DAILY, WEEKEND, AND HOLIDAY INTERNET EVANGELIZE TO THE WORLD MINISTRY

Today FRIDAY OF THE TWENTY-FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME Catholic Daily Readings First Reading  1 Co 1:17–25 Response   Ps 33:5 Psalm   Ps 33:1–2 ,  4–5 ,  10–11 Gospel Acclamation   Lk 21:36 Gospel   Mt 25:1–13 Today FRIDAY BEFORE PROPER 17 Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings Psalm   Ps 15  or  Ps 45:1–2 ,  6–9 First Reading  Ex 32:15–35  or  So 2:1–7 Second Reading  Jas 1:9–16 Today PROPER 16, FRIDAY Book of Common Prayer (1979) Daily Office Lectionary Psalms ( Morning )  Ps 16 ;  17 Psalms ( Evening )  Ps 22 Old Testament   Job 9:1–15 ,  32–35 New Testament   Ac 10:34–48 Gospel   Jn 7:37–52 T oday AIDAN, BISHOP OF LINDISFARNE, 651 Book of Common Prayer (1979) Sunday Lectionary Today FOURTEENTH FRIDAY AFTER PENTECOST Byzantine Lectionary (Julian) Epistle   Ga 2:6–10 Gospel   Mk 5:22–24 ,...

August 31: Walking with Jesus Isaiah 65:1–66:24 ; Luke 24:13–53 ; Job 14:11–22 Imagine encountering Jesus on the road to Emmaus. It would be a surreal experience. You’re walking to the next town, and you start a conversation with a man beside you, only to find out later that you’ve been talking with the resurrected Son of God. Even more surreal, the topic of conversation up to your moment of discovery has been the death of the man walking with you ( Luke 24:13–35 ). I have often wondered what it would be like to meet Jesus face to face—to have Him explain to me how He exists in the biblical text from Moses, in all the prophets, and in all Scripture ( Luke 24:27 ). How different would my life be after that experience? Would I rethink everything I had known and heard—perhaps everything I do? Asking these questions is not only healthy, it also turns on our spiritual GPS. Are we on the path God has called us to? Have we strayed in one direction or another? Are we caught in some ...

Morning , August 31 Go To Evening Reading “On mine arm shall they trust.” — Isaiah 51:5 In seasons of severe trial, the Christian has nothing on earth that he can trust to, and is therefore compelled to cast himself on his God alone. When his vessel is on its beam-ends, and no human deliverance can avail, he must simply and entirely trust himself to the providence and care of God. Happy storm that wrecks a man on such a rock as this! O blessed hurricane that drives the soul to God and God alone! There is no getting at our God sometimes because of the multitude of our friends; but when a man is so poor, so friendless, so helpless that he has nowhere else to turn, he flies into his Father’s arms, and is blessedly clasped therein! When he is burdened with troubles so pressing and so peculiar, that he cannot tell them to any but his God, he may be thankful for them; for he will learn more of his Lord then than at any other time. Oh, tempest-tossed believer, it is a happy tro...

August 31st My joy … your joy That My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. John 15:11 . What was the joy that Jesus had? It is an insult to use the word happiness in connection with Jesus Christ. The joy of Jesus was the absolute self-surrender and self-sacrifice of Himself to His Father, the joy of doing that which the Father sent Him to do. “I delight to do Thy will.” Jesus prayed that our joy might go on fulfilling itself until it was the same joy as His. Have I allowed Jesus Christ to introduce His joy to me? The full flood of my life is not in bodily health, not in external happenings, not in seeing God’s work succeed, but in the perfect understanding of God, and in the communion with Him that Jesus Himself had. The first thing that will hinder this joy is the captious irritation of thinking out circumstances. The cares of this world, said Jesus, will choke God’s word. Before we know where we are, we are caught up in the shows of things. All that G...

August 31 I would have you without carefulness 1 Cor. 7:32 Do not look forward to the changes and chances of this life in fear. Rather look to them with full hope that, as they arise, God, whose you are, will deliver you out of them. He has kept you hitherto—do you but hold fast to His dear hand, and He will lead you safely through all things; and when you cannot stand, He will bear you in His arms. Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow. The same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow, and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering, or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace then, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations. Francis de Sales  Hardman, Samuel G., and Dwight Lyman Moody. Thoughts for the Quiet Hour . Willow Grove, PA: Woodlawn Electronic Publishing, 1997. Print.

