even to scoff at supernatural beings without so much as trembling. But the angels, who are far greater in power and strength, do not dare to bring from the Lord a charge of blasphemy against those supernatural beings.

These false teachers are like unthinking animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed. They scoff at things they do not understand, and like animals, they will be destroyed. Their destruction is their reward for the harm they have done. They love to indulge in evil pleasures in broad daylight. They are a disgrace and a stain among you. They delight in deception even as they eat with you in your fellowship meals. They commit adultery with their eyes, and their desire for sin is never satisfied. They lure unstable people into sin, and they are well trained in greed. They live under God’s curse. They have wandered off the right road and followed the footsteps of Balaam son of Beor, who loved to earn money by doing wrong. But Balaam was stopped from his mad course when his donkey rebuked him with a human voice.

These people are as useless as dried-up springs or as mist blown away by the wind. They are doomed to blackest darkness. They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception. They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life. They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.” And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.”
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Morning Reflection:

Beware of False Teachers.

So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials,
even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment.
– 2 Peter 2:9 –

Beware of false teachers! Today’s reading is filled with passion for the well-being of believers who are in danger of being led astray by teaching contrary to that of the prophets and apostles.

So what can we learn today from Peter’s warning concerning false teachers?

+ Characteristics: They are deceptive and destructive, misinterpreting God’s Word. Their teaching is inconsistent with the revealed truth of God. They deny the teaching and practices associated with Christ. They are often in it for the money.

+ Consequences: The eventual destruction of unbelievers – Peter offers three examples of unbelievers who faced God’s wrath; fallen angels, the ungodly sinners of Noah’s day, and the ungodly sinners of Lot’s time. Peter’s concern here are unbelievers who set themselves up as moral authorities (false teachers).

+ Conduct: Peter cites shameful immorality and greed. “I did it my way” is their theme. They are driven by the basest of human instincts, practicing adultery and sexual perversity while urging believers to do the same. Good and evil are inverted and they refuse to submit to the authority of God’s Word.

The good news is – God will not only punish the wicked , but He will also rescue the godly from their trials.

Questions for consideration:

When you think of “false teachers” in and around the church, who comes to mind? Please explain.
Have you personally ever been influenced by what you later discovered was a “false teacher”? Please explain.
Do you believe that the Bible can be read and understood by ordinary people? Or do you believe that you need someone else to tell you what it means? Please explain.
If you rely on a “teacher” to tell you what the Bible means, how do you know that they’re telling you the truth? Please explain.
How often do you read the Bible by yourself? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer: Prayer in Preparation for Studying God’s Word –

Lord, thank you for this time you’ve given me to open your Word and discover who you are. Thank you for not leaving me in the dark about who you are and what you are doing in the world. Thank you for revealing yourself and your will through the Bible, your inspired Word to me.

Lord, give me wisdom as I read your Word. You promise that I only have to ask for wisdom in order to receive it. Lord, please give me your wisdom now as I approach your word. Help me discern the truth of this text. Help me to listen to your Spirit, and not simply rely on my own understanding. Thank you God for the clarity, encouragement and hope your Word brings.

I ask this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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“Open My Eyes That I May See” – Joslin Grove Choral Society

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Closing:

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Tuesday Morning: 09 Jul 2019 – 1 Peter 2:11-25 ~ Respect everyone and do what’s right.

Tuesday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening (A Collect for Peace – Tuesday)

Morning Reading – 1 Peter 2:11-25 (NLT)

Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

Respecting People in Authority

For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.

It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.

Slaves

You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect and do good. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you. For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.

He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone.
He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered.
He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.
He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.

Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.
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Morning Reflection:

Respect everyone and do what’s right.

God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you.
He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.
– 1 Peter 2:21 –

The knowledge that we do not belong to this world does not lead to withdrawal, but to our taking our standards of behavior, not from the culture in which we live, but from our home culture of heaven. Our lives are to be shaped by our permanent home in heaven, rather than our temporary lodging in this world.

Inevitably, however, the two cultures will clash and, if we are faithful to our heavenly calling, we will suffer for it in one way or another. It’s in the midst of this war against our souls that Peter urges us to follow the example of Jesus, who respected authority and suffered for doing what was right.

Questions for consideration:

Think of some of the authorities in your life – church, family, civil, business? How would you assess them? Are they “governing” in a godly or worldly manner? Please explain.
Which of these authorities do you most readily respect? Least respect? Please explain.
As you review the example of Jesus in responding to unjust suffering, which one(s) speak to you and your personal circumstances? Please explain.
Where do you need Jesus to heal your hurts, especially those suffered because of injustice? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Prayer For Those in Authority:

Almighty and Everlasting God: We commend our Nation to your merciful care, that we may be guided by your wisdom, and live securely in your peace. Grant to our Nation’s leaders, and to all in authority, the spirit of wisdom, charity, and justice; that with steadfast purpose they may faithfully serve in their offices to promote the well-being of all people. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness, and make them continually mindful of their calling to serve this people in reverent obedience to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

Prayer For Those Under Authority:

Guardian and Shepherd of our souls: Impress upon our hearts the temporary and alien nature of our residency in this world. Give us a spirit of discernment that we may readily distinguish between godly and worldly desires. Show us to live good and honorable lives even in the face of hostility and injustice. And fill us with the power of your Holy Spirit, that we might endure suffering for doing what’s right with the equanimity of Jesus, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
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“Shepherd” – Amanda Cook | Brave New World