Romans 15:4 "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
44 It was now about the sixth hour,[a] and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour,[b]45 while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he began praising and honoring God, saying, “Certainly this Man was innocent.” 48 All the crowds who had gathered for this spectacle, when they saw what had happened, began to return home, beating their breasts [as a sign of mourning or repentance]. 49 And all His acquaintances and the women who had accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, watching these things.
Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
What do you think of when you hear the word “darkness”?
What do children think of when they hear the word “darkness”?
Children often think of darkness as scary, and when they grow up most of them still prefer the light.
From Genesis to Revelation, darkness is whatever space, time, or reality is separate from God.
Before creation there was darkness “over the surface of the deep” (Genesis 1:2).
In the last days, as described in the words of Revelation, darkness is one of the signs of separation from God.
When Jesus hung on the cross, darkness came over the land in the middle of the day, when the sun should have been at its brightest.
God had abandoned his Son, who was taking on himself all of the corruption and ugliness of the world’s sin and God’s awful judgment on it. As God had separated himself from his beloved Son, darkness descended and Jesus died.
Luke’s account of that day notes another amazing occurrence as well.
The curtain in the temple, which had long symbolized the separation of the holy God from his unholy people, was torn in two, miraculously, from top to bottom.
Our sin-generated separation from God was coming to an end.
That was good!
But it took an awful darkness to make that happen.
What is darkness scientifically?
Darkness travels at the speed of light.
More accurately, darkness does not exist by itself as a unique physical entity, but is simply the absence of light.
Any time you block out most of the light – for instance, by cupping your hands together – you get darkness.
What is the biblical definition of darkness?
If light symbolizes God, darkness connotes everything that is anti-God: the wicked (Proverbs 2:13-14 ; 1 Thessalonians 5:4-7 ), judgment ( Exodus 10:21 ; Matthew 25:30), and death ( Psalm 88:12 ).
What are the three types of darkness in the Bible?
Three different types of darkness are outlined in the EXPLORE text:
The darkness of shame and isolation, the darkness of enemy oppression and the darkness of hopelessness.
What does darkness represent spiritually?
Darkness, in a spiritual sense, is long associated with sin, despair, and also hopelessness, which seem to intensify under the cover of night.
The night, while a time for rest, frequently becomes a cloak for sin, as people believe their actions are hidden from sight.
Salvation brings light to those in darkness (Isaiah 9:2).
The Bible tells us the Lord Himself created darkness and light (Isaiah 45:7) and that God is light with no darkness in Him (1 John 1:5).
Psalm 18:11 Amplified Bible
11 He made darkness His hiding place (covering); His pavilion (canopy) around Him, The darkness of the waters, the thick clouds of the skies.
Therefore, as the Creator, He holds sovereignty over His creation.
Although darkness is opaque to man, it is transparent to God (Psalm 139:12 ).
Light was conquering darkness.
How can we define darkness?
Darkness is the condition resulting from a lack of illumination, or an absence of visible light.
Psalm 18:28 Amplified Bible
28 For You cause my lamp to be lighted and to shine; The Lord my God illumines my darkness.
and his people would be together again.
A new creation was forming!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Praying ….
Psalm 88 Complete Jewish Bible
88 (0) A song. A psalm of the sons of Korach. For the leader. Set to “Sickness that Causes Suffering.” A maskil of Heiman the Ezrachi.
2 (1) Adonai, God of my salvation, when I cry out to you in the night, 3 (2) let my prayer come before you, turn your ear to my cry for help! 4 (3) For I am oversupplied with troubles, which have brought me to the brink of Sh’ol. 5 (4) I am counted among those going down to the pit, like a man who is beyond help, 6 (5) left by myself among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave — you no longer remember them; they are cut off from your care.
7 (6) You plunged me into the bottom of the pit, into dark places, into the depths. 8 (7) Your wrath lies heavily on me; your waves crashing over me keep me down. (Selah) 9 (8) You separated me from my close friends, made me repulsive to them; I am caged in, with no escape; 10 (9) my eyes grow dim from suffering.