Those Who Hate their Brothers Excerpt This warning is clearly intended for Christians as the words “his brother” plainly show. An unsaved person can indeed hate a brother of physical kin, but since he has no spiritual kin he cannot really hate his (spiritual) brother. If John thought that no Christian could hate another Christian, there was no need to personalize the relationship with the word “his.” But the opinion, held by some, that a true Christian could never hate another Christian is naive and contrary to the Bible and experience. Even so great a man as King David was guilty of murder, which is the final expression of hate. John was warning his readers against a spiritual danger that is all too real ( cf .  1:8 ,  10 ). And he was affirming that a Christian who can hate his fellow Christian has not genuinely escaped from the darkness of this present passing Age. To put it another way, he has much to learn about God and cannot legitimately claim an intimate knowl...

Title and Authorship Excerpt ‎Ruth and Esther are the only two books in the Bible named for women. Esther was a Hebrew woman who married a Gentile king. God used Esther in a strategic time in the history of Israel to help preserve the nation from destruction. Ruth, on the other hand, was a Gentile woman who married a Hebrew man. God used Ruth to perpetuate the line of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. ‎The Book of Ruth is read annually by orthodox Jews on the Feast of Pentecost . This feast commemorates the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai and occurs at the time of the beginning of the offering called the Firstfruits of the Harvest ( Ex. 23:16 ). Ruth’s betrothal took place during this festive harvest season, when barley was being winnowed ( Ruth 3:2 ; cf.  1:22 ). …  More Reed, John W. “ Ruth .”   The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures . Ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Vol. 1. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985. 415. Print. ...

Your Son Isaac Genesis 22:2 Excerpt Your only son Isaac, whom you love  emphasizes the special relationship between Abraham and Isaac and underlines the harshness of the demand to sacrifice Isaac. The expression  your only son  is emphatic and means the only son you have, which  reb   translates “your one and only son.” Ishmael, of course, is also Abraham’s son, but Isaac is the heir to the promise made to Abraham. Now that Ishmael has been sent away, Isaac is the only son.  Whom you love  is a second expression added to  son . This is the first occurrence of the word  love  in Genesis.  More Reyburn, William David, and Euan McG. Fry.  A Handbook on Genesis . New York: United Bible Societies, 1998. Print. UBS Handbook Series.

Upholding the Law Excerpt The Jew believed passionately that Paul’s teachings of grace and salvation by faith undermined Law and thus denied God’s O.T. revelation. Paul says that instead the Gospel upholds Law, but gives it the place God always intended it to have.  More Richards, Lawrence O.  The Bible Reader’s Companion . electronic ed. Wheaton: Victor Books, 1991. Print.

August 30: Dawning of a New Era Isaiah 63:1–64:12 ; Luke 23:26–24:12 ; Job 14:1–10 Jesus’ resurrection brings a new era. Although Jesus told His disciples and loved ones that He would suffer, die, and be raised on the third day ( Luke 9:22 ), they didn’t fully comprehend His promise. The women preparing fragrant spices and perfumes for a burial ritual fully expected to find Jesus’ body in the tomb. Instead, at the dawn of the first day of the week, they found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. The women were perplexed by their discovery, but the angels challenged them, reminding them of Jesus’ promise: “Why are you looking for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has been raised! Remember how he spoke to you while he was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of men who are sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise?” ( Luke 24:5–7 ). Jesus’ resurrection presents new hope for the disciples and those who believ...

Morning , August 30 Go To Evening Reading “Wait on the Lord.” — Psalm 27:14 It may seem an easy thing to wait, but it is one of the postures which a Christian soldier learns not without years of teaching. Marching and quick-marching are much easier to God’s warriors than standing still. There are hours of perplexity when the most willing spirit, anxiously desirous to serve the Lord, knows not what part to take. Then what shall it do? Vex itself by despair? Fly back in cowardice, turn to the right hand in fear, or rush forward in presumption? No, but simply wait. Wait in prayer , however. Call upon God, and spread the case before him; tell him your difficulty, and plead his promise of aid. In dilemmas between one duty and another, it is sweet to be humble as a child, and wait with simplicity of soul upon the Lord. It is sure to be well with us when we feel and know our own folly, and are heartily willing to be guided by the will of God. But wait in faith . Express your u...

