The Hour of Unusual Threat

If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. (1 Peter 4:14)

Many Christians in the world today do not know the life-threatening danger that comes with believing in Christ. We have gotten used to being free from such persecution. It seems like the way things must be.

So, our first reaction to the threat that things might be otherwise is often anger. But that anger may be a sign that we have lost our sense of being sojourners and exiles (“Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles . . .” 1 Peter 2:11).

Perhaps we have settled too much into this world. We don’t feel as homesick for Christ as Paul did: “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).

Many of us need the reminder, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12). It isn’t strange.

Have you ever wondered how you will do in the hour of final trial? The gunman has you in his sights and asks, “Are you a Christian?” Here is a strong word to give you hope that you may do better than you think.

Peter says, “If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you” (1 Peter 4:14). This encouragement from Peter says that in the hour of unusual threat (whether insult or death) there will be “a Spirit of glory and of God resting on us.” Doesn’t that mean that God gives special help in the hour of crisis to those who suffer because they are Christians?

I don’t mean he is absent from our other sufferings. I just mean that Peter went out of his way to say that those who suffer “for the name of Christ” will experience a special “resting” on them of “the Spirit of glory and of God.”

Pray that this would be your experience when the trial comes. There will be resources of endurance in that moment that we do not have any other time. Take heart.

John Piper 

Laughter is a Gift from God

“A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” PROVERBS 15:13

 

PONDER THIS

Good, wholesome laughter is a gift from God. Abraham Lincoln once said that God must have meant for us to laugh, or else He would not have made so many mules, parrots, monkeys, and human beings. God wants us to laugh. God gave Sarah a little child, and God led Sarah to name that child Laughter; we call his name Isaac. The name Isaac means laughter. In Genesis 21:6, “Sarah said, ‘God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.’” God’s gift of a little boy brought such joy that Abraham and Sarah named the child Laughter. We should cherish the gift of wholesome laughter in our homes; it brings cheer to one another and glory to God.

Have you ever thought of laughter as wholesome or unwholesome?

What might be some examples of unwholesome laughter?

PRACTICE THIS

Take time this week to spend time with another person, speaking about things that bring cheer and wholesome laughter.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

 

February 23

Matthew 20:17-34

[17] And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, [18] “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death [19] and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”

[20] Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. [21] And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” [22] Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” [23] He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” [24] And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. [25] But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. [26] It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, [27] and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, [28] even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

[29] And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. [30] And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” [31] The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” [32] And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” [33] They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” [34] And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.

Acts 27:27-44

[27] When the fourteenth night had come, as we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land. [28] So they took a sounding and found twenty fathoms. A little farther on they took a sounding again and found fifteen fathoms. [29] And fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come. [30] And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, and had lowered the ship’s boat into the sea under pretense of laying out anchors from the bow, [31] Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” [32] Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship’s boat and let it go.

[33] As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing. [34] Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.” [35] And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. [36] Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves. [37] (We were in all 276 persons in the ship.) [38] And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.

[39] Now when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to run the ship ashore. [40] So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach. [41] But striking a reef, they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the surf. [42] The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape. [43] But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, [44] and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.

Psalm 45

To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah; a love song.

    [1] My heart overflows with a pleasing theme;

        I address my verses to the king;

        my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.

    [2] You are the most handsome of the sons of men;

        grace is poured upon your lips;

        therefore God has blessed you forever. 

    [3] Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one,

        in your splendor and majesty!

    [4] In your majesty ride out victoriously

        for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness;

        let your right hand teach you awesome deeds! 

    [5] Your arrows are sharp

        in the heart of the king’s enemies;

        the peoples fall under you.

    [6] Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.

        The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; 

    [7]     you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.

    Therefore God, your God, has anointed you

        with the oil of gladness beyond your companions; 

    [8]     your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.

    From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad; 

    [9]     daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor;

        at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.

    [10] Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear:

        forget your people and your father’s house, 

    [11]     and the king will desire your beauty.