I call on you, Adonai, every day; I spread out my hands to you. 11 (10) Will you perform wonders for the dead? Can the ghosts of the dead rise up and praise you? (Selah) 12 (11) Will your grace be declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon? 13 (12) Will your wonders be known in the dark, or your righteousness in the land of oblivion?
14 (13) But I cry out to you, Adonai; my prayer comes before you in the morning. 15 (14) So why, Adonai, do you reject me? Why do you hide your face from me?
16 (15) Since my youth I have been miserable, close to death; I am numb from bearing these terrors of yours. 17 (16) Your fierce anger has overwhelmed me, your terrors have shriveled me up. 18 (17) They surge around me all day like a flood, from all sides they close in on me. 19 (18) You have made friends and companions shun me; the people I know are hidden from me.
6 “Also the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, To minister to Him, and to love the name of the Lord, To be His servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath without profaning it And holds fast to My covenant [by conscientious obedience]; 7 All these I will bring to My holy mountain And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will [a]be accepted on My altar; For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.” 8 The Lord God, who gathers the dispersed of Israel, declares: “I will gather yet others to them (Israel), to those [already] gathered.”
Word of Word for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Today, can we gather to reclaim and rededicate our homes back to God?
The Power of Dedication
Dedication is a powerful act that can shape the spiritual atmosphere of a place.
When a home or property is dedicated to, mired, sinking inside, drowning in dysfunction (drugs, alcohol, domestic abuse and so on), it attracts significant negative energies into the home, leading to various forms of suffering, and loss.
However, by redirecting negativity to the seas of forgetfulness, into the positive empowering light of God, we can gradually transform the spiritual landscape of our homes and property.
A Step-by-Step Guide
To redirect the dedication of your home and property to God, follow these steps:
1. Renounce and Rebuke: Renounce any distractions, dysfunction or influences, and consign and rebuke those forces of darkness which are most surly present.
2. Cover with the Blood of Jesus: Pray! claim God’s power over your home and property with the blood of Jesus, declaring His protection and redemption.
3. Hedge of Protection: Pray for a hedge of thorns to encircle, envelop, surround your home and property, preventing any negative forces from entering.
4. Surrender everything to Jesus: Surrender your home, property, family and life unto Savior Jesus, acknowledging Him as your only true King and Savior.
God’s Blessings and Protection
By redirecting the dedication of your home and property to God, you can expect:
– Abundant blessings and favor
– God’s protection from evil forces
– Restoration of losses and sufferings
– A transformed spiritual atmosphere, conducive to peace, joy, and worship
Prayer of Rededication:
“Heavenly Father, I come before You today to rededicate my home to You. I now renounce any evil, idolatry, or sinful practices that have taken place within these walls. I claim this space for Your glory, Lord. Make my home a house of prayer, a sanctuary for Your presence, and a refuge for Your people. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Declaration:
“I declare my home is now a holy sanctuary, dedicated to God’s glory and purposes. I claim God’s presence, protection, and peace to fill every room, every corner, and for every heart which gathers within these walls.”
Actions
– Remove any idols, symbols, or objects associated with dysfunctional practices
– Cleanse and consecrate your home with prayer and anointing oil
– Establish a prayer altar or dedicated space for worship
– Invite God’s presence and glory to fill your home
Remember:
It will soon be Easter on April 5,2026 , a day of new beginnings in Christ, claim the cleansing blood of Jesus, redirect all that negativity unto the one true God.
By doing so, you’ll experience the transformative power of God’s blessings, protection, and redemption.
Your home can become a ray of hope, a place of refuge, a sanctuary for God’s presence.
Rededicate yourselves, your homes to Him today and watch His transformation and redemption unfold!
