Daily Reflection Verses

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Tuesday – 19 November 2013

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 Verses:           

2 Maccabees 6:18-31

Psalm 3:2-7

Luke 19:1-10

2 Maccabees 6:18-31

Eleazar Dies for His Faith

¹⁸ There was an elderly and highly respected teacher of the Law by the name of Eleazar, whose mouth was being forced open to make him eat pork. ^19-20 But he preferred an honorable death rather than a life of disgrace. So he spit out the meat and went willingly to the place of torture, showing how people should have courage to refuse unclean food, even if it costs them their lives. ^21-22 Those in charge of the sacrifice had been friends of Eleazar for a long time, and because of this friendship they told him privately to bring meat that was lawful for him to eat. He need only pretend to eat the pork, they said, and in this way he would not be put to death.

²³ But Eleazar made a decision worthy of his gray hair and advanced age. All his life he had lived in perfect obedience to God's holy laws, so he replied,
    Kill me, here and now. ²⁴ Such deception is not worthy of a man of my years. Many young people would think that I had denied my faith after I was ninety years old. ²⁵ If I pretended to eat this meat, just to live a little while longer, it would bring shame and disgrace on me and lead many young people astray. ²⁶ For the present I might be able to escape what you could do to me, but whether I live or die, I cannot escape Almighty God. ²⁷ If I die bravely now, it will show that I deserved my long life. ²⁸ It will also set a good example of the way young people should be willing and glad to die for our sacred and respected laws.

As soon as he said these things, he went off to be tortured, ²⁹ and the very people who had treated him kindly a few minutes before, now turned against him, because they thought he had spoken like a madman. ³⁰ When they had beaten him almost to the point of death, he groaned and said,

The Lord possesses all holy knowledge. He knows I could have escaped these terrible sufferings and death, yet he also knows that I gladly suffer these things, because I fear him.

³¹ So Eleazar died. But his courageous death was remembered as a glorious example, not only by young people, but by the entire nation as well.

Psalm 3:2-7

² They talk about me and say,
    “God will not help him.”

³ But you, O Lord, are always my shield from danger;
    you give me victory
    and restore my courage.
⁴ I call to the Lord for help,
    and from his sacred hill he answers me.

⁵ I lie down and sleep,
    and all night long the Lord protects me.
⁶ I am not afraid of the thousands of enemies
    who surround me on every side.

⁷ Come, Lord! Save me, my God!
You punish all my enemies
    and leave them powerless to harm me.

Luke 19:1-10

Jesus and Zacchaeus

19 Jesus went on into Jericho and was passing through. ² There was a chief tax collector there named Zacchaeus, who was rich. ³ He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was a little man and could not see Jesus because of the crowd. ⁴ So he ran ahead of the crowd and climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus, who was going to pass that way. ⁵ When Jesus came to that place, he looked up and said to Zacchaeus, “Hurry down, Zacchaeus, because I must stay in your house today.”

⁶ Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed him with great joy. ⁷ All the people who saw it started grumbling, “This man has gone as a guest to the home of a sinner!”

⁸ Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Listen, sir! I will give half my belongings to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay back four times as much.”

⁹ Jesus said to him, “Salvation has come to this house today, for this man, also, is a descendant of Abraham. ¹⁰ The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

INSIGHTFUL WISDOM

ZACCHAEUS

“Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” – Luke 19:8

Tax collector. Hated by fellow Jews. A sinner. An encounter with Jesus brought forth repentance and transformation. This is Zacchaeus’ story. This is also my story, and the story of countless sinners touched by God’s love.

Romans 2:4 says; “Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” The Lord shows us His kindness in so many ways, using people and circumstances every day. And repentance is a gift of God. “If you ever cease to understand the value of repentance, you allow yourself to remain in sin” (Oswald Chambers). Repentance is not merely saying, “I’m sorry,” but is accompanied by action or an outward expression. Zacchaeus’ example of giving away half of his possessions and paying back four times those whom he had defrauded showed sincere repentance. Indeed, “godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation” (2 Corinthians 7:10).

Let us examine ourselves and allow the Holy Spirit to convict us of our sins. – Au

Prayer:

Father, I have sinned. Forgive me. Amen.

 

Wise Words:

“Humility, humility and always humility. Satan fears and trembles before humble souls. The Lord is willing to do great things, but on condition that we are truly humble.” St Padre Pio

Source:

Good News Translation

Living Water 2013