Reading for today
Old Testament: Exodus 17, 18, 19
New Testament: Matthew 23
Thoughts from today’s reading
Exodus 18:17-27. Jethro’s advice to Moses must have been by the inspiration of God because the things he advised are similar to what Apostle Peter told the church when the first deacons were appointed (Acts 6).
Moses was to stand before God and let chosen men minister to the people, just like the Apostles would give themselves to prayer and the word and the deacons would minister to the people.
Moses was to choose men of good repute, same as the deacons who were to be honest men.
The key work of the ministry is to bring people’s problems to God and bring God’s solution to people, this is the work of intercession and reconciliation.
Matthew 23. This chapter sees Jesus rebuke the religious rulers for several things. A lot of the acts they kept doing had no element of love and mercy in it. The voice of the prophets came to correct them but instead of taking correction they chose to silence the voice of the prophets even if it meant killing them.
Jesus finally said, you will not see me until you say “blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”
The message of Christ is more important than the form of religion we chose to observe.
Prayers
1. Father we pray for your church that we will follow your plan to stand in the place of prayer for our world. Give us solutions to the problems that face us.
Concerning the current virus, we pray for wisdom for those who will develop vaccines, we pray for strength and protection for those caring for the affected and we pray that your healing power will manifest in this situation in Jesus name.
2. Heavenly Father, grant us obedient hearts and hearing ears to respond to your message even if it comes to correct our excesses of behaviour. May we not stand in the place of religion that denies the power of Christ, but follow your truth declared to us in the scriptures.