Tag: Jesus Christ

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 13:22-30 NLT – the narrow door

Gospel Reading: Luke 13:22-30 NLT

Slimmer's door, Ringwood Church, . This unusually narrow door occupies a rightangled corner formed by the main walls of the church of St Peter & St Paul.
Slimmer’s door, Ringwood Church.
This unusually narrow door occupies a rightangled corner formed by the main walls of the church of St Peter & St Paul, Ringwood, England.

Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he went, always pressing on toward Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?”

He replied, “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail. When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ Then you will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ And he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.’

“There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you will be thrown out. And people will come from all over the world — from east and west, north and south — to take their places in the Kingdom of God. And note this: Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Open my heart to all you have for me today. Change my mind… my attitudes… my habits,.. my actions… to conform to your will.  Forgive my pride in thinking that I know it all… and give me a teachable spirit. Help me to discern between understanding born out of experience… and bias, or prejudice, born out of limited experience. Lord Jesus – It’s my heart’s desire to be true to you… in this life and the life to come. Amen.

Hymn: “I Would Be True” – H. A. Walter (1906)

I would be true, for there are those who trust me; I would be pure, for there are those who care; I would be strong, for there is much to suffer; I would be brave, for there is much to dare.

I would be friend of all — the foe, the friendless; I would be giving, and forget the gift; I would be humble, for I know my weakness; I would look up, and laugh, and love, and lift.

I would be faithful through each passing moment; I would be constantly in touch with God; I would be strong to follow where He leads me; I would have faith to keep the path Christ trod.

Who is so low that I am not his brother? Who is so high that I’ve no path to him? Who is so poor I may not feel his hunger? Who is so rich I may not pity him?

Who is so hurt I may not know his heartache? Who sings for joy my heart may never share? Who in God’s heav’n has passed beyond my vision? Who to hell’s depths where I may never fare?

May none, then, call on me for understanding, May none, then, turn to me for help in pain, And drain alone his bitter cup of sorrow, Or find he knocks upon my heart in vain.

Morning Reading: Acts 25:1-12 – right of appeal

Reading: Acts 25:1-12 NLT

Three days after Festus arrived in Caesarea to take over his new responsibilities, he left for Jerusalem, where the leading priests and other Jewish leaders met with him and made their accusations against Paul.

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They asked Festus as a favor to transfer Paul to Jerusalem (planning to ambush and kill him on the way). But Festus replied that Paul was at Caesarea and he himself would be returning there soon. So he said, “Those of you in authority can return with me. If Paul has done anything wrong, you can make your accusations.”

About eight or ten days later Festus returned to Caesarea, and on the following day he took his seat in court and ordered that Paul be brought in.

When Paul arrived, the Jewish leaders from Jerusalem gathered around and made many serious accusations they couldn’t prove. Paul denied the charges. “I am not guilty of any crime against the Jewish laws or the Temple or the Roman government,” he said.

Then Festus, wanting to please the Jews, asked him, “Are you willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there?”

But Paul replied, “No! This is the official Roman court, so I ought to be tried right here. You know very well I am not guilty of harming the Jews. If I have done something worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die. But if I am innocent, no one has a right to turn me over to these men to kill me. I appeal to Caesar!”

Festus conferred with his advisers and then replied, “Very well! You have appealed to Caesar, and to Caesar you will go!”

Heavenly Father: Give your children who are involved in faith-related court cases – here and abroad- wisdom, perseverance, and patience. May they not lose heart knowing that you are with them – and, win or lose, that they have done what’s right.

Where citizen rights conflict between heaven and earth… may they chose to obey heaven. Protect them from false witnesses and self-serving judges. Rebuke and defeat the schemes of the Evil One who roams this earth seeking to devour and destroy your people.

Ultimately, Father, our appeal is to you… to sort it all out in the day of judgment. Until that time, our hope is in you. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Desert Song” – Hillsong

Morning Reading: Acts 24:1-27 NLT – justice delayed…

Reading: Acts 24:1-27 NLT

Five days later Ananias, the high priest, arrived with some of the Jewish elders and the lawyer Tertullus, to present their case against Paul to the governor. When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented the charges against Paul in the following address to the governor:

Paul before Felix William Hogarth (1752-62)
Paul before Felix
William Hogarth (1752-62)

“You have provided a long period of peace for us Jews and with foresight have enacted reforms for us. For all of this, Your Excellency, we are very grateful to you. But I don’t want to bore you, so please give me your attention for only a moment. We have found this man to be a troublemaker who is constantly stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the cult known as the Nazarenes. Furthermore, he was trying to desecrate the Temple when we arrested him. You can find out the truth of our accusations by examining him yourself.” Then the other Jews chimed in, declaring that everything Tertullus said was true.

The governor then motioned for Paul to speak. Paul said, “I know, sir, that you have been a judge of Jewish affairs for many years, so I gladly present my defense before you. You can quickly discover that I arrived in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago to worship at the Temple. My accusers never found me arguing with anyone in the Temple, nor stirring up a riot in any synagogue or on the streets of the city. These men cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing.

“But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets. I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous. Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.

