"I hope these people will know that you are God, and you are turning their hearts to repentance." (Reading I: 1 Kings 18: 20-39)

"I hope these people will know that you are God, and you are turning their hearts to repentance." (Reading I: 1 Kings 18: 20-39)

  21.54    Unknown

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18:20 Son of Ahab sent unto all Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. 18:21 Elijah approached all the people and said: "How long are you going to be paralyzed by indecision? If the Lord is God, follow him: but if Baal, follow him. "But the people did not say a word. 18; 22 And Elijah said to them: "I am the only living prophet of the Lord, but Baal's prophets are four hundred fifty men. 18:23 Let them bring us two bulls; let them choose one bull, cut it up, put it on the wood, but put no fire. I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on wood, and put no fire. 18:24 Then you call on the name of your god and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire, he is God! "All the people responded, saying:" It is well! "18:25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal," Choose one bull and prepare it first, for you are many. Invoke the name of your god, but put no fire. "18:26 They took the bull which was given them, prepared it and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying:" O Baal, answer us! "But there was no sound , no one answered. Meanwhile they tiptoed around on the altar they had made. 18:27 At noon Elijah mocked them, "Yell louder, he is a god? Maybe he mused, there might be business, it might go; Perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened. "18:28 So they yelled louder and tapping-cutting himself with swords and spears, as was their custom, until blood gushed from their bodies. 18:29 After a late lunch, they prophesied until the time of the evening sacrifice, but there was no voice, no one answered, no one paid attention. 18:30 Elijah said to all the people, "Approach me!" So all the people approached him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down. 18:31 Then Elijah took twelve stones, according to the tribes of Jacob. Jacob -Kepada the Lord had said: "You will be called Israel." - 18:32 He built the stones an altar to the LORD and made a trench around the altar, which can contain two measures of seed. 18:33 He arranged the wood, cut the bull, and placed the pieces on the wood. 18:34 Then he said, "Fill four jars with water, and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood!" Then he said: "Do it a second time!" And they did it the second time. Then he said: "Do it the third time!" And they did it the third time, 18:35 The water flowed around the altar; and filled the trench with water. 18:36 When it was time for the evening offering, Elijah the prophet, saying: "O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and that at thy word I do these things. 18:37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you are God, O Lord, and you are turning their hearts back again. "18:38 Then the fire of the Lord burned up the sacrifice, the wood, stone and the land, even the water in the trench was licked out. 18:39 When all the people saw it, they fell prostrate and said: "Lord, he is God! The Lord, He is God!
Psalm 16: 1-2a.4.5.8.11
Refren: Happy kuterikat to Yahweh. My hope is in God.
* Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge. I said to the Lord, "You are my Lord, You are the inheritance and my cup, You alone are keeping the land allotted to me."
* Added to the grief of those who follow other gods; I am not going sacrificed their drink, they will not mention their names with my lips.
* Lord, you share the inheritance and my cup, You alone are keeping the land allotted to me. I always looked to God; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
* You are the path of life; before you, there is joy in abundance in thy right hand there are pleasures for ever.
Gospel: Matthew 5: 17-19
"I have come to fulfill the law."
5; 17 In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 5:18 I say to you, 'Look, until heaven and earth pass, one of Toyota or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.' 5:19 So anyone who breaks one of the commandments of the Torah even the smallest, and shall teach men so, he shall be called least in the kingdom of Heaven. But who do and teach the commandments of the Torah, he shall be called great in the kingdom of Heaven. "
reflection
True God.
Could it be that people seek the true God through science, culture, ceremonies, visits to places all over the earth?
This passage tells of the confrontation between Elijah and the four hundred fifty prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel happened. Two altars with food offered to God and Baal have been prepared. The rules are the gods who grabbed food offered by fire showed that it was the true God (verses 23-24). The purpose of this confrontation is to express the power of God over Baal and to show who the true God of Israel.
The prophets of Baal begin their prayer ritual dance that combined with (the manner in religious ceremonies) including ritual mortification that proved futile (verses 26-29). Instead Elijah prayed without getting answers amazing ritual. The fire of God is not just devour the flesh of the offerings, but also the altar burns, soil, even water in the trench (verses 30-38). Events that bring the Israelites to return to the true God of Israel (verse 39). After that, Elijah prophesied of rain (verses 41-45). Proving who the true God, that He had defeated Baal with fire and rain, even the authority to stop and pour hujan.Siapakah God in your life? True God or other gods such as wealth, power, fame, astrology, etc?
Meditation: Jesus is the true God. Have you chooses to worship Him?
Psalms, faith and human health.
Speaking of faith often leads us to abstract concepts, as if nothing to do with the reality of everyday life. Psalm 16 teaches us the reality of faith, a manifestation of faith, and the faith of human happiness.
Prayer psalmist (1) expressed his faith in God. His faith will always realize the reality of life that is often hostile. Faith that he had also expressed his satisfaction in God (paragraph 2.5). Whatever he experienced, he remained convinced that God is the best and will always be the best. The psalmist said that people who believe in God is the one who always longed for fellowship with other brothers in the faith, and do good to them (paragraph 3). The difference between a believer and who is not, can be identified with the actions and their words (verse 4).
In addition to making people happy with God, faith also makes people satisfied with their lives (verse 6). This does not mean that faith makes people complacent so there is no intention and work hard to continue to improve their living standards. But this satisfaction that enables the faithful to appreciate each owned and do not covet what belongs to someone else. Christian faith will also keep from feeling anxious and afraid to face the future, because the future lies in the hands of God and He is always with him (paragraph 8.11). Thus we can say that faith is closely related to mental and physical health of a person (paragraph 9).
Meditation: A satisfied, his heart will rejoice and peaceful. If you are experiencing stress, depression, high blood pressure, stomach ulcers, heart, etc., Evaluate your faith life.
Today's Gospel, the Word remains to be implemented.
Jesus came into this world not to revoke the Law, but to fulfill (paragraph 17) according to the nature and spirit of the deepest, which is to love God. Life, teachings, and redemptive work of Christ is the fulfillment of the law. He asserted that the Old Testament is the Word of the eternal God (verse 18). This means that the Old Testament says that God does not change for his people. Therefore, anyone who neglects or violates an order from God's word, he has violated all of God's word. It is not a member of the kingdom of heaven (verse 19).
What is surprising is the illustration of Jesus wearing the religious life of the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus lives for their religion is not true. They are not doers of the word of God (verse 20). How could people who daily interact with the reality in the eyes of the Lord Jesus was not the heir to the kingdom of heaven? Obedience Pharisees only outward. What they do is not based on love for God and neighbor.
Thus, Jesus advised his disciples to have no religious life like that of the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus wanted his disciples apply the word of God in earnest from the heart rather than just outward behavior. Then how can he expect us to do more of the Pharisees? Can! Our religious life could be better because it comes from Christ. Because we have the truth of Christ, we can obey God's love.
Only Jesus can free people to live righteously before God and a right relationship with fellow human beings. He was able to transform sinful human condition to live right and embrace the will of God from his heart renewed.
Meditation: Let us base all our Christian behavior and attitudes of the Word of Life.Prayer: Lord Jesus, I hope I learned from you implement the law of love perfectly. Although I was weak and limited, but in you, nothing will be impossible kuwujudkan. Amen.