August 30th Am I convinced by Christ? Notwithstanding in this rejoice not …, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven. Luke 10:19 , 20 . Jesus Christ says, in effect, Don’t rejoice in successful service, but rejoice because you are rightly related to Me. The snare in Christian work is to rejoice in successful service, to rejoice in the fact that God has used you. You never can measure what God will do through you if you are rightly related to Jesus Christ. Keep your relationship right with Him, then whatever circumstances you are in, and whoever you meet day by day, He is pouring rivers of living water through you, and it is of His mercy that He does not let you know it. When once you are rightly related to God by salvation and sanctification, remember that wherever you are, you are put there by God; and by the reaction of your life on the circumstances around you, you will fulfil God’s purpose, as long as you keep in the light as God is in the light. The ...

August 30 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world 1 John 2:15 If you will go to the banks of a little stream, and watch the flies that come to bathe in it, you will notice that, while they plunge their bodies into the water, they keep their wings high out of the water; and, after swimming about a little while, they fly away with their wings unwet through the sunny air. Now, that is the lesson for us. Here we are immersed in the cares and business of the world; but let us keep the wings of our soul, our faith and our love, out of the world, that, with these unclogged, we may be ready to take our flight to Heaven. J. Inglis  Hardman, Samuel G., and Dwight Lyman Moody. Thoughts for the Quiet Hour . Willow Grove, PA: Woodlawn Electronic Publishing, 1997. Print.

David’s fame Excerpt As Goliath moves in to silence his brash opponent, David slings one of the stones with unerring accuracy. It strikes the Philistine on the forehead, perhaps killing him instantly ( v.  49 ). David then removes Goliath’s sword from the scabbard and cuts off his head. Stunned by this turn of events, the Philistines flee back to their coastal cities with the Israelites in hot pursuit. As David had predicted in  verse 46 , many of the Philistines are killed along the way. David puts Goliath’s weapons in his own tent and later dedicates the sword to the Lord, taking it to the tabernacle ( 21:9 ) as a way of acknowledging that God gave him the victory. According to  verse 54 , David took Goliath’s head to Jerusalem. This may refer to a later time after David conquered Jerusalem ( 2  Sam. 5:1–9 ) or it may mean that a number of Israelites already lived in Jerusalem. Since Jerusalem was a major city, it would have been a logical place to display a...

To Live Quietly... Excerpt First , his readers should lead a restful life. The word translated  quiet ( hēsychazein ) means quiet in the sense of restfulness ( cf .  Acts 22:2 ;  2 Thes. 3:12 ;  1  Tim. 2:2 ,  11 ), rather than quiet as opposed to talkativeness ( sigaō ;  cf .  Acts 21:40 ;  1  Cor. 14:34 ). The former means “undisturbed, settled, not noisy,” while the latter means “silent.” Paul was telling the Thessalonians to be less frantic, not less exuberant. A person who is constantly on the move is frequently a bother to other people as well as somewhat distracted from his own walk with God. The latter can lead to the former. But a Christian who strives to be at peace with himself and God will be a source of peace to his brethren. Such quietude constitutes a practical demonstration of love for others. Second , Paul recommended minding one’s  own business.  The connection with love for the brethren is obvious...

Perseverance James 1:3–4 Excerpt It is the true part or approved portion of faith that produces perseverance.  The testing  refers more to “approval” than to “proving.” The word ( dokimion ) appears only here and in 1 Peter  1:7 .  Faith  is like gold; it stands in the test of fire. Without this approved standard of faith, trials would not yield perseverance. There would only be ashes. True faith, like pure gold, endures, no matter how hot the fire. True faith therefore  develops,  or more literally “works” ( katergazetai ),  perseverance  or staying power. The noun “perseverance” ( hypomonēn ;  cf . the verbal form in James   1:12 ) means steadfastness or endurance in the face of difficulties ( cf .  5:11 ).  More Blue, J. Ronald. “ James .”   The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures . Ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Vol. 2. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985. 821. Print.

John 10:1-21 : Parable or Mashal? John 10:1–21 Excerpt I prefer, however, not to use the parabolic categories associated with Synoptic studies but rather to employ the more Semitic designation of  mashal . A  mashal ,  or symbolic illustration, is a figurative text that can interweave as few or as many tangents and implications as are considered necessary by the writer or storyteller. Since the Hebrew term  māšāl   has considerable breadth of meaning, I believe such breadth adheres in the New Testament to such Greek terms as  parabolē  ( “parable,” which is not used in this Gospel ) and  paroimia   ( “image” or “figure,” see   10:6 ). Both of the  meshalim  ( chaps .  10 ;  15 ) in John include tangential arguments and references, but in the shepherd  mashal  the tangents are more developed than in the vine text. Yet it is important to note that despite the tangents here, the main direction of ...