Ordinary Time: Monday, September 17, 2007

Old Testament Lesson

1 Kings 21:1-16

Paul writes to us that the love of money is the root of all evil. I think the reason why is because if we take our eyes off of God and place them on to material possessions, we find ourselves in all kinds of trouble. So, we can also take out the word money and place the world, power, or possessions, or whatever. Anything that we love so much that causes us to take our eyes of God can be the root of evil for us.

Today Ahaz would do anything to get that, as would his wife. It a sad thing to desire something so much that you would kill over it. Today, in their lives, this land was the root of evil in their lives.

New Testament Lesson

1 Corinthians 1:1-19

Paul reminds us today that what matters is not who baptized us; what denomination we are a part of; what matters is that we know that we are loved by Christ and that we follow Him. It doesn't matter if we Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Catholic, Pentecostal, Church of Christ, whatever denomination is ours. What matters is that we love Jesus and follow Him. For He is that that came to save us. And it is though Him that we know grace, love, and power.

Gospel Lesson

Matthew 4:1-11

We see something very interesting today. How was Jesus tempted by Satan today? In a couple of temptations, Satan quotes the Bible to Him. One of the things that many of us respect is when people can quote the Bible. But, one thing we need to always be careful about is when they quote the Bible, are they quoting it the right way. See, that is how Jesus defeats Satan this morning. When the devil quoted the Bible, Jesus knew the correct interpretation and context of that quotation.

It is not just enough to know the Bible, we must know it is actually talking about and quote it correctly. Lots of folks use the Bible. May we make sure we use it in the right way.