{"id":3735,"date":"2017-09-23T20:28:34","date_gmt":"2017-09-24T00:28:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/?p=3735"},"modified":"2017-09-23T20:28:34","modified_gmt":"2017-09-24T00:28:34","slug":"daily-devotional-for-september-24-30","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/?p=3735","title":{"rendered":"Daily Devotional for September 24-30"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sunday
\nLuke 5: \u00a0So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, <\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their<\/i> nets. <\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon\u2019s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.<\/span><\/p>\n

4\u00a0<\/sup>When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, \u201cLaunch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

5\u00a0<\/sup>But Simon answered and said to Him, \u201cMaster, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.\u201d <\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. <\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>So they signaled to their<\/i> partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. <\/span> 8\u00a0<\/sup>When Simon Peter saw it,<\/i> he fell down at Jesus\u2019 knees, saying, \u201cDepart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

9\u00a0<\/sup>For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; <\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>and so also were<\/i> James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, \u201cDo not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.\u201d<\/span> <\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.<\/span><\/p>\n

OSB Commentary: \u00a0The Lake of Gennesaret is also known as the Sea of Galilee. It is about 13 miles long and 7 miles wide. \u00a0Sitting was the traditional position for a teacher (see note at Mt 5: 1). \u00a0 Launch out into the deep: St. Ambrose sees the spiritual meaning of this command as an invitation to give one\u2019s life over to the deep mystery of the knowledge of the Son of God. 5 \u00a0The Lord draws people to Himself by things that are familiar to them. As He drew the Magi with a star (Mt 2: 2), as He would draw tax collectors by a tax collector (5: 29), here He draws the fishermen with fish (see 1Co 9: 19\u2013 23). 5: 8 Peter\u2019s cry in the face of divine power is not a rejection of Jesus (contrast 8: 37). Rather, being suddenly cast in the light of Christ, holy people such as Peter become keenly aware of their own unworthiness (compare Is 6: 5; Rev 1: 17). \u00a0 The great catch of fish (v. 9) is an image of the apostles bringing\u00a0mankind to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and it fulfills the prophecy of Jer 16: 16. In the festal hymn of Pentecost we sing to Christ, \u201cThrough the fishermen, You drew the world into Your net.\u201d<\/p>\n

Monday<\/p>\n

This week we will do New Testament excerpts…<\/p>\n

Matthew 5 13\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cYou are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.<\/p>\n

14\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cYou are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15\u00a0<\/sup>Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are<\/em> in the house. 16\u00a0<\/sup>Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.<\/p>\n

Christ Fulfills the Law<\/strong><\/p>\n

17\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cDo not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18\u00a0<\/sup>For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19\u00a0<\/sup>Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them,<\/em> he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20\u00a0<\/sup>For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness<\/em> of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.<\/p>\n

21\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cYou have heard that it was said to those of old, \u2018You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.\u2019 22\u00a0<\/sup>But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a causb<\/sup><\/u> shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, \u2018Raca!\u2019 shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, \u2018You fool!\u2019 shall be in danger of hell fire. 23\u00a0<\/sup>Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24\u00a0<\/sup>leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25\u00a0<\/sup>Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26\u00a0<\/sup>Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.<\/p>\n

Tuesday<\/p>\n

Matthew 5\u00a027\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cYou have heard that it was said to those of old \u2018You shall not commit adultery.\u2019 28\u00a0<\/sup>But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29\u00a0<\/sup>If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it<\/em> from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30\u00a0<\/sup>And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it<\/em> from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.<\/p>\n

Marriage Is Sacred and Binding<\/strong><\/p>\n

31\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cFurthermore it has been said, \u2018Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.\u2019 32\u00a0<\/sup>But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.<\/p>\n

33\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cAgain you have heard that it was said to those of old, \u2018You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.\u2019 34\u00a0<\/sup>But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God\u2019s throne; 35\u00a0<\/sup>nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36\u00a0<\/sup>Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37\u00a0<\/sup>But let your \u2018Yes\u2019 be \u2018Yes,\u2019 and your \u2018No,\u2019 \u2018No.\u2019 For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.<\/p>\n

Wednesday<\/p>\n

Matthew 5\u00a038\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cYou have heard that it was said, \u2018An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. 39\u00a0<\/sup>But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40\u00a0<\/sup>If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your<\/em> cloak also. 41\u00a0<\/sup>And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42\u00a0<\/sup>Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.<\/p>\n

43\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cYou have heard that it was said, \u2018You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.\u2019 44\u00a0<\/sup>But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,45\u00a0<\/sup>that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46\u00a0<\/sup>For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47\u00a0<\/sup>And if you greet your brethrei<\/sup><\/u> only, what do you do more than others?<\/em> Do not even the tax collectorj<\/sup><\/u> do so? 48\u00a0<\/sup>Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.<\/p>\n

Thursday<\/p>\n

Matthew 6 \u00a0\u201cTake heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2\u00a0<\/sup>Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3\u00a0<\/sup>But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4\u00a0<\/sup>that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.<\/p>\n

5\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cAnd when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6\u00a0<\/sup>But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is<\/em> in the secret place;<\/em> and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7\u00a0<\/sup>And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do.<\/em> For they think that they will be heard for their many words.<\/p>\n

8\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cTherefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9\u00a0<\/sup>In this manner, therefore, pray:<\/p>\n

Our Father in heaven,
\nHallowed be Your name.
\n10\u00a0<\/sup>Your kingdom come.
\nYour will be done
\nOn earth as it is<\/em> in heaven.
\n11\u00a0<\/sup>Give us this day our daily bread.
\n12\u00a0<\/sup>And forgive us our debts,
\nAs we forgive our debtors.
\n13\u00a0<\/sup>And do not lead us into temptation,
\nBut deliver us from the evil one.
\nFor Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.<\/p>\n

Friday<\/p>\n

Matthew 6\u00a014\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cFor if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15\u00a0<\/sup>But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.<\/p>\n

Fasting to Be Seen Only by God<\/h3>\n

16\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cMoreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17\u00a0<\/sup>But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18\u00a0<\/sup>so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is<\/em> in the secret place;<\/em> and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.<\/p>\n

19\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cDo not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20\u00a0<\/sup>but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21\u00a0<\/sup>For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.<\/p>\n

22\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cThe lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23\u00a0<\/sup>But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is<\/em> that darkness!<\/p>\n

24\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cNo one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.<\/p>\n

Saturday<\/p>\n

Matthew 6 \u00a025\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cTherefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26\u00a0<\/sup>Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27\u00a0<\/sup>Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?<\/p>\n

28\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cSo why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29\u00a0<\/sup>and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30\u00a0<\/sup>Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He<\/em> not much more clothe<\/em> you, O you of little faith?<\/p>\n

31\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cTherefore do not worry, saying, \u2018What shall we eat?\u2019 or \u2018What shall we drink?\u2019 or \u2018What shall we wear?\u2019 32\u00a0<\/sup>For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33\u00a0<\/sup>But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34\u00a0<\/sup>Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is<\/em> its own trouble.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sunday Luke 5: \u00a0So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2\u00a0and saw two boats […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3735","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-orthodox-daily-devotional","has_no_thumb"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3735","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3735"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3735\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3736,"href":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3735\/revisions\/3736"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3735"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3735"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/orthodoxinsight.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3735"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}