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                  Bible in a Year : 1 Kings 8:1-9:26       Luke 21:1-9

Today's Scripture : John 8:31-36 Insight  The debate that started in  John 7:25-27  over Jesus’ identity and whether He was the Messiah intensified in  John  8:1-59 . The people asked Him , “ Who are you?” ( John 7: 25 ). John tells us that “many believed in him ” ( John 7: 30 ). Then Jesus clarified the identity of His true disciples: those who not only  know   Jesus but also  obey   Him ( John 7: 31 ). Jesus also cautioned the Jews that their privileged status as God’s chosen people and their heritage standing as descendants of Abraham had blinded them. They refused to see that they too were slaves to sin ( John 7: 31–36 ). Only when they accepted and believed the truth that Jesus is their Messiah —that He’s “the way and the truth and the life” ( John  14:6 )—would they be truly set free. “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” ( John 8:36 ).

By: Rev. Lynwood F. Mundy John 8:31-36 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him , “If you  [ John 14:15, 23 ]  abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.   32 And you shall know the   [ John 1:14, 17; 14:6 ]  truth, and   [ Rom. 6:14, 18, 22; James 1:25; 2:12 ]  the truth shall make you free.” 33 They answered Him , ( Lev. 25:42; [ Matt. 3:9 ]; Luke 3:8 )  “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can Y ou say, ‘You will be made free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, ( Prov. 5:22; Rom. 6:16; 2 Pet. 2:19 )   whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.   35 And ( Gen. 21:10; Gal. 4:30 )  a slave does not abide in the house forever , but a son abides forever.   36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. ( [ Rom. 8:2; 2 Cor. 3:17 ]; Gal. 5:1 )   The New King James Version . Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982. Print.

Love Made Her Do It “Now when Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, [7] a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it upon His head as He reclined at the table . [8] But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, “Why this waste?" ( Matthew 26:6–8 NASB ) All four gospels carry a story of anointing with perfume by a woman. Luke identifies the woman as “a notorious sinner.” His account of a different woman than the other three. In Mark , like in Matthew , she is an unidentified woman, but John gives her a name . Mary . Martha and Lazarus’ sister-Mary . Mary loved Jesus . Three times her name is mentioned in the gospels , each time she is at the feet of Jesus . In Luke 10:38–42 she is at his feet , listening to Him teach , in John 11:28–32 , she mourns her brother’s death at His feet , and in John’s version of our text, she anoints Him with perfume , at his feet . Why did she give so much? Because ...

Reflect & Pray How has Jesus set you free? What can you share with others about God’s liberating power ? Jesus , help me to believe that You can set me free.

Thursday, April 30, 2020, | Pentecostarion Third Thursday after Pascha Bright Vestments On the same date: James the Apostle and Brother of John the Theologian Epistle Acts 8:26–39 Gospel John 6:40–44   Byzantine Lectionary (Gregorian) . Faithlife; Bellingham, WA, 2015; 2015. Print. Thu, Apr 30, 2020, (Apr 17, 2020) | Pentecostarion Second Thursday after Pascha Bright Vestments Epistle Acts 4:23–31 Gospel John 5:24–30   Byzantine Lectionary (Julian) . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2016. Print. Thursday, April 30, 2020, | Pentecostarion Second Thursday after Pascha Bright Vestments On the same date: James the Apostle and Brother of John the Theologian Epistle Acts 4:23–31 Gospel John 5:24–30   Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) . Faithlife; Bellingham, WA, 2015; 2015. Print.

Thursday of the Third Week of Easter Years 1 & 2 | Roman Missal | Lectionary On the same date: Saint Pius V, Pope, Religious First Reading Acts 8:26–40 Response Psalm 66:1 Psalm Psalm 66:8–9, 16–17, 20 Gospel Acclamation John 6:51 Gospel John 6:44–51   Catholic Daily Readings . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2009. Print. Thursday, April 30, 2020, | Easter Thursday of the Third Week of Easter Year 2 On the same date: Eve of SS. Philip and James, Evening Prayer Psalms ( Morning ) Psalm 37:1–17 Psalms (Evening) Psalm 37:18–40 Old Testament Exodus 20:1–21 New Testament Colossians 1:24–2:7 Gospel Matthew 4:1–11  The Episcopal Church. Book of Common Prayer Lectionary . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2010. Print. Thursday, April 30, 2020, | Eastertide Thursday of the Third Week of Easter Morning Prayer On the same date: Thursday of the Third Week of Easter , Evening Prayer ; Eve of St. Philip and St. Ja...

                  Bible in a Year : 1 Kings 6:1-7:51          Luke 20:27-27

Today's Scripture: Deuteronomy 4:5-8 Insight  Deuteronomy 4:5-8  comes just after Moses has recounted the greatest disappointment of his long life. God prevented Moses from entering the Promised Land because of how he mishandled his anger with the people ( Deuteronomy  3:23–27 ; also   Numbers 20:1-13 ). Despite his grief, Moses continued to serve God by advising His people even as he transitioned power to Joshua. Here Moses emphasizes the distinctiveness of Israel. “What other nation is so great?” h e asks rhetorically ( Deuteronomy 4:7-8 ). After all, God had chosen   this   nation to be His treasured possession (see   Exodus 19:5 ;   Deuteronomy 14:2 ;   Deuteronomy 26:18 ). Those who follow Jesus are also treasured by God and set apart for Him . Peter reminds us, “You are a chosen people , a royal priesthood , a holy nation , God’s special possession ” ( 1 Peter 2:9 ).

