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ongolecharles · 19 days ago

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DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS (DSR) 📚 Group, Fri Oct 18th, 2024 ... Friday of The Twenty-Eighth Week in Ordinary Time, Year B/Feast of St Luke, evangelist

Reading 1

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2 Tm 4:10-17b

Beloved:

Demas, enamored of the present world,

deserted me and went to Thessalonica,

Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.

Luke is the only one with me.

Get Mark and bring him with you,

for he is helpful to me in the ministry.

I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.

When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas,

the papyrus rolls, and especially the parchments.

Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm;

the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.

You too be on guard against him,

for he has strongly resisted our preaching.

At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf,

but everyone deserted me.

May it not be held against them!

But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength,

so that through me the proclamation might be completed

and all the Gentiles might hear it.

Responsorial Psalm

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Ps 145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18

R. (12) Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,

and let your faithful ones bless you.

Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom

and speak of your might.

R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

Making known to men your might

and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,

and your dominion endures through all generations.

R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

The LORD is just in all his ways

and holy in all his works.

The LORD is near to all who call upon him,

to all who call upon him in truth.

R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

Alleluia

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See Jn 15:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

I chose you from the world,

to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

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Lk 10:1-9

The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two disciples

whom he sent ahead of him in pairs

to every town and place he intended to visit.

He said to them,

"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;

so ask the master of the harvest

to send out laborers for his harvest.

Go on your way;

behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.

Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals;

and greet no one along the way.

Into whatever house you enter,

first say, 'Peace to this household.'

If a peaceful person lives there,

your peace will rest on him;

but if not, it will return to you.

Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you,

for the laborer deserves payment.

Do not move about from one house to another.

Whatever town you enter and they welcome you,

eat what is set before you,

cure the sick in it and say to them,

'The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.'"

***

FOCUS AND LITURGY OF THE WORD

Luke is, par excellence, the evangelist of mission. All four Gospels, of course, portray the mission of the Church, each in their own way, but Luke is the only one who gives us narrative images of the early Church on mission, especially that of Saul/Paul, whose networking is reflected in the first reading 2 Timothy. Luke gives us a whole second volume, the Acts of Apostles, portraying the early unfolding of that post-Easter expansion of the Christian movement. What Luke portrays in Acts he anticipates in his gospel. For example, he tells not just one but two stories of Jesus sending envoys on mission. In chapter 9, Jesus sends the Twelve out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick, doing what their master did. But then he surprises his readers by telling of a second group, seventy-two people simply called “others,” whom Luke says Jesus “sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intendedto visit.” If the number 12 was significant (representing the 12-tribe restored people of Israel), is there a biblical meaning for 72? Yes. In Genesis 1-11, 72 is the number of all the nations descended from Noah, that is--everybody in the world! So Luke’s mention of 72 “others” represents those who carry out the post-Easter extension of Jesus’ mission to everyone. If we identify ourselves as followers of Jesus, there is a message for us in this passage. Let’s listen.

The work of the 72, including us, is preparatory. Jesus does the real work of ‘visiting’ everyone. This may be puzzling, until we discover in the Acts of Apostles that the work of Paul and company is understood as the work of the risen Lord working through the Holy Spirit animating the Christian movement (see Acts 26). So the mission is not so much about us as about the work of Jesus, through the likes of us, for the rest of the world.

Ultimately, the Master of the harvest is God the Father. That is, the mission of Jesus fulfills the mission of Israel from the beginning of Israel’s story starting with Abraham. Message for the 72, including us: this Christian mission is really about God’s ancient plan for the redemption of the world, for which we are invited to collaborate.

Even though we are being sent “like lambs among wolves,” we are being sent defenseless. No money bag, no sack (holding food for the road), no sandals (necessary for fight or flight on rocky roads)! Total dependence on the hospitality of towns and individual families, with some rejection assured. This requires dependence on divine accompaniment moving human hearts to host vulnerable (surely nonviolent) travelers. What unifies people more than recognizing common need? And what alienates quicker than failure to close one’s eyes and heart to that mutual interdependence. That suggests that our mission is usually done in the context of our more intimate contact with fellow human being who recognize our common humanity—or not.