    Since he is your lord, bow to him. 

    [12]     The people of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts,

        the richest of the people.

    [13] All glorious is the princess in her chamber, with robes interwoven with gold. 

    [14]     In many-colored robes she is led to the king,

        with her virgin companions following behind her. 

    [15] With joy and gladness they are led along

        as they enter the palace of the king.

    [16] In place of your fathers shall be your sons;

        you will make them princes in all the earth. 

    [17] I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations;

        therefore nations will praise you forever and ever.

Leviticus 21

[1] And the LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them, No one shall make himself unclean for the dead among his people, [2] except for his closest relatives, his mother, his father, his son, his daughter, his brother, [3] or his virgin sister (who is near to him because she has had no husband; for her he may make himself unclean). [4] He shall not make himself unclean as a husband among his people and so profane himself. [5] They shall not make bald patches on their heads, nor shave off the edges of their beards, nor make any cuts on their body. [6] They shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God. For they offer the LORD’s food offerings, the bread of their God; therefore they shall be holy. [7] They shall not marry a prostitute or a woman who has been defiled, neither shall they marry a woman divorced from her husband, for the priest is holy to his God. [8] You shall sanctify him, for he offers the bread of your God. He shall be holy to you, for I, the LORD, who sanctify you, am holy. [9] And the daughter of any priest, if she profanes herself by whoring, profanes her father; she shall be burned with fire.

[10] “The priest who is chief among his brothers, on whose head the anointing oil is poured and who has been consecrated to wear the garments, shall not let the hair of his head hang loose nor tear his clothes. [11] He shall not go in to any dead bodies nor make himself unclean, even for his father or for his mother. [12] He shall not go out of the sanctuary, lest he profane the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is on him: I am the LORD. [13] And he shall take a wife in her virginity. [14] A widow, or a divorced woman, or a woman who has been defiled, or a prostitute, these he shall not marry. But he shall take as his wife a virgin of his own people, [15] that he may not profane his offspring among his people, for I am the LORD who sanctifies him.”

[16] And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [17] “Speak to Aaron, saying, None of your offspring throughout their generations who has a blemish may approach to offer the bread of his God. [18] For no one who has a blemish shall draw near, a man blind or lame, or one who has a mutilated face or a limb too long, [19] or a man who has an injured foot or an injured hand, [20] or a hunchback or a dwarf or a man with a defect in his sight or an itching disease or scabs or crushed testicles. [21] No man of the offspring of Aaron the priest who has a blemish shall come near to offer the LORD’s food offerings; since he has a blemish, he shall not come near to offer the bread of his God. [22] He may eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy things, [23] but he shall not go through the veil or approach the altar, because he has a blemish, that he may not profane my sanctuaries, for I am the LORD who sanctifies them.” [24] So Moses spoke to Aaron and to his sons and to all the people of Israel.

Leviticus 22

[1] And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [2] “Speak to Aaron and his sons so that they abstain from the holy things of the people of Israel, which they dedicate to me, so that they do not profane my holy name: I am the LORD. [3] Say to them, ‘If any one of all your offspring throughout your generations approaches the holy things that the people of Israel dedicate to the LORD, while he has an uncleanness, that person shall be cut off from my presence: I am the LORD. [4] None of the offspring of Aaron who has a leprous disease or a discharge may eat of the holy things until he is clean. Whoever touches anything that is unclean through contact with the dead or a man who has had an emission of semen, [5] and whoever touches a swarming thing by which he may be made unclean or a person from whom he may take uncleanness, whatever his uncleanness may be—[6] the person who touches such a thing shall be unclean until the evening and shall not eat of the holy things unless he has bathed his body in water. [7] When the sun goes down he shall be clean, and afterward he may eat of the holy things, because they are his food. [8] He shall not eat what dies of itself or is torn by beasts, and so make himself unclean by it: I am the LORD.’ [9] They shall therefore keep my charge, lest they bear sin for it and die thereby when they profane it: I am the LORD who sanctifies them.

