Pr. DFD : August 2018

Friday, August 31, 2018

Morning Prayer Reading 13 - Binding of Isaac

Binding of Isaac

Genesis 22:1-18

22 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy[a] will go over there and worship and come again to you.” 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.

9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “The LORD will provide”;[b] as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.”[c]

15 And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his[d] enemies, 18 and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”

Footnotes:

a. Genesis 22:5 Or young man; also verse 12

b. Genesis 22:14 Or will see

c. Genesis 22:14 Or he will be seen

d. Genesis 22:17 Or their

Illustration from a woodcut by Baron Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld, 1794-1872, a distinguished German artist known especially for his book, Das Buch der Bücher in Bilden (The Book of Books in Pictures). © WELS used by permission for personal and congregational use.

English Standard Version (ESV)

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Morning Prayer Reading 12 - Sodom & Gamorrah

Sodom & Gomorrah

Genesis 19:1-3, 12-15, 24-26

19 The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth 2 and said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant's house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” 3 But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

12 Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone you have in the city, bring them out of the place. 13 For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it.” 14 So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, “Up! Get out of this place, for the LORD is about to destroy the city.” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting.

15 As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.”

24 Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of heaven. 25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. 26 But Lot's wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

Illustration from a woodcut by Baron Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld, 1794-1872, a distinguished German artist known especially for his book, Das Buch der Bücher in Bilden (The Book of Books in Pictures). © WELS used by permission for personal and congregational use.

English Standard Version (ESV)

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Morning Prayer Reading 11 - The Promise of Isaac

Promise of Isaac

Genesis 18: 1-15

18 And the LORD appeared to him by the oaks[a] of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth 3 and said, “O Lord,[b] if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, 5 while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.”6 And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs[c] of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.” 7 And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. 8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

9 They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is in the tent.” 10 The LORD said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah.12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?” 13 The LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’14 Is anything too hard[d] for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” 15 But Sarah denied it,[e] saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

Footnotes:

a. Genesis 18:1 Or terebinths

b. Genesis 18:3 Or My lord

c. Genesis 18:6 A seah was about 7 quarts or 7.3 liters

d. Genesis 18:14 Or wonderful

e. Genesis 18:15 Or acted falsely

Illustration from a woodcut by Baron Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld, 1794-1872, a distinguished German artist known especially for his book, Das Buch der Bücher in Bilden (The Book of Books in Pictures). © WELS used by permission for personal and congregational use.

English Standard Version (ESV)

Monday, August 27, 2018

Morning Prayer Reading 10 - Call of Abram

Call of Abram

Genesis 12-17 (Selected Verses)

12 Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, 6 Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak[d] of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him

15 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”2 But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue[j]childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” 4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

17 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, 4 “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations."

9 And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised."

Illustration from a woodcut by Baron Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld, 1794-1872, a distinguished German artist known especially for his book, Das Buch der Bücher in Bilden (The Book of Books in Pictures). © WELS used by permission for personal and congregational use.

English Standard Version (ESV)

Sunday, August 26, 2018

Proper 17

Series B Proper 17

Deuteronomy 4:1–2, 6–9

Ephesians 6:10–20

Mark 7:14–23

We Are Cleansed and Sustained by the Word of God

Wickedness and evil come “from within, out of the heart,” and that is what defiles a person (Mark 7:21–23). Hence, we cannot save ourselves, because we are sinful and unclean from the inside out. But as the Lord Jesus “declared all foods clean” (Mark 7:19), so He cleanses us by His Word, by the preaching of repentance and the forgiveness of sins. Therefore, “listen to the statutes and the rules” of the Lord, “and do them, that you may live” (Deuteronomy 4:1). For His Word is righteous, and to live according to it is “your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples” (Deuteronomy 4:6). Cling to His Word, and also teach it “to your children and your children’s children” (Deuteronomy 4:9). Put on this “armor of God” by hearing and heeding what He speaks to you, that you may “stand firm” in the evil day (Ephesians 6:11–13). Gird yourself with the righteousness of Christ, by faith in the “gospel of peace,” and take up “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” by confessing Christ Jesus and “praying at all times in the Spirit.” (Ephesians 6:14–18).