Whatever our situation, class, lifestyle, our mission will be contribute to the “harvest” to the extent that we “travel light.”

Don’t boast about your exercise of God-given power; rejoice that you have been called to participate in God’s mission of mercy. A few lines beyond today’s gospel reading (Luke 10:17-20) Luke says that the seventy-two “returned rejoicing, and said, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” Jesus says, in effect, ‘Rejoice because you have been chosen for mission.’ Thank God for Luke’s special way of helping us get some perspective on our role.

***

SAINT OF THE DAY

Saint Luke

(d. c. 84)

Saint Luke’s Story

Luke wrote one of the major portions of the New Testament, a two-volume work comprising the third Gospel and Acts of the Apostles. In the two books he shows the parallel between the life of Christ and that of the Church. He is the only Gentile Christian among the Gospel writers. Tradition holds him to be a native of Antioch, and Paul calls him “our beloved physician.” His Gospel was probably written between 70 and 85 A.D.

Luke appears in Acts during Paul’s second journey, remains at Philippi for several years until Paul returns from his third journey, accompanies Paul to Jerusalem, and remains near him when he is imprisoned in Caesarea. During these two years, Luke had time to seek information and interview persons who had known Jesus. He accompanied Paul on the dangerous journey to Rome where he was a faithful companion.

Luke’s unique character may best be seen by the emphases of his Gospel, which has been given a number of subtitles:

1) The Gospel of Mercy

2) The Gospel of Universal Salvation

3) The Gospel of the Poor

4) The Gospel of Absolute Renunciation

5) The Gospel of Prayer and the Holy Spirit

6) The Gospel of Joy

Reflection

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Luke wrote as a Gentile for Gentile Christians. His Gospel and Acts of the Apostles reveal his expertise in classic Greek style as well as his knowledge of Jewish sources. There is a warmth to Luke’s writing that sets it apart from that of the other synoptic Gospels, and yet it beautifully complements those works. The treasure of the Scriptures is a true gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church.

Saint Luke is the Patron Saint of:

Artists/Painters

Brewers

Butchers

Notaries

Physicians/Surgeons

***

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catolinewsdailyreadings · 5 years ago

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Friday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Daily Readings of Friday 18 october, 2019

Reading 1

2 TM 4:10-17B

Beloved: Demas, enamored of the present world, deserted me and went to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Luke is the only one with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is helpful to me in the ministry. I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas, the papyrus rolls, and especially the parchments.

Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. You too be on guard against him, for he has strongly resisted our preaching.

At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18

R./ Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD, and let your faithful ones bless you. Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom and speak of your might. R./ Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

Making known to men your might and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom. Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations. R./ Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

The LORD is just in all his ways and holy in all his works. The LORD is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth. R./ Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

Gospel

LK 10:1-9

The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this household.' If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves payment. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, 'The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.'"

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dailybiblelessons · 5 years ago

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Friday: Preparation for the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Roman Catholic Proper 23 Revised Common Lectionary Proper 18

Complementary Hebrew Scripture Torah Lesson: Deuteronomy 7:12-26

If you heed these ordinances¹, by diligently observing them, the Lord your God will maintain with you the covenant loyalty that he swore to your ancestors; he will love you, bless you, and multiply you; he will bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the issue of your flock, in the land that he swore to your ancestors to give you. You shall be the most blessed of peoples, with neither sterility nor barrenness among you or your livestock. The Lord will turn away from you every illness; all the dread diseases of Egypt that you experienced, he will not inflict on you, but he will lay them on all who hate you. You shall devour all the peoples that the Lord your God is giving over to you, showing them no pity; you shall not serve their gods, for that would be a snare to you.

