LET'S PRAY TOGETHER Lord, let our souls rise up to meet you as the day rises to meet the sun. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Father, we pray for Finland, Mongolia, Namibia, North Korea, Azerbajian and the church in these countries as well as the lost. This world is dire need of leaders filled with your wisdom. Raise them up. This world is in dire need of healers ready to serve. Raise them up. This world is in dire need of faithful followers. Raise them up. May the peace of the Lord Christ go with us: wherever He may send us; may You guide us through the wilderness: protect us through the storm; may You bring us home rejoicing: at the wonders You have shown us; may You bring us home rejoicing once again into our doors. Amen
MEDITATION In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope.” This is what God the Lord says— the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it:
“I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. Isaiah 42:3b-6 We will continue our discussion of the Bible Project video on justice (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A14THPoc4-4) The concepts of justice and righteousness are woven throughout the Biblical narrative from Genesis to Revelation. The commandment that Jesus identified as most crucial (Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and love your neighbor as yourself) is the embodiment of righteousness. It describes what it looks like to be in right relationship to God, ourselves, and others. Jesus spent his ministry challenging those in power to be compassionate while extending a hand up (literally) to those on the bottom. Jesus utilized scripture to teach and illustrate what a just and righteous life looked like. Proverbs 31:8-9 instructs us to speak for those who can’t. Jeremiah 22:3 tells us to rescue the disadvantaged and to never tolerate oppression or violence towards immigrants, widows, and orphans. In Psalm 146:7-9, we see God upholding justice for the oppressed, giving food to the hungry, and setting the prisoner free. But we also see that God thwarts the way of the wicked. Wicked (rashah) is defined as someone who is guilty, in the wrong, and who mistreats others. The wicked ignore the dignity of others as being made in the image of God* they also ignore justice and righteousness. These two concepts are a BIG deal to God. God raises up Abraham and his family to reveal Himself to the world and to model justice and righteousness to a wicked world. But in short order a problem arises, do you know what it was? Stay tuned, we will continue on Monday. -nicole * from the Bible Project video on Justice
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING Our daily scripture reading comes from the following link… http://listenersbible.com/devotionals/biy/ If you have any insights into our daily readings, please feel free to share them with me. I would encourage you to visit https://bibleproject.com/explore/1-2-chronicles/ for an overview of 1st & 2nd Chronicles and https://bibleproject.com/explore/1-corinthians/ for an overview of Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth. These videos will help with the “big picture” and the main themes. 2 Chronicles 2:1-5:1 Back to where we left off with Chronicles… Solomon is about to start building the temple. As he does so, he makes an important clarification as to the purpose of the temple. What is this? (2:5-6) Can you picture how amazing the temple must have been? But again, not as a dwelling place for God. Which is why the temple will fall when Israel is sent into exile. It's just a building no matter how beautiful. We must remember that the building should never become an idol. 1 Corinthians 9:19-10:13 Paul will talk about giving up his freedom, for one purpose. What is that purpose? (9:19-22) He will then go on to talk about the purpose of the stories of the Old Testament. In them we find a warning. (10:6) What is the warning to us? Psalm 97:1-12 The psalmist will describe the majesty of God. And then in the middle of the psalm, compares God, to the idols and images that are worshiped. Is there any comparison? That's the question we should be asking.