Mark 7:14-23

O God, the source of all that is just and good, nourish in us every virture and bring to completion every good intent that we may grow in grace and bring forth the fruit of good works

Lord renew us each day with clean hearts. By Your Spirit, give us joyous words, generous spirits, and behaviors that reflect Your glory.

Jesus teaches that people are not defined by food or other things entering the body from the outside, but rather by their own evil inclinations and sinful behaviors. This teaching exposes the uselessness of our own excuse making and dismisses our claims that other people and things are to blame for our shortcomings and failures. However, Jesus does not merely condemn; He also sets free. Through His promises we are liberated from sin and reconciled to God.

Ritually impure food does not tough the heart and so cannot contaminate. All food is clean. Jesus' teaching will affect the future Christian mission. Simply put, Gentile will not need to observe Jewish dietary laws. The question of food laws caused much controversy in the 1st Century Church. See Acts 15:1-1-35; Romans 14:1-3, 1 Corinthians 8:7-13

What Defiles a Person

και προσκαλεσαμενος παλιν τον οχλον ελεγεν αυτοις ακουσατε μου παντες και συνετε

And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand:

-all of you hear and understand. Even the disciples need instruction. The crow is getting smaller. See Mark 6:7; 15:34 common summoning.

ουδεν εστιν εξωθεν του ανθρωπου εισπορευομενον εις αυτον ο δυναται κοινωσαι αυτον αλλα τα εκ του ανθρωπου εκπορευομενα εστιν τα κοινουντα τον ανθρωπον

There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”

-this verse interprets Vv. 1-13, nothing coming in will render a person as “common” what goes out is what defiles a person.

-a difference/distinction between ceremonial purity and Christ’s fulfillment both passive and active. Our standing before God is fulfilled in the one man CHRIST.

-NOTE most manuscripts eliminate the phrase, “He who has ears left him hear.”

και οτε εισηλθεν εις τον οικον απο του οχλου επηρωτων αυτον οι μαθηται αυτου την παραβολην

And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable.

-“parable,” a reference to the form of Jesus teaching.

και λεγει αυτοις ουτως και υμεις ασυνετοι εστε ου νοειτε οτι παν το εξωθεν εισπορευομενον εις τον ανθρωπον ου δυναται αυτον κοινωσαι

And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him,

οτι ουκ εισπορευεται αυτου εις την καρδιαν αλλ εις την κοιλιαν και εις τον αφεδρωνα εκπορευεται καθαριζων παντα τα βρωματα

since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.)

--By this teaching Jesus declares (cleans and makes) all food good. He directs His words to the condition of the heart. Instead of doing more to be good we need a new heart. To lord over another because of their piety is hypocrisy. “I desire mercy not sacrifice” meaning not empty sacrifice.

ελεγεν δε οτι το εκ του ανθρωπου εκπορευομενον εκεινο κοινοι τον ανθρωπον

And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him.

-what comes out of a man is what defiles and defines a man.

Vv. 21-22 Beginning with sexual immorality, 12 kinds of evil thoughts and actions are combined in a dreadful list of vices. The first six are in the plural form an describe behaviors. The last six are in the singular and have more to do with attitudes. These 12 vices leave no doubt as to the wretched impurity of the human spirit. See Ps. 51:5 on the human heart.

-from the heart a man proceeds these – evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, eveny, slander, pride, foolishness.

There can be an external righteousness. See the life of St. Paul before his conversion. He was essentially a “righteous one.” ‘set the bar so high no one can achieve it but low enough for yourself.’

εσωθεν γαρ εκ της καρδιας των ανθρωπων οι διαλογισμοι οι κακοι εκπορευονται πορνειαι κλοπαι φονοι

For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,

μοιχειαι πλεονεξιαι πονηριαι δολος ασελγεια οφθαλμος πονηρος βλασφημια υπερηφανια αφροσυνη

coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.

παντα ταυτα τα πονηρα εσωθεν εκπορευεται και κοινοι τον ανθρωπον

All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

Sources:

Greek translation and English translations - https://biblia.com/books/tisch/Mk7.13

Time in the Word Pentecost 15 - Proper 17

27August – 1 September 2018
Preparation for next week, The 15^th Sunday after Pentecost

The theme for the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost is Faith in Action. The Pharisees of Christ’s day adhered strictly to the dietary restrictions laid down by God in His Law. They even extended them. However, they believed that this strict outward fulfillment would save them. They gave little thought to the condition of their hearts, for even as they were outwardly pious in following the letter of the Law, inwardly, they were filthy with sin, hating Christ and His disciples and even hatching a plan to murder Him.