Here are supporting Bible verses for redirecting a home’s dedication to God:
Renounce and Rebuke
– “Renounce all sinful practices” (2 Timothy 2:19)
– “Rebuke the devil and he will flee” (James 4:7)
Cover with the Blood of Jesus
– “The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7)
– “The blood of Jesus protects us from evil” (Exodus 12:13, Revelation 12:11)
Hedge of Thorns
– “God will surround you with a hedge of protection” (Job 1:10, Psalm 91:4)
Surrender to Jesus
– “Surrender your life to God” (Romans 12:1-2)
– “Jesus is the Lord of your life” (Romans 10:9-10)
God’s Blessings and Protection
– It is a great blessing when people are forgiven for the wrongs they have done, when their sins are erased.[a] 2 It is a great blessing when the Lord says they are not guilty, when they don’t try to hide their sins. (Psalm 32:1-2)
– “God will bless and protect you” (Psalm 91:1-2, 4-7)
– “God will restore what was lost” (Job 42:10, Joel 2:25-26)
– “God will transform your home” (Malachi 3:10, Psalm 107:30)
Declare, these verses over your home property as you redirect it back to God.
May God, Lord of Creation, truly bless, inhabit your home with His glory!
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Praying …..
2 Samuel 7:18-29 English Standard Version
David’s Prayer of Gratitude
18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? 19 And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God. You have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord God! 20 And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God! 21 Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. 22 Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for them[a] great and awesome things by driving out before your people,[b] whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods? 24 And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O Lord, became their God. 25 now, O Lord God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken. 26 And your name will be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you. 27 For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. 28 And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 29 Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.”
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.[a]
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.[b] That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
God graciously gives us faith to believe in Jesus.
And we want to keep going forward in faith and not become stagnant or slide backward.
But we have this assurance in God’s Word:
just as believing faith in Jesus comes to us as a gracious gift from God through the Holy Spirit, growing in faith also comes to us through God’s grace and the Spirit’s work.
Now, we can’t make ourselves grow spiritually, but that doesn’t mean we are totally passive either.
Somehow we participate with the Holy Spirit in growing spiritually.
In today’s verses, Peter urges his readers and us to make every effort to grow.
The Spirit works in us to rototill the sin hardened ground around our souls, to cultivate our faith when we listen to God’s Word, through our study, prayer and meditation and hearing it proclaimed in times of worship.
The Spirit works in our hearts when we turn to our Lord and Savior in prayer for our needs and for the needs of our world. The Spirit also constantly works in us to respond to opportunities to show God’s love and share our faith with others.
Encouragement and inspiration to grow in faith can’t be said any better than the Spirit has put it through Peter: “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever Amen!”
Soon and Very Soon?
2 Peter 3:8-9 Amplified Bible
8 Nevertheless, do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day. 9 The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
“Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King.”
We will soon sing that song at an upcoming worship service.
I pray the way the people sing it will leave no doubt they really believed it.
But how soon?
But how soon? are we going to see the King.”
Not any human King!!!
But “Our Heavenly King?”
Nearly two thousand years have passed since Jesus promised his disciples that he was going to come back.
For those two thousand years God’s people have been asking, shouting, crying “Lord, when will you return?”
But he has still not returned.
Already in the first century some believers doubted Jesus’ return.
They had believed the promise of his coming, but times were hard and persecution was severe.
Scoffers were asking, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised?”
They had no answer.
Right now …. in this exact moment …. we also do not have an answer.
Mark 13:28-37 Amplified Bible
28 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: as soon as its branch becomes tender and it puts out its leaves, you recognize that summer is near. 29 Even so, you too, when you see these things happening, know [for certain] that He is near, right at the door. 30 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, this generation [the people living when these signs and events begin] will not pass away until all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth [as now known] will [a]pass away, but My words will not pass away. 32 But of that [exact] day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son [in His humanity], but the Father alone.
33 “Be on guard and stay constantly alert [b][and pray]; for you do not know when the appointed time will come. 34 It is like a man away on a journey, who when he left home put his servants in charge, each with his particular task, and also ordered the doorkeeper to be continually alert. 35 Therefore, be continually on the alert—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 [stay alert,] in case he should come suddenly and unexpectedly, find you asleep, unprepared. 37 What I say to you I say to everyone, ‘Be on the alert [stay awake and be continually cautious]!’”
Sometimes we might wonder too.
We hear about persecution and ask, “Why doesn’t Jesus come to end it?”
We will constantly continuously read about war, conflict, poverty and hunger and deprivation, we will inevitably think and we will rage, “When will it end?”
We hear about natural disasters and tragedies, and we wonder why Jesus does not end it all by coming back.
