The Daily Readings for SUNDAY, November 4, 2018 - Twenty Forth Sunday after Pentecost - Today is All Saints Sunday

Which commandment is the first of all?
Mark 12:28-34

The Daily Readings

SUNDAY, November 4, 2018 - Twenty Forth Sunday after Pentecost

(Revised Common Lectionary Year B)

Opening Prayer

Open my lips, O Lord, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence and take not your holy Spirit from me. Give me the joy of your saving help again and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.

~ From Psalm 51

The Collect

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us  in safety to this new day. Preserve us with your mighty power, so that we won’t fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us so that we will do your will, so that when we end this day, we will rejoice in your providence and grace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Confession and Forgiveness

Trusting God's promise of forgiveness, let us confess our sins against God and one another.

Most merciful God, We confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have failed to do. We have not loved you with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry, and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Words of Reassurance

If anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for the sins of the whole world.

~ 1 John 2:1b-2, NIV

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

~ 1 John 1:9, NIV

The Lessons

Old Testament

Deuteronomy 6:1-9
The Great Commandment
6:1 Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the ordinances—that the Lord your God charged me to teach you to observe in the land that you are about to cross into and occupy, 2 so that you and your children and your children’s children may fear the Lord your God all the days of your life, and keep all his decrees and his commandments that I am commanding you, so that your days may be long. 3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe them diligently, so that it may go well with you, and so that you may multiply greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you.

4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. 6 Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. 7 Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, 9 and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

The Psalm

Psalm 119:1-8 Beati immaculati
1 Happy are they whose way is blameless, *

who walk in the law of the Lord!

2 Happy are they who observe his decrees *

and seek him with all their hearts!

3 Who never do any wrong, *

but always walk in his ways.

4 You laid down your commandments, *

that we should fully keep them.

5 Oh, that my ways were made so direct *

that I might keep your statutes!

6 Then I should not be put to shame, *

when I regard all your commandments.

7 I will thank you with an unfeigned heart, *

when I have learned your righteous judgments.

8 I will keep your statutes; *

do not utterly forsake me.

The Epistle

Hebrews 9:11-14
9:11 But when Christ came as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation), 12 he entered once for all into the Holy Place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, with the sprinkling of the ashes of a heifer, sanctifies those who have been defiled so that their flesh is purified, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God!

The Gospel

Mark 12:28-34
The First Commandment
12:28 One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him there is no other’; 33 and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself,’—this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that no one dared to ask him any question.

Here ends the Lessons

Click HERE to read today's Holy Gospel Lesson message

The Apostle's Creed

We believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

We believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Benediction

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.

~ 2 Peter 1:2,3

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission. The Collects, Psalms and Canticles are from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979.
“Which commandment is the first of all?”

"The Greatest Commandment" - The Sermon for SUNDAY, November 4, 2018

"The Greatest Commandment"

The Holy Gospel comes to us this morning from Mark the 12th chapter, beginning at the 28th verse.

One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him there is no other’; and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself,’—this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that no one dared to ask him any question.

Grace be unto you and peace, from God our Father and from our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Recite these words of the Greatest Commandment with me. ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ Every faithful Jew recites them morning and evening. This is the Shema. Its ubiquitous use attests to the importance that the followers of the Lord place on these words, and Christ Himself declares them the most important commandment.

It doesn’t take long, while reading the gospel of Mark, to realize that the kingdom of God is very different from the nations and societies of the world. When reflecting on the kingdom of God and what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, it's like when Alice who falls through a rabbit hole and ends up in Wonderland, things get curiouser and curiouser.

We find that we are both subjects of God’s kingdom and citizens of the nation in which we live. Our temptation is to bring our world perspective and lifestyle into God’s kingdom. Our challenge is to repent and believe and to bring the perspective and lifestyle of God’s kingdom into our world.

Role models are an important part of our lives. Our role models demonstrate the characteristics and virtues that we deem important. The role models of this world might display success, wealth, fame, popularity, beauty or handsomeness. There are times when they might display kindness, tenacity or resilience. Most of the time, though, our role models of this world clash with the role models of God’s kingdom. One example of this can be seen in Jesus confrontation with a group of Jewish religious leaders called scribes.

The scribes were the literate class of Jewish society. They could read and write, which were skills few people had at the time that Jesus walked on earth. What they read the most was the Hebrew scripture. They became authorities on what was written. Their scriptural knowledge and literacy gave them power. Scribes expected to be honored and admired by others. Jesus, however, condemns them. Jesus accuses them of living lives that are a sham. They recite long prayers while at the same time devouring the homes and livelihoods of widows.

As we enter into the story, a scribe approaches Jesus. He has been impressed with how Jesus has answered his adversaries, even though he holds vastly different beliefs from Jesus. He asks a question of Jesus out of curiosity instead of trying to trick him. “What is the greatest commandment?” he asks. Jesus’ answer might have surprised him.

