Daily Devotion for May 22, 2017
Prayers
Scripture
Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
In the morning, when I rise,
In the morning, when I rise, give me Jesus.
Chorus:
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world,
But give me Jesus,
When I am alone,
When I am alone,
When I am alone, give me Jesus.
When I come to die,
When I come to die,
When I come to die, give me Jesus.
Music and Lyrics by Fernando Ortega
Thanks and Praise
I thank You for the temporal blessings of this world — the refreshing air, the light of the sun, the food that renews strength, the raiment that clothes, the dwelling that shelters, the sleep that gives rest, the starry canopy of night, the summer breeze, the flowers' sweetness, the music of flowing streams, the happy endearments of family, kindred, and friends. Things animate, things inanimate, minister to my comfort. My cup runs over.
Do not allow me to be insensible to these daily mercies. Your hand bestows blessings; Your power averts evil. I bring my tribute of thanks for spiritual graces, the full warmth of faith, the cheering presence of our Spirit, the strength of Your restraining will, Your spiking of hell's artillery. Blessed be my sovereign Lord!
Prayer Not to Judge Others (by Jane Austen)
Heavenly Father, give me grace to endeavor after a truly Christian spirit to seek to attain that temper of forbearance and patience of which my blessed savior has set me the highest example, and which, while it prepares me for the spiritual happiness of the life to come, will secure the best enjoyment of what the world can give. Incline me, O God, to think humbly of myself, to be severe only in the examination of my own conduct, to consider my fellow creatures with kindness, and to judge of all they say and do with that charity that I would desire from them myself. In Christ's name I pray,
Dedication
God of mercy, swift to help: as my lips pour forth your praise, fill my heart with the peace you give to those who wait for your salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Think of the day ahead in terms of God with you, and visualize health, strength, guidance, purity, calm confidence, and victory as the gifts of His presence.
Today’s “Remember the Bible” Question
What Bible verse assures us that the Bible comes from God?
Answer: 2 Timothy 3:16
“All Scripture is inspired by God . . . .”
Proverbs 14:35 (NKJV)
But his wrath is against him who causes shame.
Genesis 26:12-17 (ESV)
The Story of Isaac [5] - Abimelech
And Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. The Lord blessed him, and the man became rich, and gained more and more until he became very wealthy.
He had possessions of flocks and herds and many servants, so that the Philistines envied him. (Now the Philistines had stopped and filled with earth all the wells that his father's servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father.) And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.”
So Isaac departed from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there.
Notes on the Scripture
nlike many of the places in Genesis, the location of Gerar and the Valley of Gerar has been found in an archeological dig. It is about 15 miles northwest of Beersheba. Gerar was a city of notable size in the late Bronze Age, especially since it grew up in the middle of nowhere, in the northern Negev. It exists on what is now called a “wadi”, a river that often runs dry (or at the worst, a dry streambed that occasionally fills with water).
Like the Jews in 20th century Palestine, Isaac comes to a country that is already inhabited and becomes much richer than the people living there. He is at peace with them, as he submits himself to their political leadership, but as he becomes richer and more powerful, the peace becomes more and more difficult. For, at its heart, political power lies in wealth, especially when wealth consists of the basic ability to feed a large number of people.
The Philistines seem intent on not becoming prosperous. Once before, Abraham had prospered in the area by digging wells; but rather than taking over the wells and building communities around them, the Philistines have filled them in so that they cannot be used!
And so, the Philistines come to fear Isaac, as the possibility that he might defeat them in battle grows with his prosperity, and their leader, Abimelech, tells him he will have to leave. Isaac does not intend conquest and, thus, does not fight the decision. He moves his household away from the city of Gerar and out into the countryside, along the valley created by the wadi called, here, the Valley of Gerar.