2 Peter 3:8-9 Amplified Bible
8 Nevertheless, do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day. 9 The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
The answer Peter gives is that Jesus has not forgotten about his promise to return. He is “not slow as some count slowness, in keeping his promises.”
Instead, he is [extraordinarily] patient!
not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
Jesus’ description of the Good Life (The Be-attitudes) and considered as his remarkable description of WHO disciples of Jesus become as they follow him closely (salt and light)
Matthew 5:14-20 Amplified Bible
14 “You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven.
17 “Do not think that I came to do away with or undo the [a]Law [of Moses] or the [writings of the] Prophets; I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For I assure you and most solemnly say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke [of the pen] will pass from the Law until all things [which it foreshadows] are accomplished. 19 So whoever breaks one of the least [important] of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least [important] in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them, he will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness (uprightness, moral essence) is more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Now we turn our thoughts to Jesus’ interpretation of a “greater righteousness”. In Jesus’ day, hundreds of laws were built around interpreting the Torah.
The Jewish people under Roman occupation could not follow all of these requirements perfectly, and there was much confusion about what being faithful to the Law looked like, each Rabbi offering his own interpretations.
Jesus deals with this confusion by placing these requirements in their historical context, validating the importance of the Law and the Prophets, and offering clarity around how to understand and apply them to our day to day living.
In essence, he helps us see that his invitation to live in the Kingdom of GOD is the only reasonable strategy for understanding and living the BLESSED LIFE.
And today God wants his church to call people back to him.
In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit …..
Praying …..
Psalm 15 Amplified Bible
Description of a Citizen of Zion.
A Psalm of David.
15 O Lord, who may lodge [as a guest] in Your tent? Who may dwell [continually] on Your holy hill? 2 He who walks with integrity and strength of character, and works righteousness, And speaks and holds truth in his heart. 3 He does not slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend; 4 In his eyes an evil person is despised, But he honors those who fear the Lord [and obediently worship Him with awe-inspired reverence and submissive wonder]. He keeps his word even to his own disadvantage and does not change it [for his own benefit]; 5 He does not put out his money at interest [to a fellow Israelite], And does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
8 Now it came about, when Samuel was old, that he appointed his sons as judges over Israel. 2 The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in Beersheba. 3 His sons, however, did not walk in his ways but turned aside after dishonest gain, and they took bribes and perverted justice.
4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah; 5 and they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint us a king to judge us like all the nations.” 6 But the matter was [a]displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people regarding all that they say to you, because they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being King over them. 8 Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day—in that they have abandoned Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you as well. 9 Now then, listen to their voice; however, you shall warn them strongly and tell them of the [b]practice of the king who will reign over them.”
Warning concerning a King
10 So Samuel spoke all the words of the Lord to the people who had asked him for a king. 11 And he said, “This will be the [c]practice of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and put them in his chariots for himself and among his horsemen, and they will run before his chariots. 12 He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to [d]do his plowing and to gather in his harvest, and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will also take your daughters and use them as perfumers, cooks, and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. 15 And he will take a tenth of your seed and your vineyards and give it to his high officials and his servants. 16 He will also take your male servants and your female servants, and your best young men, and your donkeys, and [e]use them for his work. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants. 18 Then you will cry out on that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you on that day.”
19 Yet the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us, 20 so that we also may be like all the nations, and our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” 21 Now after Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he [f]repeated them in the Lord’s hearing. 22 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice and appoint a king for them.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go, every man to his city.”
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Ultimatum …Give us a King to Judge Us …. or else …
1 Samuel 8:7-9 The Message
7-9 God answered Samuel, “Go ahead and do what they’re asking. They are not rejecting you. They’ve rejected me as their King. From the day I brought them out of Egypt until this very day they’ve been behaving like this, leaving me for other gods. And now they’re doing it to you. So let them have their own way. But warn them of what they’re in for. Tell them the way kings operate, just what they’re likely to get from a king.”
What kind of world did David enter into?
He entered a world built by Israel’s obsession to be like the nations around them.
They did not want the prophet Samuel to lead them anymore.
