Week Thirty-nine — Verse by Verse Devotional Series — The Letters of St. Peter — I Peter 1

Note: During the summer our series took its lead from the works of Elisha and Elijah.  Beginning this week we will take our lead from the letters of St. Peter.  Between now and Advent read one chapter of the letters of St. Peter.  Then we invite you to follow along with the verse by verse series.

Sunday, September 25

I Peter 1:17 Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.

Prayer:  Lord God, in reverence to you may we live godly lives.

Thought for the day: Though the apple falls not far from the tree, the grocery carries it from coast to coast.

Monday, September 26

I Chronicles 29:14, 15 But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this?  Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.  We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers.  Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.

Prayer:  Lord God, in your son, Jesus, are we known to you.

Thought for the day:  Passport are good only if the border of the country of destination remains open.

Tuesday, September 27

Ezekiel 47: 23 In whatever tribe the alien settles, there you are to give him his inheritance, declares the Sovereign Lord.

Prayer:  O God, we are humbled to think that in your society there is a place for all.

Thought for the day:  The second temple envisioned by Ezekiel was an international temple to the God of Israel.

Wednesday, September 28

Hebrews 11: 9 By faith [Abraham] made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.

Prayer: Lord God, may we find the path of faith of Abraham that we may be at home with you.

Thought for the day: Faith and foreignness go hand in hand.

Thursday, September 29

I Peter 2:11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, may we live as victoriously for you.

Thought for the day:  Abstinence brings long-lasting relief, while indulgence can in short-term bring grief.

Friday, September 30

Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven.  And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ who by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Prayer: O Jesus, this world is not our home.

Thought for the day:  It’s only a matter of time until you will have an estate sale.

Saturday, October 1

Ephesians 2:19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, thank you for creating for us an eternal home where you will be.

Thought for the day:  The pledge to the Christian flag begins with these words: “ I pledge allegiance to the Christian flag and to the Savior for whose kingdom it stands.”
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photo: “St. Peter Martyr” by Fr. Lawrence Lew OP on http://www.flickr.com

Week Thirty-eight — Verse by Verse Devotional Series — The Works of Elisha — 2 Kings 6:16, 17

Sunday, September 19

2 Kings 6: 16, 17 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  And Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Prayer: Lord, help us to see your protection and love.

Thought for the day: Infrared sensors can easily see what our eyes may miss in the dark.

Monday, September 20

Isaiah 42: 6,7 “I, the Lord have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for sending Jesus to open our eyes, free our spirits, and release us from bondage.

Thought for the day: A wilderness tracker sees the signs that were always available.

Tuesday, September 21

Psalm 66:5 Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man’s behalf!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for all who would share with us a vision of your works.

Thought for the day: Find someone today who can watch a sunset with you.

Wednesday, September 22

Ezekiel 13: 6,7 Their visions are false and their divinations a lie. They say, “The Lord declares,” when the lord has not sent them; yet they expect their words to be fulfilled.  Have you not seen false vision sand uttered lying deviations when you say, “The Lord declares,” though I have not spoken?

Prayer: O God, spare us from the misdirection of false visions.

Thought for the day: Many religious messages are political commercials the Lord has not approved.

Thursday, September 23

Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Prayer: O God, may our hearts be pure so we may see you.

Thought for the day: When your vision of God gets blurry, try cleaning your lenses.

Friday, September 24

John 9: 10, 11 “How then were your eyes opened?” they demanded. He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes.  He told me to go to Siloam and wash.  So I went and washed, and then I could see.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus, for all the times we lacked vision we thank you that you have opened our eyes.

Thought for the day: Sight is a miracle of engineering.

Saturday, September 25

I Peter 1:8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Prayer: Jesus, in faith we are filled with joy for the salvation you have promised to us.

Thought for the day: Packages filled with love contain more than the label reveals.
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photo: “Detail of Elisha” by Lawrence OP on http://www.flickr.com

Week Thirty-seven — Verse by Verse Devotional Series — The Works of Elisha — 2 Kings

Sunday, September 11

2 Kings 5: 13, 14 Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing would you not have done it?  How much more then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’?” So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.

Prayer: O merciful God, may we hear and obey your commands.

Thought for the day:  How much could be accomplished if we did what God asked us to do.

Monday, September 12

Zechariah 4:10 “Who despises the day of small things?  Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.