[10] “A lay person shall not eat of a holy thing; no foreign guest of the priest or hired worker shall eat of a holy thing, [11] but if a priest buys a slave as his property for money, the slave may eat of it, and anyone born in his house may eat of his food. [12] If a priest’s daughter marries a layman, she shall not eat of the contribution of the holy things. [13] But if a priest’s daughter is widowed or divorced and has no child and returns to her father’s house, as in her youth, she may eat of her father’s food; yet no lay person shall eat of it. [14] And if anyone eats of a holy thing unintentionally, he shall add the fifth of its value to it and give the holy thing to the priest. [15] They shall not profane the holy things of the people of Israel, which they contribute to the LORD, [16] and so cause them to bear iniquity and guilt, by eating their holy things: for I am the LORD who sanctifies them.”

[17] And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [18] “Speak to Aaron and his sons and all the people of Israel and say to them, When any one of the house of Israel or of the sojourners in Israel presents a burnt offering as his offering, for any of their vows or freewill offerings that they offer to the LORD, [19] if it is to be accepted for you it shall be a male without blemish, of the bulls or the sheep or the goats. [20] You shall not offer anything that has a blemish, for it will not be acceptable for you. [21] And when anyone offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering from the herd or from the flock, to be accepted it must be perfect; there shall be no blemish in it. [22] Animals blind or disabled or mutilated or having a discharge or an itch or scabs you shall not offer to the LORD or give them to the LORD as a food offering on the altar. [23] You may present a bull or a lamb that has a part too long or too short for a freewill offering, but for a vow offering it cannot be accepted. [24] Any animal that has its testicles bruised or crushed or torn or cut you shall not offer to the LORD; you shall not do it within your land, [25] neither shall you offer as the bread of your God any such animals gotten from a foreigner. Since there is a blemish in them, because of their mutilation, they will not be accepted for you.”

[26] And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [27] “When an ox or sheep or goat is born, it shall remain seven days with its mother, and from the eighth day on it shall be acceptable as a food offering to the LORD. [28] But you shall not kill an ox or a sheep and her young in one day. [29] And when you sacrifice a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the LORD, you shall sacrifice it so that you may be accepted. [30] It shall be eaten on the same day; you shall leave none of it until morning: I am the LORD.

[31] “So you shall keep my commandments and do them: I am the LORD. [32] And you shall not profane my holy name, that I may be sanctified among the people of Israel. I am the LORD who sanctifies you, [33] who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the LORD.”

Leviticus 23

[1] The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [2] “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, These are the appointed feasts of the LORD that you shall proclaim as holy convocations; they are my appointed feasts.

[3] “Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work. It is a Sabbath to the LORD in all your dwelling places.

[4] “These are the appointed feasts of the LORD, the holy convocations, which you shall proclaim at the time appointed for them. [5] In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is the LORD’s Passover. [6] And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. [7] On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work. [8] But you shall present a food offering to the LORD for seven days. On the seventh day is a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work.”

[9] And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [10] “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest, [11] and he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, so that you may be accepted. On the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it. [12] And on the day when you wave the sheaf, you shall offer a male lamb a year old without blemish as a burnt offering to the LORD. [13] And the grain offering with it shall be two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, a food offering to the LORD with a pleasing aroma, and the drink offering with it shall be of wine, a fourth of a hin. [14] And you shall eat neither bread nor grain parched or fresh until this same day, until you have brought the offering of your God: it is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

[15] “You shall count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering. [16] You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath. Then you shall present a grain offering of new grain to the LORD. [17] You shall bring from your dwelling places two loaves of bread to be waved, made of two tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour, and they shall be baked with leaven, as firstfruits to the LORD. [18] And you shall present with the bread seven lambs a year old without blemish, and one bull from the herd and two rams. They shall be a burnt offering to the LORD, with their grain offering and their drink offerings, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD. [19] And you shall offer one male goat for a sin offering, and two male lambs a year old as a sacrifice of peace offerings. [20] And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits as a wave offering before the LORD, with the two lambs. They shall be holy to the LORD for the priest. [21] And you shall make a proclamation on the same day. You shall hold a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work. It is a statute forever in all your dwelling places throughout your generations.

