Month: May 2018

May 30, Reading 1 – Deuteronomy 9:1-10:11

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Moses acts as a mediator between God and Israel time and again. Will Jesus do any less for you? Mediator: 1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 8:6, 9:15, 12:24 are applicable verses.

SJA Notes

* God of Light, listen to our prayer, lead us to the rock that is higher than we are, our refuge.

“Not because of your righteousness or uprightness of your heart …”

We see in this passage the same truth as in Ephesians 2,

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

It is not our own righteousness!

It is the Lord who will drive out His enemies before Israel.

Not our own righteousness!

Moses is clear with Israel. It is nothing good in you. It is the Lord, wholly and solely Him and His purposes and power.

Moses spends time pointing to the folly of Israel. Reminding them. Remember! Do not forget it is the Lord who saves, who rescues, who brings you into the land flowing with milk and honey.

Never forget, always remember!

These are good words for us to hear, to wrestle with.

We are sinners. We continue to sin. We need to remember.

But not to stop there!

The passage from Ephesians tells us that God is the one who saves us, and Paul continues later on,

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Here is a deep understanding, that Jesus brings about a better covenant, one in which His Spirit is at work in each of us (dry bones, life-breathed).

More of Jesus, less of us. His righteousness alone.

* God Above,

Thank You for creating us in Christ Jesus, You in the Person of the Son.

Please help us to walk in the good works that You have prepared beforehand for us.

Thank You Lord!

Amen.

May 30, Reading 2 – Ecclesiastes 11, 12

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

The knowledge of my accountability to God acts as a check on stupidity and folly in youth as in old age. He is my Judge, and far more! He is our Saviour and Redeemer! Ecclesiastes just openly looks at some of the evils He redeems us from! Be thankful!

SJA Notes

“The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd.”

A goad is a weighty spiked stick used to drive cattle and oxen.

Sharp. Painful at times, but only to set on the right path.

This tells us about God’s word!

Ecclesiastes is full of truths that can seem harsh and bleak. Vanity, all is vanity.

But this is God’s word.

Ecclesiastes helps us to remember humility and meekness. Submissions under God’s will. Enjoyment of the temporal blessings He gives to us in His time. Fleeing from pride and arrogance.

And this word, all of God’s word, is given to us by one shepherd – The Good Shepherd who loves His sheep!

God has given to us His word; words of comfort and joy, words of exhortation and rebuke.

God’s word is the only mirror that always tells us the truth.

And so Ecclesiastes is an important book, and we need to wrestle with what the Preacher tells us.

There is great worth in doing this, may we be exhorted that way today.

* Father God,

You are the Almighty God, our Good Shepherd, the Great Physician.

You are Creator, Sustainer and Life-Giver.

Please help us today and each day onwards to fear You with a holy and reverent fear.

Please help us to walk obediently under Your will, Your word, Your commandments.

Amen.

May 30, Reading 3 – Luke 9:1-17

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

After teaching, Jesus sends out His disciples to spread the message of the Gospel of His Kingdom. This is His pattern with His disciples. He will do no less with you. We take in that we may give out. We receive that we may pass on.

SJA Notes

* Holy God, please help us to understand Your word to us today.

“And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere”

Look at how the apostles were obedient to their King.

Luke draws a pattern further on in the passage, showing Jesus going about the same thing,

“… And he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing.”

We are not apostles. We have not been specifically gifted by Jesus with the specific power and authority over all demons and diseases that were given to the apostles.

But we can preach the gospel, to tell people about the kingdom of God.

We can do this whatever the situation, with word and deed, and in our thoughts themselves.

Let us be encouraged to do as our Lord and Saviour did, to work to tell people about Him and His kingdom with every opportunity brought our way.

* God Above,

Please train us through Your word, equip us through Your Spirit, that we would preach the gospel to those around us.

Please help us in this Lord God.

Amen.