In their eyes, it was not enough to have God as their King, leading the people through his prophet, Samuel.
To be like other nations, they wanted to have a human king.
Samuel was worn-out and tired when the elders of Israel came to his place in Ramah.
Maybe he knew this day was coming.
His sons were not faithful to God or to the people.
The elders came with a demand: “Appoint a king to lead us, such as all the nations have.”
They saw other nations that were making a difference and gaining power.
Those nations all had a king who could make things happen and take over weaker nations. They wanted a king they could see, touch, hear, and follow.
Israel’s demand for a king would first give them King Saul.
Saul had all the visible features of success (tall, dark, and handsome), but he would soon turn against God and do things his own way (1 Samuel 9-15).
This was the world David entered—poisoned by a people who wanted a visible, untested king rather than the wise, loving, and faithful God they could not see.
Our challenge is to identify, highlight the importance of recognizing, honoring and glorifying God as our ultimate King, citing the example from the Israelites’ rejection of God’s kingship, inevitable prophetic consequences that followed.
Charles H. Spurgeon, the great preacher, once said,
“You will all be dreadful and eternal losers, whatever else you gain, if you lose the Lord. If you forget God as your King, you who are indeed his children, — and I am speaking only to such people just now, — it must be a terrible thing for you to be led into a condition in which you forget your Heavenly Father.”
How profoundly true this is!
The fear of man, craving for flawed human leadership, led the Israelites astray. And it’s a warning for us today, isn’t it? Let’s remember who our true King is.
The Rejection of God as King
The story of Israel’s demand for a human king is a sad poignant reminder of humanity’s tendency to reject God’s kingship.
This rejection is a pattern that recurs throughout human history and even in our personal lives.
It is a rejection that stems from our desire for tangible, human leadership, a desire to conform to societal norms, and a lack of trust in God’s sovereignty.
The Israelites’ demand for a human king was a clear rejection of God’s kingship.
They were not content with God’s invisible, divine rule; they wanted a tangible, human king.
This desire for a human king was not merely a desire for human leadership; it was a desire for a king who rule, would lead them into battle, a king who would provide them with a sense of security and protection.
This desire reveals lack of trust in God’s ability to protect and provide for them.
It reveals a near total collapse of faith and trust in God’s divine sovereignty and a desire to take matters into their own hands.
This rejection of God’s kingship was also a desire to conform to societal norms.
The Israelites wanted a king “like all the nations” (1 Samuel 8:5).
They wanted to fit in with the surrounding nations, to be like them.
This desire to conform to societal norms is a powerful force that can lead us to reject God’s unique plan for our lives.
It can lead us to compromising our faith, to conform to the world’s standards instead of God’s standards.
The rejection of God’s kingship has serious consequences.
God warned the Israelites a human king would take their sons and daughters, their best fields and vineyards, their servants and livestock (1 Samuel 8:10-17).
Despite these warnings, the Israelites insisted on having a human king.
They were willing to pay a high price for their rejection of God’s kingship.
This story serves as a warning for us today.
When we reject God’s kingship, we are also choosing to bear the consequences of our choices.
The Consequences of Rejecting God
When the Israelites demanded a human king, they were essentially rejecting God’s kingship over them.
This rejection led to a series of unfortunate consequences.
Firstly, it led to spiritual decline.
The Israelites, in their desire for a human king, were essentially saying that they wanted to be like the other nations around them.
They were rejecting their unique identity as God’s chosen people. This desire to conform to the world around them led them away from God and His commands.
Secondly, it led to oppression and hardship.
God, through Samuel, warned the Israelites a human king would take their sons and daughters, their best fields and vineyards, and a tenth of their grain and vineyards (1 Samuel 8:10-18).
Despite this warning, the Israelites insisted on having a king.
The result was exactly as God had warned – their kings led them into wars, took their best produce, and oppressed them.
Thirdly, it led to a vicious cycle of disobedience and punishment.
The kings that the Israelites so desired led them into idolatry and disobedience.
This disobedience led to punishment from God, which often took the form of defeat in battle and subjugation by their enemies and destruction of their lands.
The consequences of rejecting God’s kingship were severe, and serve as a warning for us today.
