“Our Lord Jesus Christ the Universal King” Detail from the ceiling of St Michael’s basilica in Hildesheim. This rare medieval survival dates to c.1230. Photo by Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P.; CCL flickr
Meditation
Tuesday, Trinity Week, repeated the message of the Voice of the Lord—the Word of God, or Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity. God’s questioning of Job’s capabilities and lack thereof, continued with excursions into various aspects of animals and the way their needs and evolutionary development had been coordinated by a superior brilliance that was unmatched by any other gods.
The detailed focus came from I Corinthians—Paul’s letter to the hyper-active and volatile developing church in the Isthmus of Corinth. The uneducated, Greek, heathen converts lacked so much for creating a church, so the Holy Spirit blessed out in massive outpourings. Of course, when great results happen, it is easy for the participants to take credit for the expansion of the ministry. Pastors around the world face temptation to overarching pride in their work as if they were the key doers of the spiritual power.
In addition, some considered ‘their’ spiritual gifts superior to other spiritual gifts. Paul addressed the claims of any who would feel their gifts were somehow connected to their superior position. Repeatedly, Paul said, “different gifts, same spirit…different ways to serve, same Lord…different ways God works in people, same God.”
Paul went further. He pointedly said Christians should be unified, since one God is over all. The church is one body—and anyone who says, “I don’t need you” is speaking contrary to Christ. We are one in Christ. So, when we are divisive, and break away from each other, we are not being true to God. If we say that we can’t worship together, we are ‘judging’ each other. That is not our job. Christ specifically teaches against our judging others. We must learn to accept each other at whatever level of faith and work to encourage the deepening relationship to God.
The Holy Spirit works in all believers. I have counseled married couples using the idea of the Holy Spirit communicating with each partner. If we put our disagreements on “God’s altar” we wait for the Spirit to urge each party to consensus. It avoids dogmatic arguments and presents an openness to the power of God at work in us.
St. Paul stressed the oneness. We are one body, whether we like the other members or not. I am not always fond of all my body parts, but I know I need them, nonetheless. The same is true for the body of Christ—the church. We need each other, warts and all.
Thanks be to God.
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Click on the Scriptures for links to biblegateway.com, where many translations of the same text enhance the understanding the readings, which come from the (RCL) Revised Common Lectionary – Daily Lectionary
Readings. I add a Daily Prayer to bless you with God’s Favor.
Enjoy the Daily Encouragement and Bible Study and may you be inspired to be your best self for this Season of Trinity .
Season of Trinity
Spirit of the Living God – Darrel Iverson
The Holy Spirit will Overshadow You
“The Holy Spirit will Overshadow you!” Detail from a wooden reredos in the Augustinian church in Fribourg. by Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P.; CCL flickr
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Season of Trinity
Lead Us Heavenly Father, Lead Us – St. Andrew’s Choir
Trinity
Shield-Trinity-Scutum-Fidei-English Public Domain; Wikipedia CCL
Season of Trinity Bible Readings
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2029;Job%2039:13-25;1%20Corinthians%2012:4-13&version=KJV;ERV;NCV;NIV;GNT
(multiple versions)
Tuesday, Trinity Week
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
Psalm 8:3-5 NIV
3When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
5You have made them
a little lower than the angels
and crowned them
with glory and honor.
Human beings that you care for them?
Season of Trinity Music
Christ is the World’s Redeemer – Fr. Kevin Vogel
The Holy Spirit
“The Holy Spirit…” Detail from a side altar in the church of the Holy Spirit in Salamanca, Spain. Photo by Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P..; CCL flickr
Single Bible Study chapter to study
King James Version (KJV)
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
“”Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” – Bible” by QuotesEverlasting; CCL flickr
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
Each is gifted differently – “The “Peruzzi Altarpiece”, Giotto 1″ by Universal Pops; CCL Wikipedia flickr
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
One Body in Christ – “Worship BG – We Are The Body of Christ” by Ben Ehmke; CCL flickr
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Dear God, forgive our unnecessary pride in events, as if the success were our fault. We know that any success is due to the Holy Spirit at work in us. Help us to be unified in Christ. Christ asked us not to judge others. Asked us to unite in his name. We need help there, for we fail too often. We love you, Lord. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit—the Triune God, Amen
Season of Trinity Music
Glorious Make His Praise – Disciple of Christ
Season of Trinity Humor
Self-Made or Wonderfully Made? Same Question Snowman or Human?
©Jeff Larson, Used by permission
Your Voice (Awesome God) – Vicky Beeching
I hope you found a chance to encounter your Creator and experience the Love of God and the joy of Christ in this Season of Trinity.
Conclusion
Tuesday, Trinity Week continued the Psalmist’s praise of Jesus’ creation—the Voice of God thundering over the waters. God reminded Job that no one could come close to being like God and achieving all the things God did.
Human design barely has duplicated aspects of God’s creative work—we’ve created heart and lung machines, but we haven’t been able to replace the brain, and not just the brain, but all the coordination of impulses and innate behaviors of animals. God works not just one, but them all.
But the most important point of knowing that God is sovereign is that we are not dealing with different disagreeing gods, but one Supreme unified God. So we must strive for unity. We must strive to use our gifts for the whole church, not just our own benefit. We are one body in Christ. We need each other. All believers.
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. Please like if it was meaningful. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
Please like if you are blessed and don’t hesitate to comment or contact me. I love hearing from you.
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