97.5 What God Requires

(Psalm 15)

Lord, who may enter your Temple" Who may worship on Zion?, your sacred hill?

A person who obeys God in everything and always does what is right, whose words are true and sincere, and who does not slander others. He does no wrong to his friends nor spreads rumors about his neighbors. He despises those whom God rejects, but honors those who obey the Lord.

He always does what he promises, no matter how much it may cost. He makes loans without charging interest and cannot be bribed to testify against the innocent.

Whoever does these things will always be secure.

97.4 Follow Christ With All Our Strength

(Philippians 3:12-16)

I do not claim that I have already succeeded or have already become perfect, I keep striving to win the prize for which Christ Jesus has already won me to himself. O course, my brothers, I really do not think that I have already wont it; the one thing I do, however, is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead. So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize, which is God's call through Christ Jesus to the life above.

All of us who are spiritually mature should have this same attitude. But if some of you have a different attitude, God will make this clear to you. However that may be, let us go forward according to the same rules we have followed until now.

97.3 Conditions Of Following Jesus

(Matthew 8:18-22)

When Jesus noticed the crown around him, he ordered his disciples to go to the other side of the Lake. A teacher of the Law cam to him. "Teacher, " he said, "I am ready to go with you wherever you go."

Jesus answered him, "Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lie down and rest."

Another man, who was a disciple, said, "Sir, first let me go back and bury my father."

'Follow me," Jesus answered, "and let the dead bury their own dead."

97.2 Call of Levi

(Luke 5:27-32)

After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting in his office, Jesus said to him, "Follow me." Levi got up, left everything, and followed him.

Then Levi had a big feast in his house for Jesus, and among the guests was a large number of tax collectors and other people. Some Pharisees and some teachers of the Law who belonged to their group complained to Jesus' disciples. "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and other outcasts?" they asked.

Jesus answered them, "People who are well do not need a doctor, but only those who are sick. I have not come to call respectable people to repent, but outcasts."

97.1 Call Of First Disciples

(Luke 5:1-11)

One day Jesus was standing on the shore of Lake Gennesaret while the people pushed their way up to him to listen to the word of God. He saw two bots pulled up on the beach; the fishermen had left them and were washing the nets. Jesus got into one of the boats- it belonged to Simon- and asked him to push off a little from the shore. Jesus sat in the boat and taught the crowd.

When he finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Push the boat out further to the deep water, and you and your partners let down your nets for a catch."

"Master," Simon answered, "we worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I will let down the nets." They let them down and caught such a large number of fish that the nets were about to break. So they motioned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats so full of fish that the boats were about to sink. When Simon Peter saw what had happened, he fell on his knees before Jesus and said, "Go away from me, Lord! I am a sinful man!"

He and the others with him were all amazed at the large number of fish they had caught. The same was true of Simon's partners, James and John, the son of Zebedee. Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will be catching men."

They pulled the boats up on the beach, left everything, and followed Jesus.

96.4 I Come To Do Your Will

(Psalm 40:1-11)

I waited patiently for the Lord's help; then he listened to me and heard my cry.

He pulled me out of a dangerous pit, out of the deadly quicksand.

He set me safely on a rock and made me secure. He taught me to sing a new song, as song of praise to our God.

Many who see this will take warning and will put their trust in the Lord.

Happy are those who trust the Lord, who do not turn to idols or join those who worship false gods.

You have done many things for us, O Lord our God; there is no one like you!

You have made many wonderful plans for us.

I could never speak of them all-- their number is so great!

You do not want sacrifices and offerings; you do not ask for animals burned whole on the altar or for sacrifices to take away sins.

Instead, you have given me ears to hear you, and so I answered, "Here I am: your instructions for me are in the book of the Law.

How I love to do your will, my God! I keep your teaching in my heart."

In the assembly of all your people, Lord, I told the good news that you save us.

You know that I will never stop telling it. I have not kept the news of salvation to myself; I have always spoken of your faithfulness and help. In the assembly of all your people I have not been silent about your loyalty and constant love.
Lord, I know you will never stop being merciful to me. Your love and loyalty will always keep me safe.

96.3 Not Peace But Division; Take Up Your Cross

(Mathhew 10:34-39)

"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the world. No, I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. I came to set sons against their fathers, daughter against their mothers, daughters-in-law against their mothers-in-law: a man's worst enemies will be the members of his own family.

"Whoever loves his father or mother more than me is not fit to be my disciple; whoever loves his son or daughter more than me is not fit to be my disciple. Whoever does not take up his cross and follow in my steps is not fit to be my disciple. Whoever tries to gain his own life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for my sake will gain it.

96.2 No More Violence But Salvation And Praise

(Isaiah 60:18-22)

The sounds of violence will be heard no more:
Destruction will not shatter your country again.
I will protect and defend you like a wall;
You will praise me because I have saved you.
"No longer will the sun be your light by day
Or the moon be your light by night;
I. the Lord, will be your eternal light;
The light of my glory will shine on you.
Your days of grief will come to an end.
I. the Lord, will be your eternal light,
More lasting than the sun and moon.
Your people will all do what is right,
And will posses the land forever.
I planted them, I made them,
To reveal my greatness to all.
Even your smalls and humblest family
Will become as great as a powerful nation.
When the right time comes,
I will make this happen quickly.
I am the Lord!"

95.5 God's Chosen King

(Psalm 2)

Why do the nations plan rebellion?

Why do people make their useless plots?

Their kings revolt, their rulers plot together against the Lord and against the king he chose'

:Let us free ourselves from their rule, "they say; "let us throw off their control."

From his throne in heaven the Lord laughs and mocks their feeble plans.

Then he warns them in anger and terrifies them with his fury.

"On Zion, my sacred hill," he says, "I have installed my king."

"I will announce, "says the king, "what the Lord has declared. He said to me:'You are my son; today I have become your father. Ask, and I will give you all the nations; the whole earth will be yours.

You will break them with an iron rod; you will shatter them in pieces like a clay pot.'"

Now listen to this warning, you kings; learn this lesson, you rulers of the world: Serve the Lord with fear; tremble and bow down to him; or else his anger will be quickly aroused, and you will suddenly die. Happy are all who go to him for protection.

96.1 Beat Your Swords Into Plowshares

(Isaiah 2:2-4)

In days to come the mountain where the Temple stand will be the highest one of all, towering above all the hills. Many nations will come streaming to it, and their people will say, "Let us go up the hill of the Lord, to the Temple of Israel's God. He will teach us what he wants us to do: we will walk in the paths he has chosen. For the Lord's teaching comes from Jerusalem: from Zion he speaks to his people."

He will settle disputes among great nations. They will hammer their swords into plows and their spears into pruning knives. Nations will never again to war, never prepare for battle again.