June 9, Reading 1 – Deuteronomy 23:9-24:22

Reading

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SAA Notes

Jesus injunction: Love your neighbour as yourselves, has many practical examples here taken from ordinary day life. This reading covers marriage, immigrants, the protection of workers by legislation, guidance for judges, etc. Think through one practical example for life in your town/suburb today.

SJA Notes

* God Above, please turn and deliver my life, save me for the sake of Your steadfast love.

“… But you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you from there;”

Remember where you came from. Remember that you were slaves. Remember that the Lord rescued You.

When we are treated poorly and then come into some position of authority and standing, it can be tempting to say (and act), “It got done to me, now it’s my turn!”

God calls His people to remember how they were treated.

Not so they can wallow in retribution.

Instead, that Israel were RESCUED from Egypt BY God.

As with Israel, so with us.

Remember that we were rescued! Instead of seeking to pervert justice or treat someone harshly – remember!

Remember that we were in darkness, dead and without hope, slaves to sin – remember!

Remember that Jesus found us, called us him – He rescued us, redeemed us, restored us – remember!

Hallelujah, what a Saviour we have!

* Almighty God,

Thank You for Your word today, please write it on our hearts.

Please help us to remember! What You have done in our lives, and what You continue to do.

Thank You for rescuing us from the penalty of our sin.

Amen.

June 9, Reading 2 – Jonah 1, 2

Reading

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SAA Notes

Jonah prophesied about 50 years before Amos and Obadiah. He lived in the Kingdom of Israel, north of the Kingdom of Judah. Jonah’s prayer has much in common with the great prayers of men like David – Psalm 86. Jesus uses this passage to teach His resurrection. Matthew 12:39-41

SJA Notes

* Loving God, please open our eyes to see Jesus today from Your word.

“I called out to the LORD, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice.”

Jonah is a broken character of a man, given to anger and unresolved frustrations, railing at the world around him, and railing at his Lord God.

Here we have a most wonderful passage.

It is a passage that can give the seeker hope, the downtrodden and lost and lonely – The Lord answers prayer! He loves us His people with a love that has no end!

Deeper still, here Jonah’s word echo the journey of our King Jesus while on earth – Who went to the cross, and went deeper still for us.

Three days and nights Jonah was in the belly of the great fish.

“Then I said, ‘I am driven away from your sight; yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.'”

We see Jonah pointing us to Jesus, God in the Person of the Son, forsaken by His Father (God in the Person of the Father).

Jesus tells us about this in Matthew 12,

“For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

Our King took the punishment for each sheep in His flock, He took the totalled weight of the sin of every one of God’s people from Adam through to those who will be alive on earth at the last trumpet – And He took that sin to the cross, then as with Jonah so with Jesus – Three days and nights in the deep (deeper for Jesus than the ocean, down to the grave itself).

Jonah was not Jesus. He did not save anyone. But he points us to Jesus – Who did with absolute effectiveness and steadfast intention save His people.

Once for all time.

* Mighty God,

Thank You for this day. Please help us to go about Your will as we submit underneath it.

Thank You for Your word. Please write it on our hearts as we read and dwell on it.

Thank You for Your saving work to and in us. Please save those around us.

Our hearts go out to the lost and lonely, please call them home, Good Shepherd.

Amen.

June 9, Reading 3 – Luke 12:41-59

Reading

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SAA Notes

For you and me, within Time, God seems to be taking awfully long to do what He has promised. Jesus challenges us to have a good servant’s readiness in his master’s business. What is His business for you today? Consider Jesus’ distress – its causes and reasons.

SJA Notes

* Dear God, please show us how to live from Your word today.

“Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.”

This can be a strange word to our ears.

Isn’t Jesus the Prince of Peace, as we especially remember around Christmas time.

Was not His coming to earth to herald peace on earth and goodwill toward all mankind?

How can Jesus say here that it is division He brings?

This is a hard thing to wrestle with.

Jesus IS the prince of peace.

Jesus IS the bringer of division.

These two are true and truth, both of them.

It is this way firstly, because we must believe God’s word (otherwise our foundation will be sand).

Then there are other reasons, there are two roads in life.

One is the narrow road, and to get on it we must pass through the strait gate (Jesus).

This road ends in eternal life.

The other is a broad way, and we are born on it.

This road ends in destruction and everlasting fire.

Jesus is the key, the crux, the pivot. The salvation He brings, peace to us who were once at enmity with our Create God.

The peace He brings is for His people.

The division He brings is between His people and NOT His people.

* God Above,

Your word to us today is true.

Please help us understand You better today.

Amen.