Reading for today
Old Testament: Judges 9, 10, 11
New Testament: John 6
Thoughts from today’s reading
Judges 9:7-21. Gideon’s sons were all killed by one of his sons, Abimelech. The other surviving son Jotham ran away from his brother. He then went up to mount Gerizim and made pronouncements to Abimelech and his helpers. Mount Gerizim was the mountain where Moses commanded that the children of Israel would pronounce blessings from.
Jotham’s pronouncements were not a direct curse, but he said, if they had done right, then let good follow and if not, let them reap their consequences.
Jesus said we should bless those who treat us wrongly and God would heap coals of fire on their head eventually. We are called to always speak from the mountain of blessing and God knows how to judge the wrong doer if they do not repent.
John 6:60-71. Jesus gave possibly one of His most difficult messages to the people and many walked away from Him at this point because they could not receive it.
It is not everything that God has to say to us that would be comfortable. There are some words that will offend our flesh and all that we know, but we must realise that whatever word He gives to us are always spirit and life.
Prayer
1. Lord, may we obey your word and choose to bless rather than curse men who are made in your image. As we obey what Jesus said to bless and not curse, Father we trust you to give the right judgement to those that despitefully use us. Thank you Lord that in your wisdom you make all things work together for our good.
2. Lord, you said we should put to death the works of our flesh. We see from your word that the flesh becomes uncomfortable when you reveal truth about your ways and your will. We pray that the weakness of our flesh will not interfere with the will of our spirit. We receive your word however hard it may seem because in it is the power to crucify our flesh but also give life to our spirit. Thank you Lord for your word in Jesus name.