Sunday, September 20, 2020

O JERUSALEM

Today’s Reading: Luke 13-14

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).

 

This is a Somali wild donkey with the signature horizontal black stripes on its legs. This was photographed at Hai-Bar Yotvata Nature Reserve in Israel, where you can see a variety of biblically referenced animals. From time to time Jesus used His creatures (today, a hen and her brood) to illustrate His message. James 3:8 says that no man can tame the human “tongue,” and it is said that this wild donkey cannot be tamed. In today’s reading Jesus refers to the tamed variety of “donkey.”

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where Reynold took the photo, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: Luke 13:34

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!

 

At the beginning of chapter 13, Jesus repeats for emphasis His call to repentance. Repentance essentially means that we are to turn from our own way and go God’s way. It means a Godly sorrow for sin, sorry enough to quit sinning; sorry enough to ask God’s forgiveness immediately when we sin. God reaches out to us as individuals, and He also reaches out to entire communities. The woman with the spirit of infirmity was ministered to individually. She responded, but Jerusalem, as a whole, did not. The heart of Jesus yearns also for our city, for our country, as well as each precious person. Jesus points out the hypocrisy of many religious leaders in the way they keep the Sabbath. He cares about donkeys and oxen (14:5), and how much more for people? Judgment and justice are inevitable. We need to come to Jesus humbly in repentance.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, You’ve invited me over and over to come to You. I do this now in repentance for my sin. Grant me a constant attitude of repentance. I fervently desire to live this life pleasing to You. I pray these mercies in Your Name. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Fall is in the air. I marvel that God, who put stars in place and arranged the seasons, would care for me individually. The story is told of the astronomer who spent his life studying the stars and who came to the conclusion that a God big enough to create the stars could not possibly care for him as an individual. As a retirement gift, he was given a microscope. As he studied that which was too small for the naked eye, he came to believe that a God who would create the molecule was even bigger than he had thought. He concluded that God cared about the little things, as well as the great big universe, and therefore, God cared about him. He opened his heart to the fact that God became Human in Jesus Christ.

Yours, marvelling at God’s great universe and marvelling even more at His care for me,

David

[NOTE: The P.S. below was written by David on September 20, 2016]

P.S. Yesterday was the 58th wedding anniversary for Norma-Jean and me. Some of our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren came together to celebrate with us at the hospital (see photos below).  At such times I get to speak what’s on my heart. Yesterday I shared with my family my deep love for Norma-Jean and how blessed I’ve been to have her by my side for these 58 years.  I also shared that in the last few weeks I’ve been meditating a lot on the historical accuracy of Holy Scripture. There is much evidence from historical writers that the Scriptures give us factual information. For example, Jesus was executed by crucifixion (a fact denied by Muslims). The fact that this happened is stated by the Roman historian Tacitus, who was not a believer. He wrote that this happened during the reign of Emperor Tiberius, and that Pilate was the Governor of Judea at the time…confirming what scripture says. Be assured, the writings chosen for inclusion in the Bible are historically accurate!

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11 thoughts on “Sunday, September 20, 2020

  1. A beautiful picture of David & Norma Jean and another with the family. It is amazing how God loves each of us individually. My family had also been summoned to see Dad/granddad/great grandad just before he passed. I am comforted by that memory. Thank You Lord.

  2. Thank You, Father, for Your kingdom – the one that is stable and secure forever. Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You are building Your church, and that the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Bless all Your workers today, Lord; may many hear Your invitaion to come in and be saved, in Jesus’s name, amen

    • The Secret (Seeds Of Peace)

      May seeds of peace find a home in your heart,
      May forgiveness help mend each broken part,
      For you are worthy when the last sunset falls
      To cross that bridge when the trumpet calls.
      So be not of sorrow for those gone ahead,
      They are more happy than we who are dead,
      For most of us fail to learn how to live,
      The secret is to open your heart and just give,
      For this is the way our Savior had taught,
      But through Satan’s lies,His words we forgot,
      So as time grows shorter we must reawaken,
      To remind the world of His love forsaken.
      ..G W (Bill)Marshall (from file #1)

  3. I love the part of the story or in our reading where Jesus healed the woman on the on the Sabbath I have a prayer request on Tuesday October the 6th 2020 I am going for knee surgery total knee replacement of my left knee so I’m asking for prayer and I cover your prayers that the surgery will be a success that God would guide this my surgeon’s hands and God bless the Norma Jean and her family what a beautiful family photo so God bless everybody today amen

    • Marilyn, I pray you will have successful
      total knee replacement surgery on October 6th, 2020 in Jesus’ Precious Name, Amen!

  4. Yes, beautiful photos of David, Norma-Jean and all the family. Just bowed my head and prayed for you Marilyn. Pray that all God’s family on this blog be blessed.

  5. How blessed they are to be together and celebrate 58 years of marriage. And have their large family to share this special event with them.
    Thank you for sharing these wonderful memories.

    Thank you for this daily post:)

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