Jesus answers from the Old Testament, with a saying that is quoted by Jews every morning. The Jews understood that these words defined who they were. They were God’s people who were called to love God with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength and their neighbor as themselves. This was both their mission and goal in life.

These words have become the goal and mission of the Christian Church and the people who boldly say they are children of God and the body of Christ. If you boil down all the “shoulds” of our lives—we should go to church more often, give more, serve more, pray more—they would boil down to these words. We as Christians are called to love God with all of our hearts, soul, mind, and strength, and our neighbors as ourselves.

There is a fundamental difference, though, between the scribe’s keeping the greatest commandments and Christians keeping the same commandments.

The scribe agrees with Jesus’ answer. Jesus responds that he is not far from the kingdom of God. Jesus may be affirming that the scribe is closer than his colleagues because he understands that God desires love rather than mere religiosity.

The scribe is acting from the understanding that God has made a conditional covenant with the Jews. If the Jews (and the scribe) love God with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength, then God will be their God. If they keep God’s commandments and are good, religious people, then they will be saved.

Christians approach the greatest commandment from a different point of view. Because of what Jesus did on the cross—dying for our sins, giving us victory over sin, death and the devil, and opening a new life and a new relationship with God, our salvation is assured and God’s love is unconditional. Certainly we seek to keep these commandments, but they are not the basis of our relationship with God.

Followers of Jesus have frequently discussed and argued about the attributes of faith. What does faith look like? Unfortunately, it has often been an attempt to determine who is in and who is out. For some the measuring stick is church participation and worship attendance. Others favor a set of lifestyle limitations. Christians don’t swear, smoke, drink, have sex, dance or play cards.

Some Christians believe that they have eventually reached a level of perfection where they love God with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength and their neighbor as themselves faultlessly. Such a warped perspective causes a twisted self-righteousness, judgmentalism and fanaticism. Not content to simply turn up their noses at lesser Christians and heathens, they loudly issue their proclamations of judgment on all who are different or who have the audacity to disagree with them. In its worse form, this warped self-righteousness produces religious disciples who blow up themselves and others, or who shoot a doctor while the doctor ushers at his church—killing others in the name of their God.

The commandments are meant to have a different effect upon us. As hard as we try to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves, we fall short. We don’t do enough, or we ignore what needs to be done. We come to realize that we are sinners no matter how much we try. As we grow in our relationship with God, we increase in the depth of our understanding of just how great sinners we are. This knowledge drives us to the cross of Jesus Christ, where we gather with our brothers and sisters in Christ and acknowledge our need for God’s forgiveness. Forgiven, we rise up and love again.

The Scribes and other religious leaders thought that the measure of a person’s faith was in their personal devotional practices e.g. prayer, fasting and giving a tithe. Though Jesus was certainly a pious Jew, he criticized such beliefs and taught that faith was so much more.

Loving our neighbors as ourselves is another demonstration of faith. This concept is supported by Jesus by both his words and his actions. The gospels are resplendent with examples of Jesus caring for others, healing them, freeing them from the forces of evil, and providing for them.

Jesus commends the widow and set her as an example of faith. His comments are not based on the level of her giving, but on her total dependence on God. The widow gave everything and trusted that God would provide for her just as God has done previously in her life. It isn’t necessarily that we need to live hand-to-mouth, but rather that we have that reliance on God’s love, mercy and grace.

We certainly struggle as we attempt to live as subjects in God’s kingdom and citizens of our great nation. Often we stumble and fall as we respond to God’s forgiveness and grace and live with a new perspective on life. When we do, God is right by our side. God pulls us up on our feet, whispers a word of encouragement in our ears, slaps us on the butt and challenges us to continue to be committed disciples of Jesus.

Lord God, Maker and King of the universe, to whom all honor, glory, praise, and worship are due; it is a right and proper thing, at all times, in all places, and in all circumstances, to give you our most hearty thanks and praise, especially for your Son Jesus Christ, who died to take away our sins and the sins of the entire world.

Father, we love You with our whole heart.  As the heavens are high above the earth, so great is Your mercy toward those who fear You; as far as the east is from the west,  You have removed our transgressions from us.  Thank You for being our Father and calling us Your children.  Thank You for loving us unconditionally.  Thank You for creating us for Your good pleasure.

Father, You have asked us to continue to love one another, for love comes from You.  Anyone who loves is Your child and knows You.  Those who do not love do not know You, for You are love.  You have shown how much You loved us by sending Your one and only Son, Jesus, into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him.  This is real love – not that we loved You, but You loved us and sent Your Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.  Thank You, Jesus, for giving Your life for ours.  We were not worthy, yet, You made us worthy to love and know You.  Thank You!  Today, we confess that we will love You with all of our hearts, souls, strength and minds, and we will love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

We do not ask these things on our own authority, for before you we  have none, but in the name of your only begotten Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in your glory, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, as one God, now and forever, Amen.

