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Friday – 22 November 2013
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Verses:
1 Maccabees 4:36-37, 52-59
1 Chronicles 29:10-12
Luke 19:45-48
1 Maccabees 4
36 Then Judas, and
his brethren said: Behold our enemies are discomfited: let us go up now to
cleanse the holy places and to repair them.
37 And all the
army assembled together, and they went up into mount Sion.
52 And they arose
before the morning on the five and twentieth day of the ninth month (which is
the month of Casleu) in the hundred and forty-eighth year.
53 And they
offered sacrifice according to the law upon the new altar of holocausts which
they had made.
54 According to
the time, and according to the day wherein the heathens had defiled it, in the
same was it dedicated anew with canticles, and harps, and lutes, and cymbals.
55 And all the
people fell upon their faces, and adored, and blessed up to heaven, him that
had prospered them.
56 And they kept
the dedication of the altar eight days, and they offered holocausts with joy,
and sacrifices of salvation, and of praise.
57 And they
adorned the front of the temple with crowns of gold, and escutcheons, and they
renewed the gates, and the chambers, and hanged doors upon them.
58 And there was
exceeding great joy among the people, and the reproach of the Gentiles was
turned away.
59 And Judas, and
his brethren, and all the church of Israel decreed, that the day of the
dedication of the altar should be kept in its season from year to year for
eight days, from the five and twentieth day of the month of Casleu, with joy
and gladness.
1 Chronicles 29:10-12
David’s Prayer
10 David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,
“Praise
be to you, Lord,
the God of our father Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.
12 Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.
the God of our father Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.
12 Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.
Luke 19:45-48
Jesus at the Temple
45 When Jesus entered the temple courts, he
began to drive out those who were selling. 46 “It
is written,” he said to them, “‘My
house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”
47 Every day he was teaching at the temple.
But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people
were trying to kill him. 48 Yet they
could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.
INSIGHTFUL
WISDOM
INTEGRITY
They did not find anything they could do, for all the people were
spellbound by what they heard. – Luke 19:48
“Cross my heart!” “I’m telling the truth!” I’ve uttered these words,
especially as a kid. We played tricks on one another, and when I was finished
but the others weren’t, it was difficult to get them to believe I was no longer
playing tricks on them.
Why would someone doubt our authenticity? Surely, it would be
because of our past tricks or dishonesty. Conversely, others believe what we
say because of our history of truthfulness. Even if the Pharisees and Sadducees
wanted to pin Jesus down, they simply could not because of His integrity. Many
people witnessed years of His teaching, miracles and authentic love. It was not
just a single act that the people marveled at, but rather a life of integrity.
Whenever we encounter a person who questions our integrity, the
normal reaction is to question and fight back, which fuels the cycle of doubt.
Why not try some introspection and ask why others find it hard to believe us?
Perhaps it’s time for us to change and become better witness of Jesus. – Mars
Prayer:
Lord, forgive me for my
loose words and unfulfilled promises. Teach me to live with integrity. Amen.
Wise Words:
“Few things are more infectious than a godly lifestyle. The people
you rub shoulder with everyday need that kind of challenge. Not prudish. Not
preachy. Just cracker jack clean living. Just honest to goodness, bone-deep,
non-hypocritical integrity.” – Chuck Swindoll
Source:
Douay-Rheims
1899 American Edition (DRA)
New
International Version (NIV)
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