If you say to yourself, “These nations are more numerous than I; how can I dispossess them?” do not be afraid of them. Just remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt, the great trials that your eyes saw, the signs and wonders, the mighty hand and the outstretched arm by which the Lord your God brought you out. The Lord your God will do the same to all the peoples of whom you are afraid. Moreover, the Lord your God will send the pestilence against them, until even the survivors and the fugitives are destroyed. Have no dread of them, for the Lord your God, who is present with you, is a great and awesome God. The Lord your God will clear away these nations before you little by little; you will not be able to make a quick end of them, otherwise the wild animals would become too numerous for you. But the Lord your God will give them over to you, and throw them into great panic, until they are destroyed. He will hand their kings over to you and you shall blot out their name from under heaven; no one will be able to stand against you, until you have destroyed them. The images of their gods you shall burn with fire. Do not covet the silver or the gold that is on them and take it for yourself, because you could be ensnared by it; for it is abhorrent to the Lord your God. Do not bring an abhorrent thing into your house, or you will be set apart for destruction like it. You must utterly detest and abhor it, for it is set apart for destruction.

¹The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:2-17, Deuteronomy 5:6-21)

Semi-continuous Hebrew Scripture from the Latter Prophets: Jeremiah 16:14—17:4

Therefore, the days are surely coming, says the Lord, when it shall no longer be said, “As the Lord lives who brought the people of Israel up out of the land of Egypt,” but “As the Lord lives who brought the people of Israel up out of the land of the north and out of all the lands where he had driven them.” For I will bring them back to their own land that I gave to their ancestors.

I am now sending for many fishermen, says the Lord, and they shall catch them; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks. For my eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from my presence, nor is their iniquity concealed from my sight. And I will doubly repay their iniquity and their sin, because they have polluted my land with the carcasses of their detestable idols, and have filled my inheritance with their abominations.

O Lord, my strength and my stronghold, my refuge in the day of trouble, to you shall the nations come from the ends of the earth and say: Our ancestors have inherited nothing but lies, worthless things in which there is no profit. Can mortals make for themselves gods? Such are no gods!

“Therefore I am surely going to teach them, this time I am going to teach them my power and my might, and they shall know that my name is the Lord.”

The sin of Judah is written with an iron pen; with a diamond point it is engraved on the tablet of their hearts, and on the horns of their altars, while their children remember their altars and their sacred poles, beside every green tree, and on the high hills, on the mountains in the open country. Your wealth and all your treasures I will give for spoil as the price of your sin throughout all your territory. By your own act you shall lose the heritage that I gave you, and I will make you serve your enemies in a land that you do not know, for in my anger a fire is kindled that shall burn forever.

Complementary Psalm 1

Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.

The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Semi-continuous Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18

O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it.

For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes beheld my unformed substance. In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed. How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! I try to count them—they are more than the sand; I come to the end—I am still with you.

New Testament Epistle Lesson: Colossians 4:7-17

Tychicus will tell you all the news about me; he is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts; he is coming with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.

Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas, concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him. And Jesus who is called Justus greets you. These are the only ones of the circumcision among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you. He is always wrestling in his prayers on your behalf, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in everything that God wills. For I testify for him that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you. Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you read also the letter from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, “See that you complete the task that you have received in the Lord.”

Year C Ordinary 23, Catholic Proper 23, RCL Proper 18: Friday

Selections are from Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings copyright © 1995 by the Consultation on Common Texts. Unless otherwise indicated, Bible text is from New Revised Standard Version Bible (NRSV) copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Footnotes in the Christian Scriptures that show where a passage from the Hebrew Scripture is used are from The New International Version Bible ® (NIV®), copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. When text is taken from the NIV, the passage ends with (NIV) and the foregoing copyright notice applies. Image credit: Tychicus, detail from a larger icon downloaded from via Wikimedia Commons, cropped and then further altered by Michael Gilbertson to delete figures on either side of Tychicus, 24 August 2016. If reposted, please credit The Lectionary Company for the modifications. This image is in the public domain. Creative Commons 0 license.

#Tychicus #Paul #Colossae #Laodicea #Nympha

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faithfacts-blog1 · 5 years ago

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How to Be a Steadfast Christian

Therefore, my beloved brethren, BE YE STEDFAST, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Steadfastness is an important word that was developed by the navy. Ships on the sea really needed to have the ability to stay on course because their lives depended on it. The sea is so vast and there was only a limited amount of food on a ship. If you took the wrong direction, you could go for several days and simply arrive in the middle of nowhere in danger of dying from thirst and starvation.

