psalm 51

1 For the leader. A psalm of David,

2 when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

I

3 Have mercy on me, God, in accord with your merciful love;
in your abundant compassion blot out my transgressions.

4 Thoroughly wash away my guilt;
and from my sin cleanse me.

5 For I know my transgressions;
my sin is always before me.

6 Against you, you alone have I sinned;
I have done what is evil in your eyes
So that you are just in your word,
and without reproach in your judgment.

7 Behold, I was born in guilt,
in sin my mother conceived me.

8 Behold, you desire true sincerity;
and secretly you teach me wisdom.

9 Cleanse me with hyssop, that I may be pure;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

10 You will let me hear gladness and joy;
the bones you have crushed will rejoice.

II

11 Turn away your face from my sins;
blot out all my iniquities.

12 A clean heart create for me, God;
renew within me a steadfast spirit.

13 Do not drive me from before your face,
nor take from me your holy spirit.

14 Restore to me the gladness of your salvation;
uphold me with a willing spirit.

15 I will teach the wicked your ways,
that sinners may return to you.

16 Rescue me from violent bloodshed, God, my saving God,
and my tongue will sing joyfully of your justice.

17 Lord, you will open my lips;
and my mouth will proclaim your praise.

18 For you do not desire sacrifice or I would give it;
a burnt offering you would not accept.

19 My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a contrite, humbled heart, O God, you will not scorn.

III

20 Treat Zion kindly according to your good will;
build up the walls of Jerusalem.

21 Then you will desire the sacrifices of the just,
burnt offering and whole offerings;
then they will offer up young bulls on your altar.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlcwood/14112317989

attribution: New Life Church Collingwood and flickr

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explaining the inexplicable

"The Bible teaches that Satan is the author of sin. Sin is the reason that we have afflictions, including death. All of our problems and our suffering, including death itself, are a result of man’s rebellion against God. But God has provided a rescue in the person of His Son Jesus Christ. That’s why Christ died on the cross. That’s why He rose from the dead.

Jesus suffered and died for us on the cross, but God raised Him from the dead. Jesus Christ now sits at the right hand of God the Father and He sees our suffering. He sees our life every day and knows exactly where we stand.

The Bible teaches that we are to be patient in suffering. That’s the hardest thing of all, to be patient, to have songs in the night. Ask God to help you have a trusting, patient attitude, and flee from bitterness.

In suffering there is also, I believe, a message of warning. Are you prepared to meet God? What do you have to do to be ready? God took the initiative in giving His Son Jesus Christ. God says, “I love you. I want to forgive you. I want you to go to Heaven.” But you must respond to Him.

Receive Jesus Christ into your heart as Lord and Master and Savior. Follow Him and serve Him from this moment on. You can know that you are prepared to meet God, whatever the future holds."

https://billygraham.org/story/suffering-why-does-god-allow-it/ 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/knowhim/337522540

attribution: David Campbell and flickr

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fourth commandment

"Honor your father and Your mother" 

Exodus 20:12

https://relevantradio.com/2018/06/honoring-your-elderly-father-and-mother/ 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tonmil/4588409647/in/photostream/

attribution: Milton L. Ramirez and flickr

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Jesus, "consubstantial with the Father ... incarnate of the Virgin Mary"

"I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man."

https://www.usccb.org/prayers/nicene-creed

"Consubstantial is simply one possible translation of the Latin equivalent of the Greek term homoousios (literally, “the same substance”). This term was not added to the Nicene Creed; rather, it makes this the Nicene Creed. In AD 325, the bishops of the Catholic Church were invited by Emperor Constantine to gather at Nicaea in modern-day Turkey to address an extremely controversial issue raised by Arius, an Egyptian priest. The bishops took an existing creed used at Baptism and inserted the term homoousios."

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/ask-a-franciscan/consubstantial-explained/

"The virgin birth refers to the supernatural birth of Jesus Christ apart from the normal, physical process of procreation. Instead, Jesus was uniquely conceived in the womb of the virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. The virginal birth is the means by which the eternal Son of God became incarnate as fully human."

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/virgin-birth-jesus-christ/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/35409814@N00/5560740648

attribution: Lawrence OP and flickr

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Revelation 21:4

https://www.flickr.com/photos/titobalangue/5368161312

attribution: Tito and Eva Marie Balangue

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https://connectusfund.org/revelation-21-4-meaning-of-he-will-wipe-away-every-tear

Luke 18: 18-23

18 An official asked him this question, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

19 Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.

20 You know the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery; you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother.’” 

21 And he replied, “All of these I have observed from my youth.”

22 When Jesus heard this he said to him, “There is still one thing left for you: sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have a treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

23 But when he heard this he became quite sad, for he was very rich.

How much wealth inequality was there in the U.S. in 2023?