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The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.
Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.

The Morning Prayer for SUNDAY, November 4, 2018

Sunday morning prayer

My loving God, I thank You for bringing me safely to another day of worship. How I desire to praise You with a pure heart and right spirit! To that end, I again ask Your forgiveness for all my sins and renewing of my faith. As I speak to You today, fill my heart with true praise and thankfulness for all You have done for me. Lead me to appreciate more fully the blessings of worshiping with my fellow Christians. Thank You for the opportunity to pray and study Your Word with other believers. Make me a faithful witness in my congregation and my family so that others will see me leaning only on You, who saved me in Jesus Christ.

Lord on this special day, I run into Your loving arms. May Sunday be a celebration, filled with thankfulness, where I connect with the presence of Heaven, seek Your beauty and goodness, and cherish special family time together. Come fill my heart afresh with Your love. May it overflow with Heaven's bounty, moving through this rest day and into the week ahead.

Amen

Verse of the Day for SUNDAY, November 4, 2018

Mark 12:29-31 (NIV) “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Read all of Mark 12

Listen to Mark 12

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Un dia a la Vez - Dios y las riquezas

Dios y las riquezas

Nadie puede servir a dos señores [...] No se puede servir a la vez a Dios y a las riquezas.

~ Mateo 6:24 (NVI)

Hay una gran tendencia en el ser humano por el dinero y es algo que a veces se le escapa a la gente de las manos. Incluso, esto sucede a menudo de manera incontrolable sin saber el daño espiritual que ocasiona.

Ahora volvamos al punto que vimos en días pasados. Dios desea que tú y yo tengamos bendiciones, una casa linda, un bello auto y, por qué no, algunos lujos. Sin embargo, lo que entristece su corazón es que empecemos a adorar el dinero, porque al único que debemos adorar es a nuestro Dios.

Tu felicidad no debe depender del dinero, porque el día que no lo tengas o que lo pierdas, te sentirás desdichado. Por eso Dios desea que agradezcamos y disfrutemos el dinero sin dejar de reconocer que el dueño del oro y la plata es Él.

La entrega de esta esfera es muy difícil, pero no imposible. Es mejor reconocer esta debilidad, pedir perdón y darle la gloria a Dios.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Hay una gran tendencia en el ser humano por el dinero y es algo que a veces se le escapa a la gente de las manos.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - NO TURNING BACK

NO TURNING BACK

“Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”

~ Matthew 10:38 (NIV)

In northern Nigeria, confessing Christ by word of mouth is not the only test of a believer’s sincere submission to the authority of Christ—particularly one coming to Christ from Islam. A true follower of Jesus must be prepared to carry the cross, or else he falls away.

For 25-year-old Akin, his cross came quickly. His father and uncle took him from the home of one Islamic scholar to another, trying to convince him to compromise his faith in Christ. But all their efforts proved fruitless. Finally, as a last resort, Akin’s family took him to an Islamic reformatory where he must either accept Islam, or die.

“There, I lived with thieves, murderers, alcoholics and drug addicts whose parents or relatives had brought them there to be rehabilitated. I did not belong there…Immediately, they had my hands and feet chained. The chains fastened on my legs were worse, as they joined the metals directly on my legs. They also beat me consistently. The experience was agonizing, but I had to endure, because I had seen the light in Christ and accepted it,” said Akin.

“They maltreated us, but mine was more severe because the Islamic teacher told them I had blasphemed against the prophet of Islam,” said Akin. “I wore the same shirt and trousers for nine months. I could not even wash them since I was chained, hands and feet.”

After nine months in chains and under the cruel treatment of outcasts and the Islamic teacher, the Islamic teacher took Akin back to his father’s house in the village. “My father was very upset and asked the Islamic teacher to take me back, since I had not recanted my faith in Christ,” Akin said. But the teacher refused. “He handed me over to my father and left.”

Because staying with his parents would mean his death, he immediately fled to a pastor’s house for refuge. Akin stayed indoors for two weeks until the church relocated him to a more secure environment. Akin was discipled over the next two years, and then called into ministry.

Now in a Bible school, Akin still cannot go back home. The church in his village is small, with almost no means to support him. His Christian mentor is the only source of help for his school fees, books and provision of food.

“For me the battle continues, although I know it is Christ who rescued me,” says Akin. “This is a constant reminder that Christ actually gave up his life for me…So my experience in that [Islamic reformatory] was just a part of the road that leads to eternity with Christ. He has told us the journey will not be easy, but we must press on, no turning back.”

RESPONSE: Today I will persevere in following Jesus no matter what obstacles I face. I will not turn back!

PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, for the example of believers like Akin whose example imitates Yours in teaching me to follow after You, no matter the cost.

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.

LHM Daily Devotions - Sing with All the Saints in Glory

"Sing with All the Saints in Glory"

Nov. 4, 2018

"Sing with all the saints in glory, Sing the resurrection song! Death and sorrow, earth's dark story, To the former days belong. All around the clouds are breaking; Soon the storms of time shall cease; In God's likeness, we awaken, Knowing everlasting peace.

"O what glory, far exceeding, All that eye has yet perceived! Holiest hearts for ages pleading, Never that full joy conceived. God has promised, Christ prepares it; There on high our welcome waits. Every humble spirit shares it, Christ has passed the eternal gates."

Not everyone knows that hymns typically have one or more biblical texts that serve as both anchor and inspiration to the hymn-writer. This one in particular draws insight from four different texts: Revelation 7:9-17 and 21:1-5; 1 Corinthians 2:9; and John 14:1-3. Singing with all the saints in glory: that's the visual 19th-century co-hymn-writer William J. Irons took away as his big image for this song.

While being in the presence of God in heaven must be every fantastic adjective one could ever think of, it still seems words fall flat when we actually try to describe it. Popular phrases like "streets of gold," "heavenly mansions," or "everlasting paradise" create a mental image of sorts, but they quickly become vague and subjective. On the other hand, to say that "It sure won't be boring," or "It'll be more fun than the best party you ever attended" sound like ham-handed sales pitches.

The truth is we don't know very much at all what heaven will be like.

That's why this is my favorite line in the hymn: "God has promised, Christ prepares it; There on high our welcome waits." That heaven awaits, God has promised. That Christ Himself is getting things ready for our arrival, He tells us personally. That we are welcome there, a legion of prodigals and profligates, is the kind of stuff only God would do. And He does it because of Jesus, because Jesus has made it all possible.

That's why taking the effort to describe what heaven will look like or what it will be like seems to be an exercise in futility. What will it be like to be in the presence of the Creator -- the One who spoke the universe into existence? How will we react when we see the Savior -- the One who surrendered it all to become one of us so that, having conquered sin, death, and the devil, a bridge was established to bring man back to God?

There are no word to express these things.

The apostle Paul knew this, too, when he cited what must have been a favorite writing of his: "But, as it is written, 'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him'" (1 Corinthians 2:9).

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we can only imagine what heaven will be like. Words cannot describe what is beyond our comprehension. We will be with You and Your Son. That alone is worth an eternity. Give our hearts a taste of this pending joy. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Paul Schreiber. It is based on the hymn, "Sing with All the Saints in Glory." Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Not everyone knows that hymns typically have one or more biblical texts that serve as both anchor and inspiration to the hymn-writer.

Notre Pain Quotidien - Le Roi règne toujours

Le Roi règne toujours

Lisez : Psaume 74.4-8,12-23

La Bible en un an : Jérémie 32 – 33 ; Hébreux 1

Lève toi, ô Dieu ! défends ta cause ! V. 22

Dans un reportage, on l’appelait « le jour le plus meurtrier parmi les chrétiens depuis des décennies ». Les deux attaques perpétrées contre les adorateurs en ce dimanche d’avril 2017 défient l’entendement. Nous n’avons aucune catégorie dans laquelle inscrire un massacre survenu dans un lieu d’adoration. Cependant, nous pouvons trouver de l’aide auprès d’autres personnes ayant vécu elles aussi ce genre de souffrance.

Lorsque Asaph a écrit le Psaume 74, la plupart des gens de Jérusalem étaient en exil ou avaient été passés au fil de l’épée. En répandant son cœur angoissé, Asaph a décrit la destruction du Temple aux mains d’envahisseurs impitoyables : « Tes adversaires ont rugi au milieu de ton temple » (V. 4). Puis : « Ils ont mis le feu à ton sanctuaire ; ils ont abattu, profané la demeure de ton nom » (V. 7).

Asaph a néanmoins trouvé une vérité à laquelle se cramponner, nous assurant ainsi que nous pouvons l’imiter : « Dieu est mon roi dès les temps anciens, lui qui opère des délivrances au milieu de la terre » (V. 12). Cette vérité a permis à Asaph de louer Dieu pour sa puissance même s’il ne semblait pas sauver Israël pour l’instant : « Aie égard à l’alliance ! […] Que le malheureux et le pauvre célèbrent ton nom ! » (V. 20.)

Si la justice et la miséricorde semblent briller par leur absence, l’amour et la puissance de Dieu n’en sont aucunement diminués. Avec Asaph, nous pouvons dire avec confiance : « Dieu est mon roi ».

Dieu défendra son nom.

par Tim Gustafson

© 2018 Ministères NPQ
Dans un reportage, on l’appelait « le jour le plus meurtrier parmi les chrétiens depuis des décennies ».