Think about it. In the days when there was no electricity and no radio communication, it would be extremely important to be able to stay on course. Imagine that you had five sheep, six pigs and thirty chickens on board. Imagine that you had ten sacks of rice, four sacks of onions, five sacks of tomatoes, and three sacks of oranges. Imagine that you had two barrels of cooking oil and forty barrels of water. Imagine that you had eighty passengers that you had to look after and feed every day whilst you were on the sea. With eighty people eating three times a day, you better be sure you are on the right path to the right place. If you miss your way, you will end up on the open sea with no food and water. Eighty people will eat one pig a day or ten chickens a day. At this rate, all the meat on board would be finished in fourteen days. Also, the eighty people would drink a barrel of water a day and use three barrels every day for bathing and cooking. The water would therefore last for twenty days. As you can see, if the captain did not stay in the right direction, they could end up in the middle of the sea after twenty days and still need another fourteen days to find land. It was very important that you were in the hands of someone who was truly steadfast.

As you can see, steadfastness was a very important characteristic that seamen had to develop. Steadfastness speaks of the ability to stay in the right direction. It also means you have the ability to come back to the right path when you have strayed away.

It is not only important for ships to develop steadfastness but for born again Christians and even pastors to develop the art of staying steadily on the right path. Indeed, you must develop the art of coming back to the correct path when you have strayed away. These are the keys to developing steadfastness and steadiness in your Christian walk.

1.Develop steadfastness by not loving the world.

For Demas hath forsaken me, having LOVED this present world...

2 Timothy 4:10

Demas loved the world. That is why he deserted Paul. If you love somebody, you will eventually gravitate towards that person. This explains why young ladies will leave their loving parents and marry virtual strangers. Love or lust is one of the reasons for that gravitational pull. If you love the world – its money, its women, its men, its glitter – you will find yourself gravitating towards these things. It is therefore important that the Christian should not have any strange love in his heart.

The prodigal son had a strong desire for the world. He wanted to leave home so he could have the pleasures of the world. He was deceived and wanted something else. But there was nothing else! He soon found out that the situation out there was not as good as it was at home.

Often Christians feel they are missing out on something in the world. Sometimes they feel they are losing out on money, sex, glamour and so on. Apart from the love of Christ, if you have any other love in you, you need to be careful of it. If you have any strange lusts in you, you must kill them now, or they will grow up and take over your life.

I once saw a baby snake in my garden. It looked very much like an ordinary worm but it was definitely a snake. So I said to myself, “If I don’t kill it now, one day it could kill me.” I thought, “It is too dangerous to leave this thing alive. Let me kill it now,” I decided. That is how we must deal with some of those loves, lusts and desires lurking within us. Deal with them like I dealt with that snake. Kill them now, when they are small and harmless. If you allow them to grow and to develop, they will destroy you one day.

2.Develop steadfastness by not lusting after the things in this world.

…and the LUSTS of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Mark 4:19

Lust for anything apart from God’s Word is dangerous. It can ruin your life because you will sacrifice so many things to get what you want. There are Christians who will sacrifice anything to ride in a Mercedes Benz. They will steal, cheat and lie to own one. Such believers have a strong desire to have some material possession, and they will do all they can to have it. This strong overpowering desire is what God calls lust. But lust is dangerous! It destroys.

… having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

2 Peter 1:4

Corruption has come into the world through lust. The spoiling of your life will come through your lusts. The destroying of your happiness will come through your lusts. There are many Christian ladies who have such strong desires to marry that they will sacrifice all principles and all the rules in order to get married. To lust after something is to have a strong, excessive desire for something. Usually it is an uncontrollable, sometimes obsessive desire for a particular thing. One dictionary calls ‘lust’ an animal desire. Be wary of all forms of lust, whether it’s financial lust, sexual lust or power lust. Lust corrupts and destroys good things.

Governments are destroyed and corrupted through their lusts. Governments are often corrupt because of officials who have strong desires to acquire certain possessions. These officials take bribes in exchange for illegal favours. They also receive gifts and handouts in exchange for signing bogus contracts that ruin the economies of entire nations. Lust (strong desires) corrupts people, governments and nations.