[22] “And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God.”

[23] And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [24] “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets, a holy convocation. [25] You shall not do any ordinary work, and you shall present a food offering to the LORD.”

[26] And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [27] “Now on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be for you a time of holy convocation, and you shall afflict yourselves and present a food offering to the LORD. [28] And you shall not do any work on that very day, for it is a Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God. [29] For whoever is not afflicted on that very day shall be cut off from his people. [30] And whoever does any work on that very day, that person I will destroy from among his people. [31] You shall not do any work. It is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwelling places. [32] It shall be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict yourselves. On the ninth day of the month beginning at evening, from evening to evening shall you keep your Sabbath.”

[33] And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [34] “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month and for seven days is the Feast of Booths to the LORD. [35] On the first day shall be a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work. [36] For seven days you shall present food offerings to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall hold a holy convocation and present a food offering to the LORD. It is a solemn assembly; you shall not do any ordinary work.

[37] “These are the appointed feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim as times of holy convocation, for presenting to the LORD food offerings, burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings, each on its proper day, [38] besides the LORD’s Sabbaths and besides your gifts and besides all your vow offerings and besides all your freewill offerings, which you give to the LORD.

[39] “On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the produce of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of the LORD seven days. On the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest. [40] And you shall take on the first day the fruit of splendid trees, branches of palm trees and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days. [41] You shall celebrate it as a feast to the LORD for seven days in the year. It is a statute forever throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month. [42] You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All native Israelites shall dwell in booths, [43] that your generations may know that I made the people of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.” 

[44] Thus Moses declared to the people of Israel the appointed feasts of the LORD.

Enjoying His Fullness

From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. (John 1:16)

Just before the service last Sunday, the little band of praying saints was hard at work fighting for the faith of our people, and for the churches of the Twin Cities, and for the nations, as they prayed. At one point one man prayed the words of John 1:14, 16:

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. . . . For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

It was one of those epiphany moments for me. God granted in that moment that the word “fullness” — from his fullness — carry a fullness that was extraordinary in its effect on me. I felt some measure of what the word really carries — the fullness of Christ.

I felt some of the wonder that, yes, I had indeed received grace upon grace from this fullness. And I was at that moment receiving grace upon grace. I felt right then that nothing would have been sweeter than to simply sit at his feet — or read my Bible — all afternoon and feel his fullness overflow.

Why did this fullness have such an impact on me — and why is it still to this moment affecting me unusually? In part because . . .

. . . the one from whose fullness I am being drenched with grace is the Word that was with God and was God (John 1:1–2), so that his fullness is the fullness of God — a divine fullness, an infinite fullness;

. . . this Word became flesh, and so was one of us, and was pursuing us with his fullness — it is an accessible fullness;

. . . when this Word appeared in human form, his glory was seen — his is a glorious fullness;

. . . this Word was “the only Son from the Father” (John 1:14) so that the divine fullness was being mediated to me not just from God, but through God — God did not send an angel but his only Son to deliver his fullness;

. . . the fullness of the Son is a fullness of grace — I will not drown in this fullness but be blessed in every way by this fullness;

. . . this fullness is not only a fullness of grace but of truth — I am not being graced with truth-ignoring flattery; this grace is rooted in rock-solid reality.

Is it any wonder, then, that I would feel astonished and full of joy at the fullness of Christ!