By: Rev. Lynwood F. Mundy Deuteronomy 4:5-8 “Surely I have taught you statutes and judgments, just as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should act according to them in the land which you go to possess.  6 Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is  ( Deut. 30:19, 20; 32:46, 47; Job 28:28; Ps. 19:7; 111:10; Prov. 1:7; [ 2 Tim. 3:15 ])  your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes , and say, ‘Surely this great natio n is a wise and understanding people.’ 7 “For [ Deut. 4:32–34; 2 Sam. 7:23]   what great nation is there that has [ Ps. 46:1; Is. 55:6 ]  God  ( Or  a god)   so near to it, as the Lord our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him ?   8 And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day?    The New King James Version . Nashville: Thomas Nelson,...

Love In his book, The Power of Loving Your Church , David Hansen shows his readers Christ’s love in action in the church. One story especially touched me. While ministering in Rural Montana, David met a feisty 94-year old blind woman whose fierce independence buffeted his early attempts to minister to her. She chopped her own wood, cooked her own meals and wouldn’t accept help from anyone, much less the preacher. She would, however, allow him to drop by to give her the Lord’s Supper . For the longest time, he couldn’t convince her that people loved her. “Love isn’t in the Bible ,” she said, “The Bible calls it charity, not love.” He continued to be faithful to minister to her on her terms. With time, she began to allow the church to bring meals by and even let the Pastor chop some wood for her. Her cold exterior began to thaw. The church started helping her with her bills and assisted her niece in cleaning up around the place. Pastor David began chopping wood for her on a reg...

Reflect & Pray God’s accessibility to us is a profound gift . How can you avoid taking it for granted? Who in your life needs to know of God’s readiness to hear their prayer ? God , You are bigger than the universe yet closer than a breath. Thank You for being so interested in us, attending to every prayer .

Wednesday, April 29, 2020, | Pentecostarion Third Wednesday after Pascha Bright Vestments Epistle Acts 8:18–25 Gospel John 6:35–39   Byzantine Lectionary (Gregorian) . Faithlife; Bellingham, WA, 2015; 2015. Print. Wed, Apr 29, 2020 (Apr 16, 2020) | Pentecostarion Second Wednesday after Pascha Bright Vestments Epistle Acts 4:13–22 Gospel John 5:17–24   Byzantine Lectionary (Julian) . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2016. Print. Wednesday, April 29, 2020, | Pentecostarion Second Wednesday after Pascha Bright Vestments Epistle Acts 4:13–22 Gospel John 5:17–24   Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) . Faithlife; Bellingham, WA, 2015; 2015. Print.

  Wednesday, April 29, 2020, | Memorial Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin, and Doctor of the Church Years 1 & 2 | Roman Missal | Lectionary From Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Easter First Reading Acts 8:1b–8 Response Psalm 66:1 Psalm Psalm 66:1–3a, 4–7a Gospel Acclamation John 6:40 Gospel John 6:35–40 Or from the Proper of Saints First Reading 1 John 1:5–2:2 Response Psalm 103:1 Psalm Psalm 103:1–4, 8–9, 13–14, 17–18 Gospel Acclamation Matthew 11:25 Gospel Matthew 11:25–30 Commons Common of Virgins Years 1 & 2 | Roman Missal | Lectionary First Reading Song of Solomon 8:6–7 or Hosea 2:16bc, 17cd, 21–22 or Revelation 19:1, 5–9a ( Easter Season ) or Revelation 21:1–5a ( Easter Season ) Response & Psalm , Option I Response Psalm 45:11 Psalm Psalm 45:11–12, 14–17 or Response & Psalm , Option II Response Psalm 148:12a, 13a Psalm Psalm 148:1b–2, 11–14 Second Reading 1 Corinthians 7:25–35 or 2 Co...

Wednesday, April 29, 2020, | Commemoration Catherine of Siena, 1380 Index of Readings Friday, May 1, 2020, | Holy Day St. Philip and St. James Years ABC First Reading Isaiah 30:18–21 Psalm Psalm 119:33–40 Second Reading 2 Corinthians 4:1–6 Gospel John 14:6–14   Episcopal Church (USA) Revised Common Lectionary . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2016. Print. Morning , April 29 Go To Evening Reading “ Thou art my hope in the day of evil.” — Jeremiah 17:17 The path of the Christ ian is not always bright with sunshine; he has his seasons of darkness and of a storm. True, it is written in God’s Word , “Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace;” and it is a great truth, that religion is calculated to give a man happiness below as well as bliss above; but experience tells us that if the course of the just is “As the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day,” yet sometimes that light is eclipsed. At ce...

                    Bible in a Year : 1 Kings 3:1-5:18           Luke 20:1-26

Today's Scripture : Psalm 67:1-7 Insight  Psalm 67:1-7  is a prayer that draws from God’s blessing to Abraham in  Genesis 12:1-3   as well as the Aaronic blessing in  Numbers 6:24-27   ( “the L ord   bless you and keep you . . .” ). Because it emphasizes crops as a sign of God’s blessing ( Psalm 67:6 ), this psalm might have been composed for use during harvest celebrations like the Festival of Tabernacles . Typically, in the Old Testament , the word translated “people” (Hebrew  ‘am ) refers primarily to the nation of Israel; however,  Psalm 67:1-7  suggests that God’s blessing on “the people” extends beyond Israel to “the nations” ( Psalm 67:4 ) and strongly emphasizes the universal scope of God’s goodness . Through God’s goodness to His people , He becomes known and revered throughout the earth ( Psalm 67:2 ), just as God promised Abraham .