20th January Living Words
Reading Programme
We begin with Worship:
Psalm 23
Authorized (King James) Version
A Psalm of David.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me;
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Joshua 17
More on the need to possess the territory that God has given us. Consider this violent capture of the Land of Promise with the enigmatic Matthew 11:12
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
Do we need to struggle to enter into God’s promise?
Mark 7 – words in Red
‘This people honours me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me.
But they worship me in vain,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ See Isaiah 29:13
“Full well do you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.
…making void the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down.
“That which proceeds out of the man, that defiles the man. For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts, covetings, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
1 Corinthians 4
Therefore, judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.
For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn’t receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
I don’t write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have ten thousand tutors in Christ, you don’t have many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, I became your father through the Good News. I beg you therefore, be imitators of me.
For God’s Kingdom is not in word, but in power. What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?
We conclude with Wisdom:
Proverbs 20
The spirit of man is Yahweh’s lamp,
searching all his innermost parts.
Hence the central importance of a daily ‘Quiet Time’ to give the spirit space to carry out the work of sanctification.
Wounding blows cleanse away evil,
and beatings purge the innermost parts.
Now, there’s a thought…
20th January Living Words
Reading Programme
We begin with Worship:
Psalm 23
Authorized (King James) Version
A Psalm of David.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me;
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Bible Notes
Rod = שֵׁבֶט šēbeṭ, rod, staff, a stick used to assist in walking, discipline, and guidance, often highly individualised and used for identification; of royalty: sceptre
Staff = מִשְׁעֶנֶת mišʽenet, n.f. [11] [√ 9128]. staff, stick:– staff
Joshua 17
More on the need to possess the territory that God has given us. Consider this violent capture of the Land of Promise with the enigmatic Matthew 11:12
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
Do we need to struggle to enter into God’s promise?
Mark 7 – words in Red
‘This people honours me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me.
But they worship me in vain,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ See Isaiah 29:13
“Full well do you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.
…making void the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down.
“That which proceeds out of the man, that defiles the man. For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts, covetings, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
1 Corinthians 4
Therefore, judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.
For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn’t receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
I don’t write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have ten thousand tutors in Christ, you don’t have many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, I became your father through the Good News. I beg you therefore, be imitators of me.
For God’s Kingdom is not in word, but in power. What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?
We conclude with Wisdom:
Proverbs 20
It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife,
but every fool will be quarrelling.
The sluggard will not plough by reason of the winter;
Therefore, he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
cf. Sow the Word in Season and out of Season.
preach the word; be urgent in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all patience and teaching.
2 Timothy 4:2
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
but a man of understanding will draw it out.
cf. the true meaning of ‘Education’ which is to draw something out of someone. By God’s grace you have all the resources you need within you – and it often takes the gifts of Ministry to release the answer that is within you. After all, the Kingdom is within you and so is the Holy Ghost.
A righteous man walks in integrity.
Blessed are his children after him.
Thus, living a godly life is a legacy investment for the generation that follows.
Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty.
Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
Ah, the Protestant Work Ethic!
There is gold and abundance of rubies,
but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets;
Therefore, don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
God is no fan of gossip or gossips.
It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication,
then later to consider his vows.
How much better to have the integrity to swear to your own hurt and yet does not change.
he who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and doesn’t change;
Psalm 15:4
The spirit of man is Yahweh’s lamp,
searching all his innermost parts.
Hence the central importance of a daily ‘Quiet Time’ to give the spirit space to carry out the work of sanctification.
Wounding blows cleanse away evil,
and beatings purge the innermost parts.
Now, there’s a thought…