When we reject God’s authority in our lives, reject the resurrection of His Son, our Savior, King of all Kings, Jesus, we open ourselves up to a slippery slope of deep spiritual decline, hardship, and a cycle of disobedience and punishment.
Remembering God as King
Remembering God as our King is not just about acknowledging God as a distant, divine ruler but recognizing His active, intimate involvement in our lives.
When we remember God as our King, we are acknowledging His sovereignty over every aspect of our lives.
This means He has ultimate control over our circumstances, our future, and our very lives.
In the context of the Israelites, they had forgotten that God was their King.
They had seen the nations around them with their human kings and desired to be like them.
But in doing so, they rejected the unique relationship they had with God.
They traded divine, perfect leadership of God for the flawed, limited leadership of man.
For us today, remembering God as our King means resisting the temptation to place our trust in human leaders or systems.
Means not allowing the values of the world to dictate our actions and decisions.
Instead, we are to seek God’s will in all things, trusting that His ways are higher than ours.
Remembering God as our King also means acknowledging that our ultimate allegiance is to Him.
In a world where we are often pulled in different directions by various loyalties, we must remember that our primary loyalty is to God.
This doesn’t mean that we can’t respect and follow human leaders, but it does mean that our ultimate obedience is to God.
Furthermore, remembering God as our King should impact how we live our lives. If God is our King, then we are His servants.
This means that our lives are not our own; they belong to God. We are to live in a way that honors Him, seeking to do only His will and bring glory to His name.
Finally, remembering God as our King brings security, comfort and assurance.
In times of uncertainty or fear, take comfort knowing our King is in command.
He is not surprised by the events of our world or our lives.
He is working all things together for the good of those who love Him.
This assurance give us peace in the midst of turmoil, hope in the face of despair.
God is always and will forever stay in absolute command over His own Creation!
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Praying ….
Psalm 24 King James Version
24 The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
2 “I am Yahweh your Elohim, who brought you out of slavery in Egypt.
3 “Never have any other god. 4 Never make your own carved idols or statues that represent any creature in the sky, on the earth, or in the water. 5 Never worship them or serve them, because I, Yahweh your Elohim, am El Kanna. I punish children for their parents’ sins to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me. 6 But I show mercy to thousands of generations of those who love me and obey my commandments.
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
The order of faithful obedience is always the same in Scripture: God reveals himself to us, blesses us with his grace, then asks us to respond with obedience.
In other words, God blesses us first and then asks us to obey – grace precedes the call to obedience!
God is all-powerful and supreme.
He could demand our obedience just because of who he is, but he doesn’t.
He has chosen to reveal himself through Scripture, nature, his acts of salvation, and most completely in Jesus.
He wants us to know him and respond to him.
Our obedience may be difficult.
Our call to obey will sometimes be hard for us to unswervingly wrap our souls around, unquestioningly trust because of our all too rock hard stubbornness.
However, we can overcome such stubbornness when we know such a summons comes to us from a Father who has paid an ultimate price to redeem and adopt us into his family and has repeatedly proven himself to be gracious and faithful.
Genesis 1:26-28 Names of God Bible
26 Then Elohim said, “Let us make humans in our image, in our likeness. Let them rule the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the domestic animals all over the earth, and all the animals that crawl on the earth.”
27 So Elohim created humans in his image. In the image of Elohim he created them. He created them male and female.
28 Elohim blessed them and said, “Be fertile, increase in number, fill the earth, and be its master. Rule the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that crawl on the earth.”
God Re-creates His People ….
This is my story, this is my song … Our Implicit Trust vs. Our Implicit Distrust?
1 When we walk with the Lord in the light of his word, what a glory he sheds on our way! While we do his good will, he abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain: Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
2 Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share, but our toil he doth richly repay; not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross, but is blest if we trust and obey. [Refrain]
3 But we never can prove the delights of his love until all on the altar we lay; for the favor he shows, for the joy he bestows, are for them who will trust and obey. [Refrain]
4 Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at his feet, or we’ll walk by his side in the way; what he says we will do, where he sends we will go; never fear, only trust and obey. [Refrain]
When we seriously study, meditate, about the faithfulness of God, the Ten Commandments are probably not among the first things that come to mind.
