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The LORD came
down in the cloud and spoke to Moses. Taking some of the spirit that was on
Moses, the LORD bestowed it on the seventy elders; and as the
spirit came to rest on them, they prophesied.
Now two men,
one named Eldad and the other Medad, were not in the gathering but had been
left in the camp. They too had been on the list, but had not gone out to the
tent; yet the spirit came to rest on them also, and they prophesied in the
camp. So, when a young man quickly told Moses, "Eldad
and Medad are prophesying in the camp, Joshua, son of Nun, who from his youth
had been Moses’ aide, said, "Moses,
my lord, stop them."
But Moses
answered him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the people of the LORD were prophets! Would that the
LORD might bestow his spirit on them all!"
The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing
the soul; the decree of the LORD is
trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple.
The fear of
the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are true, all of
them just.
Though your
servant is careful of them, very diligent in keeping them, Yet who can
detect failings? Cleanse me from my unknown faults!
From wanton
sin especially, restrain your servant; let it not rule over me.Then shall I
be blameless and innocent of serious sin.
Come now, you
rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries. Your wealth has rotted away,
your clothes have become moth-eaten, your gold and silver have corroded, and
that corrosion will be a testimony against you; it will
devour your flesh like a fire. You have stored up treasure for the last days. Behold,
the wages you withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud;
and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.
You have
lived on earth in luxury and pleasure; you have fattened your hearts for the
day of slaughter. You have condemned; you have murdered the righteous one; he
offers you no resistance.
Your word, O
Lord, is truth; consecrate us in the truth.
At that time,
John said to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your
name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us."
Jesus
replied, "Do not prevent him. There
is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak
ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us.
Anyone who gives you a cup of water to
drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose
his reward. "Whoever
causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better
for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into
the sea.
If your hand
causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than
with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot
causes you to sin, cut if off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled
than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin,
pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than
with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where 'their worm does not die, and
the fire is not quenched.'"
1. We have to be
open to the fact that God works in ways that we wouldn’t expect, and that
sincere Christ followers worship/serve/respond to Him in ways that are
different than we are used to or expect. God accepts all who serve Him through
Christ.
2. The Pope’s
visit to the U.S. this past week reflects that dynamic. He represented Christ in
ways that are different from what we have some to expect from the Christian
“leaders” we more frequently see in the U. S. (i.e. culture warriors,
prosperity gospel preachers, etc.). The Pope is different, and no one can doubt
that he is truly serving Christ.
3. God, His
word, and those who serve Him are refreshing. Indeed, we saw that powerfully last week in
the Pope’s visit to the U.S.
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