Jesus tells us that what matters is not the outward act, but the condition of one’s heart. Now this does not mean that we are free to act however we will. True faith will always manifest itself in doing good works, and a desire to adhere to the Word of God. People will be able to see that we have put our faith in action by our love for others.

As for the dietary laws of the Jews, we can be thankful that Christ has fulfilled the Law and has declared all foods clean. We are free to enjoy bacon cheeseburgers, pork chops, shrimp, and much more without guilty consciences.

Wickedness and evil come “from within, out of the heart,” and that is what defiles a person (Mark 7:21–23). Hence, we cannot save ourselves, because we are sinful and unclean from the inside out. But as the Lord Jesus “declared all foods clean” (Mark 7:19), so He cleanses us by His Word, by the preaching of repentance and the forgiveness of sins. Therefore, “listen to the statutes and the rules” of the Lord, “and do them, that you may live” (Deut. 4:1). For His Word is righteous, and to live according to it is “your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples” (Deut. 4:6). Cling to His Word, and also teach it “to your children and your children’s children” (Deut. 4:9). Put on this “armor of God” by hearing and heeding what He speaks to you, that you may “stand firm” in the evil day (Eph. 6:11–13). Gird yourself with the righteousness of Christ, by faith in the “gospel of peace,” and take up “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” by confessing Christ Jesus and “praying at all times in the Spirit” (Eph. 6:14–18).

Prayer before confession and absolution: Almighty, everlasting God, for our many sins we justly deserve eternal condemnation. In Your mercy You sent Your dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who won for us forgiveness of sins and everlasting salvation. Grant us a true confession that, dead to sin, we may be raised up by Your life-giving absolution. Grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may be ever watchful and live true and godly lives in Your service; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for teaching the faith: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, even as You have committed the care and nurture of children to Your people, graciously enlighten those who teach and those who are committed to their instruction that they may know Your eternal truth and trust in You all the days of their lives; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for steadfast faith: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, because of Your tender love toward us sinners You have given us Your Son that, believing in Him, we might have everlasting life. Continue to grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may remain steadfast in this faith to the end and finally come to life everlasting; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for aid against temptation: O God, You justify the ungodly and desire not the death of the sinner. Graciously assist us by Your heavenly aid and evermore shield us with Your protection, that no temptation may separate us from Your love in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for spiritual renewal: Almighty God, grant that we, who have been redeemed from the old life of sin by our Baptism into the death and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ, may be renewed by Your Holy Spirit to live in righteousness and true holiness; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Monday, 27 August 2018—Psalm 51:7, 10–12; Antiphon, Psalm 51:2—Sunday’s Introit is a portion of David’s penitential psalm, the one he wrote after being confronted with his sin with Bathsheba (2 Sam 11:1—12:14). David evinces true repentance: grief, shame, and contrition over his sin, but also faith and trust in God that he would be redeemed of all his iniquity. When we sing this as the Offertory, we make David’s plea our own: we ask for—and receive—a clean heart, a right spirit. We have been washed thoroughly from iniquity and cleansed from all sin by the atoning sacrifice of Christ.

Tuesday, 28 August 2018—Psalm 119:129–136—Psalm 119 is the longest psalm, and it extols the virtues of delighting in the Word of God. One who is righteous by faith has a great desire to live according to the precepts of God’s holy Word. The Word of God gives light and understanding; it keeps us from having our iniquity getting dominion over us. We the redeemed long to live by faith according to the Word; we shed tears because people do not keep God’s Law.

Wednesday, 29 August 2018—Deuteronomy 4:1–2, 6–9—As the Children of Israel were about to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving them, Moses reminds them of all that the Lord had taught and commanded them. His advice is to them and to us, heirs through Christ of the spiritual Promised Land, the Kingdom of Heaven. We must be diligent to hear the Word of God and preserve it, making it known, not only among ourselves, but to our children and our children’s children.