“After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God. My accusers saw me in the Temple as I was completing a purification ceremony. There was no crowd around me and no rioting. But some Jews from the province of Asia were there — and they ought to be here to bring charges if they have anything against me! Ask these men here what crime the Jewish high council found me guilty of, except for the one time I shouted out, ‘I am on trial before you today because I believe in the resurrection of the dead!’”

At that point Felix, who was quite familiar with the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, “Wait until Lysias, the garrison commander, arrives. Then I will decide the case.” He ordered an officer to keep Paul in custody but to give him some freedom and allow his friends to visit him and take care of his needs.

A few days later Felix came back with his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. Sending for Paul, they listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus. As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened. “Go away for now,” he replied. “When it is more convenient, I’ll call for you again.” He also hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him.

After two years went by in this way, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And because Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish people, he left Paul in prison.

Prayer: And so it goes with unprincipled rulers. Heavenly Father – Protect your people from the Evil One… delaying and deny justice for political gain. Comfort those who languish in prisons around the world simply because of their profession of faith in Jesus Christ. Lord Jesus – Intercede with the Father for your followers whereever they are persecuted or oppressed because they dare to speak your name. Shepherd them… guide them… live in them and through them. Holy Spirit – Reveal yourself with signs and wonders to those in prison. Speak to them through dreams and visions. Overcome their restrictions and limitations by the power of your love… that they might know you are with them… and will never leave them or forsake them. For your name’s sake. Amen.

Hymn: “You Crown The Year (Psalm 65:11)” – Hillsong Live (Glorious Ruins, 2013)

“You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.” Psalm 65:11 NLT

Morning Reading: Acts 23:23-35 NLT – armed escort

Reading: Acts 23:23-35 NLT

Then the commander called two of his officers and ordered, “Get 200 soldiers ready to leave for Caesarea at nine o’clock tonight. Also take 200 spearmen and 70 mounted troops. Provide horses for Paul to ride, and get him safely to Governor Felix.”

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Then he wrote this letter to the governor: “From Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings!

“This man was seized by some Jews, and they were about to kill him when I arrived with the troops. When I learned that he was a Roman citizen, I removed him to safety. Then I took him to their high council to try to learn the basis of the accusations against him. I soon discovered the charge was something regarding their religious law—certainly nothing worthy of imprisonment or death. But when I was informed of a plot to kill him, I immediately sent him on to you. I have told his accusers to bring their charges before you.”

So that night, as ordered, the soldiers took Paul as far as Antipatris. They returned to the fortress the next morning, while the mounted troops took him on to Caesarea. When they arrived in Caesarea, they presented Paul and the letter to Governor Felix.

He read it and then asked Paul what province he was from. “Cilicia,” Paul answered. “I will hear your case myself when your accusers arrive,” the governor told him.

Then the governor ordered him kept in the prison at Herod’s headquarters.

Prayer: Heavenly Father – I pray for those who are trying to keep the peace amidst the tumult of this world. I pray especially for my Christian brothers and sisters who are caught in the crossfire of opposing factions… those who are refugees fleeing danger zones… those who are being targeted for harm by Islamist thugs. Raise up an army of honest law enforcement officers… raise up an army of angels… to defend and protect them from the onslaughts of the Evil One. Holy Spirit – Strengthen them… encourage them… give them wisdom and guidance as to when they should stand up for what’s right and when they should keep their heads down. Infuse them with a spirit of kindness and love even toward those who would torment them. Lord Jesus –  Be their Good Shepherd… speak to them clearly, unmistakably… so that they might know that you are always with them and for them… so that they will obey and follow you. To God be the glory. Amen.

Spiritual Song:  “Psalm 23” – Marty Goetz

Morning Reading: Acts 23:12-22 NLT – murder conspiracy

Reading: Acts 23:12-22 NLT

shadow conspiracyThe next morning a group of Jews got together and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. There were more than forty of them in the conspiracy. They went to the leading priests and elders and told them, “We have bound ourselves with an oath to eat nothing until we have killed Paul. So you and the high council should ask the commander to bring Paul back to the council again. Pretend you want to examine his case more fully. We will kill him on the way.”

But Paul’s nephew — his sister’s son — heard of their plan and went to the fortress and told Paul. Paul called for one of the Roman officers and said, “Take this young man to the commander. He has something important to tell him.”

So the officer did, explaining, “Paul, the prisoner, called me over and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”

The commander took his hand, led him aside, and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”

Paul’s nephew told him, “Some Jews are going to ask you to bring Paul before the high council tomorrow, pretending they want to get some more information.  But don’t do it! There are more than forty men hiding along the way ready to ambush him. They have vowed not to eat or drink anything until they have killed him. They are ready now, just waiting for your consent.”

“Don’t let anyone know you told me this,” the commander warned the young man.

Prayer: Heavenly Father – Once again we hold onto your promise that everything will work together for the good of those who love you and are called according to your purpose for them. Thank you for friends and family who love us and would support and protect us. Thank you for those in authority who do what’s right whether or not it’s popular. Holy Spirit – Deliver us from evil… and guide us. Give us a balance between human wisdom and prudence and godly trust and obedience. May we always count the cost and make wise choices that honor you.  Lord Jesus –  We are yours… lead us in your righteousness… make your way plain before us. All to the glory of God. Amen.

Hymn: “Lead Me Lord”