John Piper

Harmony Through Responsibility

“Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” EPHESIANS 5:33

 
PONDER THIS

God made husbands and wives different so that He might make them one. God gave you one nature, and God gave your wife another nature. God gave husbands masculinity and responsibility that they are to assume. In that responsibility, you may give your wife authority, but you can never get rid of your responsibility. You are to let your wife know that she is number one. You move in to protect your wife from internal traumas, so that you can present her without spot or wrinkle, to make her a more radiantly beautiful Christian. And then, husbands, once you have done that, then you move in to encourage her, nourish her, and cherish her. It is up to the husband to take the initiative. All of us must practice what God's Word says, that there might be harmony in the home.

What do you think it looks like to share authority but take responsibility as we’ve discussed today?
What responsibilities has God given you? Are there any ways you have sought to relinquish those wrongly?

PRACTICE THIS

Make a list of responsibilities you feel God has given you. If you are failing to honor God in any of these responsibilities, consider what needs to change.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

February 22

Matthew 20:1-16

[1] “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. [2] After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. [3] And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, [4] and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ [5] So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. [6] And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ [7] They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ [8] And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ [9] And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. [10] Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. [11] And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, [12] saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ [13] But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? [14] Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. [15] Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ [16] So the last will be first, and the first last.”

Acts 27:1-26

[1] And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius. [2] And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. [3] The next day we put in at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for. [4] And putting out to sea from there we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us. [5] And when we had sailed across the open sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia. [6] There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy and put us on board. [7] We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind did not allow us to go farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. [8] Coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.

[9] Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, [10] saying, “Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” [11] But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said. [12] And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.

[13] Now when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to the shore. [14] But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land. [15] And when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along. [16] Running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we managed with difficulty to secure the ship’s boat. [17] After hoisting it up, they used supports to undergird the ship. Then, fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and thus they were driven along. [18] Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo. [19] And on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. [20] When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.

[21] Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. [22] Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. [23] For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, [24] and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ [25] So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. [26] But we must run aground on some island.”

Psalm 44

To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah.

    [1] O God, we have heard with our ears,

        our fathers have told us,

    what deeds you performed in their days,

        in the days of old: 

    [2] you with your own hand drove out the nations,

        but them you planted;

    you afflicted the peoples,

        but them you set free; 

    [3] for not by their own sword did they win the land,

        nor did their own arm save them,

    but your right hand and your arm,

        and the light of your face,

        for you delighted in them.

    [4] You are my King, O God;

        ordain salvation for Jacob! 

    [5] Through you we push down our foes;

        through your name we tread down those who rise up against us. 

    [6] For not in my bow do I trust,

        nor can my sword save me. 

    [7] But you have saved us from our foes

        and have put to shame those who hate us. 

    [8] In God we have boasted continually,

        and we will give thanks to your name forever. Selah

    [9] But you have rejected us and disgraced us

        and have not gone out with our armies. 

    [10] You have made us turn back from the foe,

        and those who hate us have gotten spoil. 

    [11] You have made us like sheep for slaughter

        and have scattered us among the nations. 

    [12] You have sold your people for a trifle,

        demanding no high price for them. 

    [13] You have made us the taunt of our neighbors,

        the derision and scorn of those around us. 

    [14] You have made us a byword among the nations,

        a laughingstock among the peoples. 

    [15] All day long my disgrace is before me,

        and shame has covered my face 

    [16] at the sound of the taunter and reviler,

        at the sight of the enemy and the avenger.

    [17] All this has come upon us,

        though we have not forgotten you,

        and we have not been false to your covenant. 

    [18] Our heart has not turned back,

        nor have our steps departed from your way; 

    [19] yet you have broken us in the place of jackals

        and covered us with the shadow of death. 

    [20] If we had forgotten the name of our God

        or spread out our hands to a foreign god, 

    [21] would not God discover this?

        For he knows the secrets of the heart. 

    [22] Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long;

        we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.

    [23] Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord?

        Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever! 

    [24] Why do you hide your face?

        Why do you forget our affliction and oppression? 

    [25] For our soul is bowed down to the dust;

        our belly clings to the ground. 

    [26] Rise up; come to our help!

        Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!

Leviticus 18

[1] And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [2] “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, I am the LORD your God. [3] You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes. [4] You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the LORD your God. [5] You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the LORD.

[6] “None of you shall approach any one of his close relatives to uncover nakedness. I am the LORD. [7] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, which is the nakedness of your mother; she is your mother, you shall not uncover her nakedness. [8] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s wife; it is your father’s nakedness. [9] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister, your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether brought up in the family or in another home. [10] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your son’s daughter or of your daughter’s daughter, for their nakedness is your own nakedness. [11] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s wife’s daughter, brought up in your father’s family, since she is your sister. [12] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s sister; she is your father’s relative. [13] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s sister, for she is your mother’s relative. [14] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s brother, that is, you shall not approach his wife; she is your aunt. [15] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law; she is your son’s wife, you shall not uncover her nakedness. [16] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife; it is your brother’s nakedness. [17] You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and of her daughter, and you shall not take her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter to uncover her nakedness; they are relatives; it is depravity. [18] And you shall not take a woman as a rival wife to her sister, uncovering her nakedness while her sister is still alive.

[19] “You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness while she is in her menstrual uncleanness. [20] And you shall not lie sexually with your neighbor’s wife and so make yourself unclean with her. [21] You shall not give any of your children to offer them to Molech, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD. [22] You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. [23] And you shall not lie with any animal and so make yourself unclean with it, neither shall any woman give herself to an animal to lie with it: it is perversion.

[24] “Do not make yourselves unclean by any of these things, for by all these the nations I am driving out before you have become unclean, [25] and the land became unclean, so that I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out its inhabitants. [26] But you shall keep my statutes and my rules and do none of these abominations, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you [27] (for the people of the land, who were before you, did all of these abominations, so that the land became unclean), [28] lest the land vomit you out when you make it unclean, as it vomited out the nation that was before you. [29] For everyone who does any of these abominations, the persons who do them shall be cut off from among their people. [30] So keep my charge never to practice any of these abominable customs that were practiced before you, and never to make yourselves unclean by them: I am the LORD your God.”

Leviticus 19

[1] And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [2] “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy. [3] Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the LORD your God. [4] Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves any gods of cast metal: I am the LORD your God.

[5] “When you offer a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD, you shall offer it so that you may be accepted. [6] It shall be eaten the same day you offer it or on the day after, and anything left over until the third day shall be burned up with fire. [7] If it is eaten at all on the third day, it is tainted; it will not be accepted, [8] and everyone who eats it shall bear his iniquity, because he has profaned what is holy to the LORD, and that person shall be cut off from his people.

[9] “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. [10] And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God.

[11] “You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another. [12] You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.

[13] “You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning. [14] You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the LORD.

[15] “You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. [16] You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD.

[17] “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. [18] You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.

[19] “You shall keep my statutes. You shall not let your cattle breed with a different kind. You shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed, nor shall you wear a garment of cloth made of two kinds of material.

[20] “If a man lies sexually with a woman who is a slave, assigned to another man and not yet ransomed or given her freedom, a distinction shall be made. They shall not be put to death, because she was not free; [21] but he shall bring his compensation to the LORD, to the entrance of the tent of meeting, a ram for a guilt offering. [22] And the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering before the LORD for his sin that he has committed, and he shall be forgiven for the sin that he has committed.

[23] “When you come into the land and plant any kind of tree for food, then you shall regard its fruit as forbidden. Three years it shall be forbidden to you; it must not be eaten. [24] And in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, an offering of praise to the LORD. [25] But in the fifth year you may eat of its fruit, to increase its yield for you: I am the LORD your God.

[26] “You shall not eat any flesh with the blood in it. You shall not interpret omens or tell fortunes. [27] You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard. [28] You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the LORD.

[29] “Do not profane your daughter by making her a prostitute, lest the land fall into prostitution and the land become full of depravity. [30] You shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD.