• "The top 10% of households by wealth had $6.7 million on average. As a group, they held 66.9% of total household wealth.
• The bottom 50% of households by wealth had $50,000 on average. As a group, they held only 2.5% of total household wealth."

https://www.stlouisfed.org/institute-for-economic-equity/the-state-of-us-wealth-inequality#How%20Much%20Wealth%20Inequality%20Is%20There%20in%20The%20U.S.?

How does Luke 18: 18-23 apply to Christians in the U.S.? Does it mean that those households with wealth above the bottom 50% should sell all of their possessions and give the proceeds to the poor? Not necessarily. 

What about those Christians who are in the top 10%? Where did their wealth come from? Where did the wealth of the rich man in Luke 18: 18-23 come from? I believe that our wealth comes from God.

What about those of us whose wealth is between the bottom 50% and the top 10%? We can show are gratitude to God for what God has given us by offering some of our excess wealth back to God. 

Should we have a "rainy day fund"? Perhaps. What about what's left over after we die? Once we've raised our families and met all of our obligations, should we take what's leftover and give it back to God in gratitude? It's something to think about.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/oxfordshire_church_photos/413448324/in/photostream/

attribution: Martin Beek and flickr

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Matthew 5:3

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

"To be 'poor in spirit' means:

1. Humility: It signifies a humble and contrite heart, acknowledging one's spiritual poverty and dependence on God. It is the opposite of arrogance, pride, and self-sufficiency.
2. Recognition of Need: Those who are 'poor in spirit' recognize their need for God's grace, forgiveness, and guidance in their lives. They understand that they cannot achieve righteousness or salvation on their own merits.
3. Openness to God: Being 'poor in spirit' implies a willingness to submit to God's will, to be open to His teachings, and to be receptive to the transformation of one's character by the Holy Spirit."

https://www.christianity.com/jesus/life-of-jesus/teaching-and-messages/who-are-the-poor-in-spirit.html

https://www.flickr.com/photos/adavey/29820154188/

attribution: A.Davey and flickr

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John chapter 6

26 Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled.

27 Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.”

28 So they said to him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”

29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”

30 So they said to him, “What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do?

31 Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written:
‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

32 So Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.

33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34 So they said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.

36 But I told you that although you have seen [me], you do not believe.

37 Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,

38 because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me.

39 And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it [on] the last day.

40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him [on] the last day.”

"The day after feeding thousands and hearing their praises, Jesus tells people that He, Himself, is the Bread from Heaven (John 6:51). By explaining that His ministry is essentially spiritual, not material, Jesus alienates most of those who had been eager to follow Him. This, of course, only goes to prove Jesus' accusation: that the people were not there to learn or to receive truth, but rather to once again be given free food (John 6:26).

In between these two moments of public preaching, John chapter 6 includes the fifth of his seven miraculous signs, as well as a "bonus" miracle. Jesus is seen walking on the water after the disciples' boat encounters a storm (John 6:19). The hidden miracle is the one mentioned in an almost off-handed way: when He is taken into the boat, it is "immediately" at its destination (John 6:21).

The end of chapter 6 features the third of seven instances where someone in the gospel of John professes belief in Jesus' divinity. Here, Peter will refer to Jesus as the "Holy One of God" (John 6:68–69)."

https://www.bibleref.com/John/6/John-chapter-6.html

https://www.flickr.com/photos/danielygo/5365629804/

attribution: Daniel Go and flickr

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Luke 11: 29-32

29 While still more people gathered in the crowd, he said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah.

30 Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.

31 At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here.

32 At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.

Luke 11: 29-32

Footnote: [11:29–32] The “sign of Jonah” in Luke is the preaching of the need for repentance by a prophet who comes from afar. Cf. Mt 12:38–42 (and see notes there) where the “sign of Jonah” is interpreted by Jesus as his death and resurrection.

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”

39 He said to them in reply, “An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.

40 Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.

41 At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here.

42 At the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.

Matthew 12: 38-42

"Christ promised that there should be one sign more given, even the sign of Jonah the prophet; which in Matthew is explained, as meaning the resurrection of Christ; and he warned them to improve this sign. But though Christ himself were the constant preacher in any congregation, and worked miracles daily among them, yet unless his grace humbled their hearts, they would not profit by his word. Let us not desire more evidence and fuller teaching than the Lord is pleased to afford us. We should pray without ceasing that our hearts and understandings may be opened, that we may profit by the light we enjoy. And especially take heed that the light which is in us be not darkness; for if our leading principles be wrong, our judgment and practice must become more so."

Matthew Henry's concise commentary, 

https://biblehub.com/commentaries/luke/11-29.htm

https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/5531564142/

attribution: Lawrence OP and flickr

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