Thursday, 30 August 2018—Ephesians 6:10–20—This last reading from St Paul’s letter to the Ephesians fit exceptionally well with Sunday’s other readings. Moses had given his instruction to the Israelites because he knew how easy it is for people to fall away from God. In times of both adversity and prosperity, people may be tempted to forsake the Lord. Attacks will come, for the devil hates God and all whom He loves.

The Christian must gird himself for spiritual warfare with the weapons which God has provided: truth, righteousness, the Gospel, faith, salvation—with these, we are equipped for the assaults of the Evil One.

Friday, 31 August 2018—Mark 7:14–23—What defiles a person? Is it what goes into him? No. We are all defiled by sin. We have inherited our sinful nature from our first parents, and are inclined toward evil. Jesus gives a whole laundry list of wicked thoughts and actions which proceed out of our sinful hearts. We must ever be on guard, not only against the attacks of Satan, as in the epistle lesson, but even on the treachery of our own hearts. We must not depart from the Word of God, but read, hear, and learn it daily to know of both our salvation and of the will of God.

Saturday, 1 September 2018—Sunday’s hymn of the day, Be Strong in the Lord (LSB 665) exhorts us to make full use of the armor of God, that we may withstand the wiles of the devil and our sinful nature. Having been equipped by our Lord, we can be certain of the victory.

Collect for Pentecost 15—Lord of power and might, Author and Giver of all good things, graft into our hearts the love of Your name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

This Week’s Morning Prayer Readings

Read and review the following Bible stories for each day…

Monday, August 27 – Call of Abram – Genesis 12-17 (Selected Verses)

Tuesday, August 28 – Promise of Isaac – Genesis 18: 1-15

Wednesday, August 29 – Chapel Day

Thursday, August 30 -Sodom & Gomorrah – Genesis 19:1-3, 12-15, 24-26

Friday, August 31 - Binding of Isaac - Genesis 22:1-18

From the Small Catechism –4^th & 5^th Commandments

sources:

Luther’s Seal © Ed Luther’s Seal © Ed Riojas Higher Things

Saturday, August 25, 2018

Pentecost 14 - Proper 16

Pentecost 14 – Proper 16

August 26, 2018

Mark 7:1-13

Lord, cleanse us each day from our sins. We thank You that Jesus was made a fragrant sacrificial offering for us.

Mark 7:8
Using Religion to Avoid Religion

“You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of man”

It is a paradox. Yet effective. To use religion. To avoid the demands of religion. For example, the religious leaders of Jesus’ day built for themselves a religion of traditions and proceeded to use the traditions to escape the demands of true religion.

Jesus had a word for this sort of practice. – A word which we use to this day. – Hypocrisy. One of the issues of the 16^th Century Reformation. - Was the debate over the Bible vs. Tradition. Or to put it in another way in the form of a question: Whose voice will we listen to? The voice of God? Or the voice of the Church? The 16^th Century reformers repudiated those traditions that were found contrary to the Word of God. Is the Church today in need of another Reformation? Some believe that a reformation is long overdue. Let’s answer this simple question, which is your religion? Is it a religion of man’s traditions? Or, is it a religion based on God’s eternal Word?

1. A religion of man’s traditions.

A. Traditions can become a substitute for true religion.

1. Consider the religious leadership of Jesus day. They believed that they were godly. – They truly believed that they had a right connection with God. – Because they fulfilled the very letter of the law. Including all of the traditions. They believed that the external cleanliness of their lives. As was exhibited by their ritually clean hands, pots and pans and lounging couches. Made them clean before God!

2. It’s easy for us to look down our noses and to laugh at the notion. That maintaining ritually clean hands, pots and pans and couches actually makes one clean before God. Yet we can be guilty just as these leaders. When tragedy strikes our lives. Do we not sometimes wonder why God seems to take no notice of our godly and clean living? After all. We may argue. We’re faithful. In our church and communion attendance. We are regular. And generous. In our offerings. We work hard at our job. We raise our children rightly! We’re upright. And moral people! When such thinking occurs. We are making tradition our religion. Falling into the trap that externally living in compliance with God’s law somehow makes us clean and godly before Him.

