18 Trinity – Thursday

Past Devotions

This weeks devotions: Sunday – Monday – Tuesday Wednesday

Daily Devotional Materials

Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity

– Thursday –

Devotion

Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him, lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily, I say unto thee: Thou shalt by no means come out thence till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

Matthew 5:25-26

The picture (in words) is of two people on the way to the courtroom where the difficulty caused by one of them will be settled by the judge.  Remember the context: “Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar [you are already in God’s house], and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee [because of your sin against him], leave there thy gift before the altar and go thy way [don’t put your offering in the collection plate just yet]; FIRST BE RECONCILED TO THY BROTHER, and then come and offer thy gift [first go to your brother or sister and confess your sin against him or her – James 5:16a; if it is your spouse, your child, or a fellow member of your congregation, you can take care of it without leaving God’s house], and then come and offer thy gift [now place your thank-offering in the collection plate AFTER confessing your sin to your offended brother, receiving his forgiveness, and rejoicing in God’s grace in not charging your sin against you](Matthew 5:23-24).  Using different words, the Savior repeats Himself when He says to us: “Agree with thine adversary quickly [without delay, tell your offended brother: Yes, I have sinned against you and I am truly regretful; will you forgive me?] whilest thou art in the way with him, lest at any time the adversary [the offended brother] deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer and thou be cast into prison [you refuse to do what you should do to be reconciled with your brother or sister, and, as a result, suffer the terrible consequences](v. 25).  “Verily, I [Jesus] say unto thee: Thou shalt by no means come out thence till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing” (v. 26).  This is a strong warning from our Savior!  Let us take this warning to heart and apply His counsel to our own lives, confessing by our words and by our actions the confession of Joseph: “How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9).  How can I remain impenitent, unreconciled, and unloving toward a brother or sister whom I have sinned against, and also offend my gracious, merciful, and forgiving God, that God who “was in Christ reconciling the world [which includes me] unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them [not imputing my trespasses unto me], and hath committed unto us [which includes me] the Word of reconciliation [the good news, the Gospel of peace with God through our dear Lord Jesus Christ, received and enjoyed by faith in Jesus – Romans 5:1](II Corinthians 5:19).

PRAYER – O Holy Spirit, through Thy Word, keep me daily repentant over my sins and daily clinging to Thy priceless and saving Gospel.  In the name of my Savior, daily carry out my request.  Amen.

 

PRINT EDITION

Bible Reading

Weekly Reading Theme: Love
 
1 Corinthians 13
13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

 

Additional Material

 

PDF Print Edition. – The print editions can be of benefit to those who are receiving the web page based devotions as a convenient means for sharing in the family circle during home devotional reading, for individual bible study time, or for sharing with friends, co-workers etc.The objective of the print edition is to keep its size to one standard size sheet of paper per day in an abbreviated format, it has also been designed with a wide left hand margin for use in a three ring binder if you choose to retain them for the entire year.

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