“This NASA Hubble Space Telescope image of the Antennae galaxies (NGC 4038 & 4039) is the sharpest yet of this merging pair of galaxies. During the course of the collision, billions of stars will be formed. The brightest and most compact of these star birth regions are called super star clusters.”
“ The two spiral galaxies started to interact a few hundred million years ago, making the Antennae galaxies one of the nearest and youngest examples of a pair of colliding galaxies. Nearly half of the faint objects in the Antennae image are young clusters containing tens of thousands of stars. The orange blobs to the left and right of image center are the two cores of the original galaxies and consist mainly of old stars criss-crossed by filaments of dust, which appear brown in the image. The two galaxies are dotted with brilliant blue star-forming regions surrounded by glowing hydrogen gas, appearing in the image in pink.” by NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration
Greetings, beloved of God,
So good to be in the Word, I’m a little late today. Forgive me. 🙂 My Mom and I were working hard at the garden this morning before the humidity hit. It was a good time to go. Noah is recovering nicely from his surgery. He was able to sleep through the night without difficulty and woke up raring to go. I believe his biggest complaint presently would be restlessness. Pain is being managed well..
I’m excited to get into our Bible today. I’m praying for the Lord’s wisdom to handle the Scriptures well and guide you. I love using Precepts to guide and direct my study. Here we go! Red: do not, Green: do
Matthew 6: Take care not to do your good deeds publicly or before men, in order to be seen by them; otherwise you will have no reward [[a]reserved for and awaiting you] with and from your Father Who is in heaven.
2 Thus, whenever you give to the poor, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites in the synagogues and in the streets like to do, that they may be [b]recognized and honored and praised by men. Truly I tell you, they have their reward [c]in full already.
3 But when you give to charity, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 So that your deeds of charity may be in secret; and your Father Who sees in secret will reward you openly.
5 Also when you pray, you must 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 people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward [d]in full already.
6 But when you pray, go into your [most] private room, and, closing the door, pray to your Father, Who is in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open.
7 And when you pray, do not heap up phrases (multiply words, repeating the same ones over and over) as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their much speaking.
8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
9 Pray, therefore, like this: Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed (kept holy) be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven ([e]left, remitted, and let go of the debts, and have [f]given up resentment against) our debtors.
13 And lead (bring) us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
14 For if you forgive people their trespasses [their [g]reckless and willful sins, [h]leaving them, letting them go, and [i]giving up resentment], your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 But if you do not forgive others their trespasses [their [j]reckless and willful sins,[k]leaving them, letting them go, and [l]giving up resentment], neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses.
16 And whenever you are fasting, do not look gloomy and [m]sour and [n]dreary like the hypocrites, for they put on a dismal countenance, that their fasting may be apparent to and seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward [o]in full already.
17 But when you fast, perfume your head and wash your face,
18 So that your fasting may not be noticed by men but by your Father, Who sees in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open.
So main topics here:
- Give
- Pray (the Lord’s prayer taught..)
- Forgive
- Fast
Results if seen by men: You have received your reward in full.
Results if seen by God alone: You will receive your reward from the Father. You will be forgiven.
Principles laid down for giving:
- Give to the poor (not if, but when..)
- Give in secret.
- our Father in heaven who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
Let us look at some corresponding verses on giving.
44 And all who believed (who adhered to and trusted in and relied on Jesus Christ) were united and [together] they had everything in common;
45 And they sold their possessions (both their landed property and their movable goods) and distributed the price among all, according as any had need.
So to add to the principles learning, the early Churchgave, help and as the Greek further helps us:1) to cleave asunder, cut in pieces
2) to be divided into opposing parts, to be at variance, in dissension
3) to distribute
Acts 4:
32 Now the company of believers was of one heart and soul, and not one of them claimed that anything which he possessed was [exclusively] his own, but everything they had was in common and for the use of all.
33 And with great strength and ability and power the apostles delivered their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace (loving-kindness and favor and goodwill) rested richly upon them all.
34 Nor was there a destitute or needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses proceeded to sell them, and one by one they brought (gave back) the amount received from the sales
35 And laid it at the feet of the apostles (special messengers). Then distribution was made according as anyone had need.
- The company of believers: their possessions were not their own, all in common and use for all
- Great grace rested richly upon them all
- No needy people, b/c they would sell property and bring proceeds
- Distribution was as people had need
Philippians 4: (Giving in green..)
5 And you Philippians yourselves well know that in the early days of the Gospel ministry, when I left Macedonia, no church (assembly) entered into partnership with me and opened up [a debit and credit] account in giving and receiving except you only.
16 For even in Thessalonica you sent [me contributions] for my needs, not only once but a second time.
17 Not that I seek or am eager for [your] gift, but I do seekand am eager for the fruit which increases to your credit [the harvest of blessing that is accumulating to your account].
18 But I have [your full payment] and more; I have everything I need and am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent me. [They are the] fragrant odor of an offering and sacrifice which God welcomes and in which He delights.
19 And my God will liberally supply ([i]fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
- No church except Philippians gave to Paul.
- They sent gifts to him 2x in Thessalonica.
- Paul was eager for the fruit of the harvest of BLESSING accumulating to them.
- God welcomes and delights in the offering and sacrifice of the gifts of the Philippians.
- God will supply all needs. ALL needs.
There is such great blessing found in the gift, isn’t there? I believe with all my heart the gift helps us so much to take our eyes off our own circumstances. I believe it because I’ve seen it in action. When we are taken with how can we help our church, the poor, the needy, when we are in the Word, when we are singing songs and encouraging one another and giving thanks what time do we have to spend on our own angst and worry?
We just need to keep focused on the Lord. Pray on beloved. Pray on.
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Love it
Daniel