B. When we live for tradition. Customs. And ceremonies. We soon lose their significance and meaning.

1. This may happen when we follow practices without knowing the reason why we are following them.

2. This may happen when we follow along blindly never questioning.

Yet cleanliness before God must flow from the inside out. From the heart out. It is the condition of the heart. Not the position of the body. That concerns the Savior. It is the state of the heart. Or inner life. That determines whether - Who we are - And what we do - Makes us clean before God.

Transition: We dare not let tradition to become like barnacles that gradually grow on a ship and impede its progress.

2. We need a religion based on God’s clear Word.

A. His Word will not fail you. What does His Word teach you? It teaches you that mere ritual washing. Or clean living. Will never do. However. His washing will always make you clean. Scripture put it this way. “When we were baptized into Christ Jesus. We were baptized into His death. We were buried with Him by our baptism. Into death. That as Christ was raised from the dead. By the glory of the Father. Even so. We also should walk in newness of life. For if we were united with Him in a death like His. We will certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His”. In baptism. You have been incorporated into the life. Death. And resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christ is the only one who has ever lived a perfectly good clean life before God. He alone. Is the spotless Lamb of God. Who never soiled Himself with the stain of sin. Even though He was tempted as you are.

B. His Word gives salvation. And life. Jesus chose to cover Himself with the entire dirt and filth of your sin. And the Father chose to give Him your punishment for that sin.
And to give you His cleanliness. Purity. And life.

Now. In the waters of Baptism. The Father gives you Jesus’ clean. Holy life. As your own. And washes away the stain and dirt of your sin.

This is the Father’s idea of godliness. Not what you can do to look impressive before God. Rather it is what He has done for you. By the power of forgiveness in Baptism. You are able to really do what the religious leaders of Jesus’ day and our own hypocritical nature can only mimic. – Offer a life to God.

That is also externally clean and godly. In Jesus Christ. All your actions as God’s own child. – From the rituals of our worship. To the duties of our daily lives. Are now clean in God’s sight. No wonder the Scriptures call Baptism a “washing of regeneration” and “a renewing of the Holy Spirit.” Titus 3:5

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Words-920

Passive Sentences-6%

Readability –80%

Reading Level-4.2

Friday, August 24, 2018

Morning Prayer Reading 9 - Tower of Babel

Tower of Babel

Genesis 11:1-9

11 Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. 2 And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. 3 And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.”5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. 6 And the LORD said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech.” 8 So the LORD dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. 9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused[a] the language of all the earth. And from there the LORD dispersed them over the face of all the earth.

Footnotes:

a. Genesis 11:9 Babel sounds like the Hebrew for confused

Illustration from a woodcut by Baron Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld, 1794-1872, a distinguished German artist known especially for his book, Das Buch der Bücher in Bilden (The Book of Books in Pictures). © WELS used by permission for personal and congregational use.

English Standard Version (ESV)

Thursday, August 23, 2018

Morning Prayer Reading 8 - The flood

The flood

Genesis 6-9 (Selected verses)

Increasing Corruption on Earth

6 When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. 3 Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not abide in[a] man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.”

5 The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.

Noah and the Flood

9 Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

13 And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh,[c] for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth.14 Make yourself an ark of gopher wood.[d] Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. 15 This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits,[e] its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits. 16 Make a roof[f] for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with lower, second, and third decks. 17 For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you. 22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.

7 Then the LORD said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation. 4 For in seven days I will send rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and every living thing[i] that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground.” 5 And Noah did all that the LORD had commanded him.

6 Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came upon the earth. 7 And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him went into the ark to escape the waters of the flood. 10 And after seven days the waters of the flood came upon the earth.

11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened. 12 And rain fell upon the earth forty days and forty nights. 13 On the very same day Noah and his sons, Shem and Ham and Japheth, and Noah's wife and the three wives of his sons with them entered the ark, 14 they and every beast, according to its kind, and all the livestock according to their kinds, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, according to its kind, and every bird, according to its kind, every winged creature.15 They went into the ark with Noah, two and two of all flesh in which there was the breath of life. 16 And those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him. And the LORD shut him in.

17 The flood continued forty days on the earth. The waters increased and bore up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. 22 Everything on the dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life died. 23 He blotted out every living thing that was on the face of the ground, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens. They were blotted out from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those who were with him in the ark. 24 And the waters prevailed on the earth 150 days.