3.Develop steadfastness by having a proper fear of judgment.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. KNOWING THEREFORE THE TERROR OF THE LORD, WE PERSUADE MEN…

2 Corinthians 5:10-11

In school, I noticed two types of students. There were those who were always conscious of the looming examinations. Others were carefree and unconcerned about upcoming tests. It is those who had a proper fear of examination who did well in school. When you have no fear of judgment or examinations, you live anyhow and stray from the path of righteousness. It is important to have a proper fear of God’s judgment so that you will be steadfast and unmoveable from the path of life.

I have heard Christians say that God will never punish them. They quote, “For God so loved the world…”. They argue that since God loves the world so much He will not destroy them. They say, “I know God will forgive me.” Because of this they add sin to sin without batting an eyelid. God’s nature is like two sides of a coin. One side of the coin shows the head, and the other side shows the tail. One side of God’s character shows His great love, and the other side shows His judgment.

A Christian sister spoke of a woman who was having an affair with her best friend’s husband. Because the two ladies were good friends they would often speak on the phone. Every time this adulteress put the phone down, she would sigh and say, “O God, forgive me for what I’m doing.” Strangely, she continued having the affair with her friend’s husband. Some people feel that God will not punish them. That is why they continue in sin.

When God shows you one side of His character you will see love, forgiveness and mercy of the highest order. God will forgive and forget your sins. But a time will come when God will show you the other side of His nature; which is judgment, justice, fairness, equity and jurisprudence. These are the two sides of God’s nature. We are now in the dispensation of grace. God is showing you mercy and love. Think about all the wicked sins you have committed, but still receive His forgiveness. At a certain point, the Spirit of the Lord will not strive with man anymore. God has to judge you; otherwise there will be chaos in the Kingdom.

The king by judgment establisheth the land…

Proverbs 29:4

God loves you so much that He will punish you when He has to.

4.Develop steadfastness by not being over-confident.

An over-confident person is someone who has too much trust in his abilities. It is dangerous to be over-confident as a Christian. Being too confident in your righteousness and in your own spirituality is a bad sign.

…Let him that THINKETH HE STANDETH take heed lest he fall.

1 Corinthians 10:12

If you regard yourself or your position in Christ as foolproof, you are in danger of straying from the right path. I have heard some Christians boast about their abilities. This is over-confidence. It reminds me of a particular brother in my church who would regularly come to me and say: “Pastor, your church is so good; I will never leave Lighthouse Chapel.” He spoke about his commitment to me and to the church with such conviction. A few months later, he walked out of the church and never returned.

When a Christian continues to boast about his strength, Satan hears him and decides to test him. Where you are over-confident is where you can be the weakest, because you have dropped your guard.

You can also tell that a Christian is over-confident by the way he talks about the weaknesses of others. I have heard Christians criticize others as though they could never make the same mistakes. They overestimate their own ability, and look down on others. You need to be humble; otherwise one day you will find yourself in the same shoes, much to your own surprise. Staying on the right track is largely by the grace of God, and not by your own strength.

When David heard that Saul was dead, he didn’t ridicule him or rejoice over his death. David could have lashed out at Saul and criticized him at that time. He could have taken the opportunity to talk about how Saul had been disobedient and stubborn. He could have discussed what led to Saul’s downfall. Instead he declared,

Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon...

2 Samuel 1:20

Although David did not have a problem with stubbornness and disobedience, he did not venture to denounce his predecessor because of his weaknesses. We must all learn something from this example. Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall!

5.Develop steadfastness by not being hard and stubborn.

Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

Ecclesiastes 4:13

If you know a stubborn Christian who does not heed to counsel, you are looking at someone who can stray from the paths of righteousness. I have counselled many Christians who never change their lifestyles in spite of all that is said to them. They are bent on doing their own thing. Everybody needs advice. The Bible says there is safety in the multitude of counsel.