Prayer: Lord God, we dedicate ourselves to serve as you request.

Thought for the day:  Small requests become big requests when they become family requests for service.

Tuesday, September 13

I Corinthians 2:9 However, as it is written:  “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.”

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, we believe you have better things in store for us all.

Thought for the day: One who knows God’s love can glue together many pieces of the puzzle of life.

Wednesday, September 14

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord.  “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; thought they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”

Prayer: Lord God, you can do it; you can make us pure and holy for your worship and service.

Thought for the day: New fallen snow is naturally pure.

Thursday, September 15

Hebrews 10:21,22 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, you have cleansed us so that we may draw near to God.

Thought for the day:  If your religion sold you a ticket in the nose-bleed section, you need to get a refund.

Friday, September 16

Acts 22:16 And now [Saul] what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, in obedience we would do what you command to wash away our sins.

Thought for the day:  True obedience does not dictate its own terms of satisfaction.

Saturday, September 17

I John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from every sin.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, may you blood cleans us of all our sins.

Thought for the day: Sanitizers remove what deodorizers just conceal.

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photo: “Detail of Elisha” by Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P. on http://www.flickr.com

Communion Meditation — Making Eye Contact — Luke 22: 59-62

Once upon a time I was a little boy going off to public school.

 

We little boys knew what it took to be tough.  We knew that if we boxed and wrestled on the playground the principal would suspend us for three days.  We knew that home room did not provide time to demonstrate our arm wrestling skills.  We were not even permitted to hold thumb-mashing contests in class to show who was tough.

 

To show that we were tough we little boys still had the good old stare-down contest.  You had to lock eyes with the opponent and stare-down the other little boy.  The first one to blink lost.

 

There is an incident in the life of Jesus recorded in all four Gospels, but it is only in the Gospel of Luke that we learn Jesus locked eyes with Peter during the event.  Listen to these words from Luke 22: 59 – 62:

 

About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”  Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re saying! “Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed.  The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter.  Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.”  And he went outside and wept bitterly.

 

When Jesus and Peter locked eyes it wasn’t much of a contest.  Peter was looking at Jesus through tear filled eyes as he reflected on his own shame and betrayal.  Jesus’ look back was one of unblinking love.

 

An old hymn writer says, “Turn your eyes on Jesus.  Look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim.”  Today as we approach the Lord’s Table we are invited to remember and to look full in Jesus’ face.  If we do, we will find him looking back with unblinking love.

 
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Week Thirty-six — Verse by Verse Devotional Series — The Works of Elisha — 2 Kings 4: 16, 17

Sunday, September 4

2 Kings 4: 16-17 “About this time next year,” Elisha said, “you will hold a son in your arms.”  “No, my lord,” she objected.  “Don’t mislead your servant, O man of God!” But the woman became pregnant, and the next year about the same time she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her.

Prayer: Lord God, for all your faithful prophets whose word rings true we thank you.

Thought for the day: What if the messenger God sent with a message for you was right?

Monday, September 5

Luke 18:16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank you for your divine care for the welfare of children.

Thought for the day:  A songwriter said, “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world.”

Tuesday, September 6

Luke 18:17 I tell you truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.

Prayer: Lord God, we confess too often we are too grown up to love you with a childlike love and faith.

Thought for the day:  A child at play is a thing to behold.

Wednesday, September 7

Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Prayer: Lord God, let us remember the good and faithful lessons our spiritual parents have taught us.

Thought for the day:  Like good sunshine for a plant good prayers of godly parents are rarely rewarded in the space of a single day.

Thursday, September 8

Luke 15:23, 24 Bring the fattened calf and kill it.  Let’s have a feast and celebrate.  For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. So they began to celebrate.

Prayer: Lord God, whether they suffer in body or in spirit we pray for your saving of all precious children.

Thought for the day: Observe speed limits in all school zones.

Friday, September 9

Matthew 5: 9 Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God.

Prayer: Jesus, help us learn how to play nice all the time with all people

Thought for the day: What lesson plan tells kids to stop sharing?

Saturday, September 10

Isaiah 11:6 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.

Prayer: O Jesus, son of God, lead us on the path to the Father God.

Thought for the day: The best shortcuts are rarely found on paved sidewalks.
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photo: “Detail of Elisha” by Fr. Lawrence Lew O. P. on http://www.flickr.com