The Flood Subsides

8 But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided. 2 The fountains of the deep and the windows of the heavens were closed, the rain from the heavens was restrained, 3 and the waters receded from the earth continually. At the end of 150 days the waters had abated, 4 and in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. 5 And the waters continued to abate until the tenth month; in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were seen.

6 At the end of forty days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made 7 and sent forth a raven. It went to and fro until the waters were dried up from the earth. 8 Then he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters had subsided from the face of the ground. 9 But the dove found no place to set her foot, and she returned to him to the ark, for the waters were still on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took her and brought her into the ark with him. 10 He waited another seven days, and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark.11 And the dove came back to him in the evening, and behold, in her mouth was a freshly plucked olive leaf. So Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth. 12 Then he waited another seven days and sent forth the dove, and she did not return to him anymore.

13 In the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried from off the earth. And Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked, and behold, the face of the ground was dry. 19 Every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out by families from the ark.

God's Covenant with Noah

20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in his heart, “I will never again curse[k] the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. 22 While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”

9 8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9 “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.."

Noah's Descendants

18 The sons of Noah who went forth from the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 28 After the flood Noah lived 350 years. 29 All the days of Noah were 950 years, and he died.

Footnotes:

a. Genesis 6:3 Or My Spirit shall not contend with

b. Genesis 6:4 Or giants

c. Genesis 6:13 Hebrew The end of all flesh has come before me

d. Genesis 6:14 An unknown kind of tree; transliterated from Hebrew

e. Genesis 6:15 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters

f. Genesis 6:16 Or skylight

g. Genesis 7:2 Or seven of each kind of clean animal

h. Genesis 7:3 Or seven of each kind

i. Genesis 7:4 Hebrew all existence; also verse 23

j. Genesis 7:20 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters

k. Genesis 8:21 Or dishonor

l. Genesis 9:7 In Hebrew you is plural

m. Genesis 9:19 Or from these the whole earth was populated

n. Genesis 9:20 Or Noah, a man of the soil, was the first to plant a vineyard

o. Genesis 9:27 Japheth sounds like the Hebrew for enlarge

Illustration from a woodcut by Baron Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld, 1794-1872, a distinguished German artist known especially for his book, Das Buch der Bücher in Bilden (The Book of Books in Pictures). © WELS used by permission for personal and congregational use.

English Standard Version (ESV)

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Morning Prayer Reading 7 - From Adam to Noah

From Adam to Noah

Genesis 5:1-32 (Selected verses)

Adam's Descendants to Noah

5 This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. 2 Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man[a] when they were created.3 When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. 4 The days of Adam after he fathered Seth were 800 years;.5 Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died.

6 When Seth had lived 105 years, he fathered Enosh. 7 Seth lived after he fathered Enosh 807 years 8 All the days of Seth were 912 years.

9 When Enosh had lived 90 years, he fathered Kenan. 10 Enosh lived after he fathered Kenan 815 years . 11 All the days of Enosh were 905 years.

12 When Kenan had lived 70 years, he fathered Mahalalel. 13 Kenan lived after he fathered Mahalalel 840 years. 14 All the days of Kenan were 910 years.

15 When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he fathered Jared. 16 Mahalalel lived after he fathered Jared 830 years. 17 All the days of Mahalalel were 895 years.

18 When Jared had lived 162 years, he fathered Enoch. 19 Jared lived after he fathered Enoch 800 years .20 All the days of Jared were 962 years.

21 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. 22 Enoch walked with God[b] after he fathered Methuselah 300 years. 23 Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God, and he was not,[c] for God took him.

25 When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he fathered Lamech. 26 Methuselah lived after he fathered Lamech 782 years. 27 All the days of Methuselah were 969 years.

28 When Lamech had lived 182 years, he fathered a son 29 and called his name Noah, saying, “Out of the ground that the LORD has cursed, this one shall bring us relief[d] from our work and from the painful toil of our hands.” 30 Lamech lived after he fathered Noah 595 years. 31 Thus all the days of Lamech were 777 years.

32 After Noah was 500 years old, Noah fathered Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Footnotes:

a. Genesis 5:2 Hebrew adam

b. Genesis 5:22 Septuagint pleased God; also verse 24

c. Genesis 5:24 Septuagint was not found

English Standard Version (ESV)