[31] “Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the LORD your God.

[32] “You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the LORD.

[33] “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. [34] You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

[35] “You shall do no wrong in judgment, in measures of length or weight or quantity. [36] You shall have just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. [37] And you shall observe all my statutes and all my rules, and do them: I am the LORD.”

Leviticus 20

[1] The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [2] “Say to the people of Israel, Any one of the people of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones. [3] I myself will set my face against that man and will cut him off from among his people, because he has given one of his children to Molech, to make my sanctuary unclean and to profane my holy name. [4] And if the people of the land do at all close their eyes to that man when he gives one of his children to Molech, and do not put him to death, [5] then I will set my face against that man and against his clan and will cut them off from among their people, him and all who follow him in whoring after Molech.

[6] “If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people. [7] Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the LORD your God. [8] Keep my statutes and do them; I am the LORD who sanctifies you. [9] For anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death; he has cursed his father or his mother; his blood is upon him.

[10] “If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. [11] If a man lies with his father’s wife, he has uncovered his father’s nakedness; both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them. [12] If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death; they have committed perversion; their blood is upon them. [13] If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them. [14] If a man takes a woman and her mother also, it is depravity; he and they shall be burned with fire, that there may be no depravity among you. [15] If a man lies with an animal, he shall surely be put to death, and you shall kill the animal. [16] If a woman approaches any animal and lies with it, you shall kill the woman and the animal; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.

[17] “If a man takes his sister, a daughter of his father or a daughter of his mother, and sees her nakedness, and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace, and they shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people. He has uncovered his sister’s nakedness, and he shall bear his iniquity. [18] If a man lies with a woman during her menstrual period and uncovers her nakedness, he has made naked her fountain, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood. Both of them shall be cut off from among their people. [19] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s sister or of your father’s sister, for that is to make naked one’s relative; they shall bear their iniquity. [20] If a man lies with his uncle’s wife, he has uncovered his uncle’s nakedness; they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless. [21] If a man takes his brother’s wife, it is impurity. He has uncovered his brother’s nakedness; they shall be childless.

[22] “You shall therefore keep all my statutes and all my rules and do them, that the land where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out. [23] And you shall not walk in the customs of the nation that I am driving out before you, for they did all these things, and therefore I detested them. [24] But I have said to you, ‘You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey.’ I am the LORD your God, who has separated you from the peoples. [25] You shall therefore separate the clean beast from the unclean, and the unclean bird from the clean. You shall not make yourselves detestable by beast or by bird or by anything with which the ground crawls, which I have set apart for you to hold unclean. [26] You shall be holy to me, for I the LORD am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.

[27] “A man or a woman who is a medium or a necromancer shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones; their blood shall be upon them.”

Our Servant, Jesus

 “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

Not only was he the servant of his people while he lived on earth, but he will also be our servant when he comes again. “Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them” (Luke 12:37). Jesus gave that as a picture of what he will do at his return.

Not only that, he is our servant now. “‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5–6).

Does this belittle the risen Christ — to say that he was and is and will ever be the servant of his people? It would, if “servant” meant “one who takes orders,” or if we thought we were his masters. Yes, that would dishonor him. But it does not dishonor him to say that we are weak and need his help.

It does not dishonor him to say that he is the only one who can service us with what we need most.

It does not dishonor him to say that he is an inexhaustible spring of love, and that the more he helps us and the more we depend on his service, the more amazing his resources appear. Therefore, we can confidently say, “Jesus Christ is alive to serve!”

He is alive to save. He is alive to give. And he is thrilled to be this way.

He is not burdened down with your cares. He thrives on burden-bearing, not burden-giving. He loves to work “for those who wait for him” (Isaiah 64:4). He “takes pleasure . . . in those who hope in his steadfast love” (Psalm 147:11). His eyes “run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him” (2 Chronicles 16:9).

Jesus Christ is exuberant with omnipotent service for the sake of all who trust him.

John Piper