September 8, 2019

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for September 8th: Jeremiah 18:1-11; Psalm 139:1-6,13-18; Philemon 1-21, Luke 14:25-33; Theme: We are all creations of God Psalm 139: no matter how long you know a person, there is always more to learn about that person. We are still learning things about ourselves as we grow. However, this psalm says that the God that created us, knew us before we were born and knows the exact number of hairs on our heads. In other words, God knows us better than we know ourselves. God created each of us for a certain purpose. God knows what it will take for us to fulfill that purpose. That is why it is important for us to be intentional about having a relationship with God. This scripture also gives us the assurance that there is never a time when God will desert us. God has been there and always will be. Even death and calamity can separate us from the love of God. God will always be there in our life. Philemon: There is only one chapter of this book, but this one chapter gives a very powerful message. It is about a slave who has become a Christian. If he is now free in Christ, is he still a slave? Is he equal to his master? The message to this slave, is not to worry about freedom. Spiritually, he is free. Spiritually he is equal. He is encouraged to think about his behavior toward others, not their behavior toward him. He is to be a brother to all, even to his master. Paul does ask his master to do the right thing and to free him. This is a story about relationships that have been transformed because the love of God is present. Paul is not encouraging slavery, he is encouraging Onesimus to put God first in all things. When God is first, all other things will fall into place. Questions: What special purpose has God created you for? How to you continue to grow in your relationship in order to grow in God? What relationships in your life need to be transformed? What problems in your life do you need to turn over to God?