I remember counselling a young lady not to continue in a certain unhealthy relationship. I asked, “What makes you different from the other girls he has thrown away? He has had 17 girlfriends, and you are the 18th. The only difference between you and the others is that you are new to him. But one day you will become ‘old’ just like the others. And he will then throw you away.” But she continued to follow the love of her life!

Is there anybody who was mightily blessed by God although he was stubborn and rebellious? Never! Stubbornness to God, to His Word, to His pastors and to biblical counsel is a sign that you will stray away from the right path.

6.Develop steadfastness by not looking back at the world.

To be steadfast you must learn never to look back. In Genesis 19, we can study the testimony of Lot and his wife. Two angels were sent to Lot and his family in Sodom and Gomorrah. Their message was simple:

…Escape for thy life, LOOK NOT BEHIND THEE…lest thou be consumed.

Genesis 19:17

But the Bible declares that Lot’s wife looked back and became a pillar of salt. Jesus also reminds us of the terrible mistake that Lot’s wife made as she was escaping from Sodom and Gomorrah. She was the only member of the family who looked back at her past. We can liken this to believers who backslid because they kept looking back at the world and all it had to offer. As born-again believers, God has delivered all of us from sin, and it is important that we do not look back.

I always remember the story of a lady who stood before a Christian group to testify. She happily recounted what she had done as an unbeliever:

“I used to go out with many men. They would pick me up to party with me at nightclubs and discos. I danced all night with them. It was great.” She said.

With great excitement in her voice, she told the Christians: “I travelled all over the world with them. We really had a good time.”

Then her voice dropped and she sadly said, “But I got saved, and here I am in church.”

To her, salvation was rather the “bad” thing that happened to her. It was as though being saved was an unfortunate experience. This woman was looking back to the expensive cars, the expensive restaurants and the “good” times she had had as an unbeliever. If you keep on thinking and remembering your past sinful life with nostalgia, you will turn into “a pillar of salt”!

I am looking ahead, and I intend to go forward with God’s work. As a medical doctor in full-time ministry, I could look back and consider becoming a professor. There are times when I think it would be nice to develop myself in the medical field. But I am not looking back to my medical profession. I am going forward, preaching, teaching and planting churches all over the world. I have no intention of going back.

If there is a longing in your heart to go backwards or to look backwards, come before the Lord and ask Him to help you “kill” that interest in the past. Let it die! Be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord!

7.Develop steadfastness by allowing yourself to be corrected.

Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

Proverbs 9:8

Constant correction will keep you steadily on the path of righteousness. We have come to Christ to learn new things and have a better life. You must be open for correction in every aspect of your life. Every aspect of your life is linked to the other. This is why you need correction in almost every area of your life. God will raise up pastors who will correct you in every area of your life. Please do not be angry when you are corrected in your behaviour, your domestic life, your spiritual life and your school life.

Any believer who gets angry at correction must be watched closely. A wise man will be happy at correction because he will think through it and realize that he is being helped. Often the truth is painful. When Jesus told the crowd in John 8:44 “Ye are of your father the devil...” they were offended.

On one occasion, Jesus addressed Peter and said to him, “Get thee behind me, Satan.” Notice that Peter was not angry at being called Satan. After this rebuke, Peter went on to become the great man of God who preached to thousands!

A friend at school told someone who was irritating him, “Satan, get thee behind me.” This person was astonished, amazed and very offended at being called “Satan”. His reaction was very different from Peter’s! I have never referred to anybody as Satan (although I have seen many people behave just like the devil). I wonder what would happen if I dared to correct someone by referring to him as Satan? He would probably explode in anger!

During a visit to one of my branch churches, an instrumentalist was very rude to his choir director. The pastor in charge sternly rebuked this musician. I watched this scene quietly from the side, wondering what would happen next. Fortunately this musician did not get angry at his pastor’s rebuke and is still doing well. I know some musicians who would have walked out at that kind of correction.

Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

Ecclesiastes 4:13

God gave us fathers and mothers to correct and advise us. You should thank God if your parents are alive. There are many people who do not have strong fathers to guide them. Such people often go astray. My wife tells me that she wanted to be a secretary for the wrong reasons, but her father counselled her. He encouraged her to study law. Today she is glad that she followed her father’s advice and became a lawyer. Those who do not have good parents to guide and correct them are at a disadvantage. Correction will help you stay on track so do not be angry at correction!

by Dag Heward-Mills

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tpanan · 7 years ago

Text

My Wednesday Daily Blessings

October 18, 2017

Be still quiet your heart and mind, the LORD is here, loving you talking to you...........

Feast of Saint Luke, Evangelist (Catholic Observance)Wednesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time (Roman Rite Calendar)

Lectionary: 661

First Reading: 2 Timothy 4:10-17b

Beloved: Demas, enamored of the present world, deserted me and went to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.

Luke is the only one with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is helpful to me in the ministry. I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.

When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas, the papyrus rolls, and especially the parchments.

Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. You too be on guard against him, for he has strongly resisted our preaching. At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone deserted me.

May it not be held against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18

"Your friends make known, O LORD, the glorious splendor of your kingdom."

Verse before the Gospel: John 15:16

Alelluia, Alelluia

"I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord."

Alelluia, Alelluia

Gospel Reading: Luke 10:1-9

The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit.

He said to them, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.

Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this household.' If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves payment. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, 'The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.'"

**Meditation:

What kind of harvest does the Lord want us to reap today for his kingdom? When Jesus commissioned seventy of his disciples to go on mission, he gave them a vision of a vast field that is ready to be harvested for the kingdom of God. Jesus frequently used the image of a harvest to convey the coming of God's reign on earth. The harvest is the fruition of much labor and growth - beginning with the sowing of seeds, then growth to maturity, and finally the reaping of fruit for the harvest.

God's word grows like a seed within us In like manner, the word of God is sown in the hearts of receptive men and women who hear his word, accept it with trust and obedience, and then share the abundant fruit of God's word in their life with others. The harvest Jesus had in mind was not only the gathering in of the people of Israel, but all the peoples (and nations) of the world. John the Evangelist tells us that "

God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

Be a sower of God's word of peace and mercy What does Jesus mean when he says his disciples must be " lambs in the midst of wolves"? The prophet Isaiah foretold a time when wolves and lambs will dwell in peace (Isaiah 11:6 and 65:25). This certainly refers to the second coming of the Lord Jesus when all will be united under the Lordship of Jesus after he has put down his enemies and established the reign of God over the heavens and the earth. In the meantime, the disciples must expect opposition and persecution from those who would oppose the Gospel. Jesus came to lay down his life for us, as our sacrificial lamb, to atone for our sins and the sins of the world. We, in turn, must be willing to offer our lives with gratitude and humble service for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are called to speak and witness in God's name What is the significance of Jesus appointing seventy disciples to the ministry of the word? Seventy was a significant number in biblical times. Moses chose seventy elders to help him in the task of leading the people through the wilderness. The Jewish Sanhedrin, the governing council for the nation of Israel, was composed of seventy members. In Jesus' times seventy was held to be the number of nations throughout the world. Jesus commissioned the seventy to a two-fold task - to speak in his name and to act with his power.

Jesus gave his disciples instructions for how they were to carry out their ministry. They must go and serve as people without guile, full of charity (selfless giving in love) and peace, and simplicity. They must give their full attention to the proclamation of God's kingdom and not be diverted by other lesser things. They must travel light - only take what was essential and leave behind whatever would distract them - in order to concentrate on the task of speaking the word of the God. They must do their work, not for what they can get out of it, but for what they can give freely to others, without expecting reward or payment. "Poverty of spirit" frees us from greed and preoccupation with possessions and makes ample room for God's provision. The Lord Jesus wants his disciples to be dependent on him and not on themselves.

God gives us his life-giving word that we may have abundant life in him. He wills to work in and through each of us for his glory. God shares his word with us and he commissions us to speak it boldly and plainly to others. Do you witness the truth and joy of the Gospel by word and example to those around you?

**Prayer

"Lord Jesus, may the joy and truth of the Gospel transform my life that I may witness it to those around me. Grant that I may spread your truth and merciful love wherever I go."

Sources:

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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