September - Reading 23

Good afternoon -

Our Scriptures for today are:

Luke 24:28-35

Hebrews 12:14-29

Proverbs 29:15-27

Isaiah 59-61

May God bless the reading of His Word.

 

Good evening -

In reading through Isaiah, I am struck with the amazing amount of text that is taken from this writing and quoted in the New Testament. As we begin winding up the Book, the writings are so peaceful and full of promise. Again, the prophecies fulfilled a dual purpose in today's readings. They pointed to the relatively immediate redemption of the Babylonian exiles but also clearly point to the "real" light that would be coming seven centuries later. the Birth, Ministry, Death and Resurrection of Christ, the Messiah.

In Luke we finished the account of the two men travelling to Emmaus. It is interesting that the Scriptures insinuate that Christ would have continued travelling if the two men had not invited Him to eat with them (verse 28). I believe that there is a lesson in that. Christ can travel with you and you may not know Him. He can teach you but you may still not know Him. It is only when you invite Him to break bread with you and receive that nourishment from Him that you will really know Who He is.

May God bless you

- Clint

 

Proverbs 29:15

This verse is one of many in the Book of Proverbs that speaks of disciplining children through punishment. The lesson this teaches was not lost to the writers of the New Testament as we see in Hebrews 12:10-11.

The author of Hebrews acknowledges that sometimes punishment from imperfect parents is arbitrary or inconsistent, after all, these are human parents. Even so, as we think back to childhood and the spankings we received, we recognize the character and values they instilled in us.

 

Sunday School lesson 2/27/05 - continued

Luke 24:28-35 Recognition in Emmaus

When the three travelers reach Emmaus, the unknown expositor is “constrained” to stay with the other two as the day is almost over. It is when they recline at the table to eat and the old fellowship is restored that the two men finally recognize Jesus. Jesus had revealed who He was when He fed the multitudes by the breaking and blessing of bread. In the same way, it was through this manner that the eyes of the two were opened just before He vanished. This is the way in which He reveals Himself today as well. When His body was resurrected, it brought forth life into the church, the body of believers. When we gather around the table and recognize that he is the center of our fellowship and the essence of our being, we have our greatest proof of the Resurrection. Because of His death and Resurrection, we do not need His physical presence.

In light of their new awareness, the two men remember unusual aspects about their experience with Jesus on the road to Emmaus. Their hearts had burned within them as He had interpreted the Scriptures. They immediately return to Jerusalem to share with the others the news that Jesus was alive. They find that the others have already received this news through the witness of Peter. It is interesting that Peter’s words carried so much more weight than that of the women!

In 1Corinthians 15, Paul tells us that Christ appeared first to Cephas (Syriac for “Peter”), then to the Twelve, to more than five hundred brethren, to James, and finally to Paul himself.

 

Hebrews

Hebrews 12:18-24 The Final Arrival

The preacher views his audience as being on the very threshold of the city of God. The promise is just there, just out of sight by physical eyes. The Hebrews are like their ancient counterparts standing on the eastern bank of the Jordan ready to move into the Promised land. In effect he asks them, “Why would you withdraw now when the end is so close?”

We do not strive to enter the kingdom because of what we can physically perceive. It is for things that we can not touch. The only real bedrock in life is spiritual. It is the things we can not touch that lead us forward. Esau saw the soup and put his future in the soup. He did not have faith for the inheritance no received.

The ancient Israelites had a great fear of God. The manifestations of His power were so great that they feared even approaching Mount Sinai. Even Moses looked upon the mountain with fear. But with Christ the Pioneer leading the way, we can approach the city of god and view it as angels in festal gowns, those from the past who have received salvation, those blessed before us, to a just and caring God and even to Jesus Himself whose blood sealed the new covenant.

The preacher then sets before us a contrast of Jesus’ blood to Abel’s. Abel’s blood spoke to God from the ground as the voice of guilt crying for revenge. Christ blood speaks to us from the altar and speaks of redemption.

Hebrews 12:25-27 The Final Warning

God spoke through the prophets. God spoke through angels. God spoke through the Law. Now God has spoken for the last time in Jesus Christ. The one who spoke on earthj was Moses and the prophets and those that refused their message were cut off. Jesus speaks from Heaven and any who refuse to hear Him will also be cut off. At Sinai, God’s voice shook the earth. Haggai foretold that He will once again shake the earth and this time only the bedrock of those spiritual unseen things will remain.

Hebrews 12:28-29 A Call to Gratitude and Worship

We are called to be grateful for being members of the kingdom that can not be shaken. That gratitude naturally leads us to worship. The grandeur of a God who can shake away all that we physically perceive while at the same time maintaining a perfect kingdom that is not moved makes us respond with awe and reverence.

The Father of our High priest is not a weakling. To the contrary, He is still the consuming fire that the Israelites refused to face. He is not One who accepts unfaithfulness.

 

Our Scriptures for 9/24 are:

Luke 24:36-44

Hebrews 13:1-8

Proverbs 30

Isaiah 62-64

 

Our Scriptures for 9/24 are:

Luke 24:36-44

Hebrews 13:1-8

Proverbs 30

Isaiah 62-64

 

Our Scriptures for 9/24 are:

Luke 24:36-44

Hebrews 13:1-8

Proverbs 30

Isaiah 62-64

 

Our Scriptures for 9/24 are:

Luke 24:36-44

Hebrews 13:1-8

Proverbs 30

Isaiah 62-64

 

Our Scriptures for 9/24 are:

Luke 24:36-44

Hebrews 13:1-8

Proverbs 30

Isaiah 62-64