After all, one of the main uses of God’s law is to show us that we are sinners.
The commandments help us to clearly envision we absolutely need God to save us from sin, that we need to confess our sins and ask the Lord for forgiveness.
When God first gave his law to his people, they had just been rescued from long years of brutal slavery in Egypt, they were still dealing with being slaves to sin.
God was calling them from generations of slavery to freedom, to live a new life in him that would serve as a blessing to all nations … they needed to learn that.
God’s Truth be Told … So do we.
John 8:31-32 Amplified Bible
The Truth Will Make You Free
31 So Jesus was saying to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word [continually obeying My teachings and living in accordance with them, then] you are truly My disciples. 32 And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].”
God’s commands are designed to be a guide for daily living, reminding us to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind, and to love all our neighbor as we love ourselves. The law ultimately points us to Jesus Christ for salvation and shows us how to live in gratitude to the one, true, faithful God.
God knew that his people who first heard the Ten Commandments would soon stray, wander from him and break their promises. But at the heart of their new creation is the faithful God who’ll always shepherd them and watch over them.
God is faithful from one generation to the next.
Just as he sought after and cared for his people in the desert, God still faithfully summons, seeks after, awaits our response, and always cares for us every day.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Praying ….
Psalm 8
For the choir director; on the gittith;[a] a psalm by David.
1 O Yahweh, our Adonay, how majestic is your name throughout the earth!
Your glory is sung above the heavens.[b] 2 From the mouths of little children and infants, you have built a fortress against your opponents to silence the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I look at your heavens, the creation of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have set in place— 4 what is a mortal that you remember him or the Son of Man that you take care of him? 5 You have made him a little lower than yourself. You have crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have made him rule what your hands created. You have put everything under his control: 7 all the sheep and cattle, the wild animals, 8 the birds, the fish, whatever swims in the currents of the seas.
9 O Yahweh, our Adonay, how majestic is your name throughout the earth!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
28 “Come to me all of you who are tired from the heavy burden you have been forced to carry. I will give you rest. 29 Accept my teaching.[a] Learn from me. I am gentle and humble in spirit. And you will be able to get some rest. 30 Yes, the teaching that I ask you to accept is easy. The load I give you to carry is light.”
Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by your circumstances, when nothing you do seems to be enough? I have been there more times than I would like to admit.
You are facing a crisis situation at home, job, financial loss, worry about the long and short term future, mourning the loss of loved ones, a prodigal child, or an unfavorable medical diagnosis. Maybe people and commitments are tugging at you from all sides and you don’t know how to avoid letting people down.
Where do you turn when no answer is apparent?
The unforced rhythms of grace
What are the rhythms of grace?
“Unforced rhythms of grace” is like a lesson for walking in time with what God is calling us to do.
When looking at this phrase, we will see that God’s unforced rhythms of grace are really about our flowing with His current, His will,obeying God, following God, finding our place, finding new opportunities, doing the things that God summons us to and into ministries and missions that come naturally to us.
Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG) echoes in my soul,
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Verse 30 from the NIV says, “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
I feel as if I have been wrestling with King Kong and Godzilla with these verses from the first moments following my Triple Bypass Heart Surgery July 17, 2023.
Recovering from that, how could His yoke be easy? His burden light? Nothing about my circumstances feels easy or light, but rather heavy and overwhelming, yet I need His grace. I want to live freely and lightly. I want to learn from Him.
God promises to be our refuge
Hebrews 6:18-19 reminds us, “So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold on to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.”
We don’t have to have all the answers to learn the unforced rhythms of grace.
As we journey to Him for help, for refuge, for security. we can be confident in the hope from the promises discerned from His word.
This hope is an anchor for our souls.
Our God is unchangeable.
If He says it, we can believe it.
If He promised, it will come to pass.
When we are overwhelmed by our circumstances, the weight of our trials in this world, we can take Psalm 91 refuge in Him.
As we keep company with Him, He promises we’ll learn to live freely, lightly.
What are you struggling with today?
Are you willing to take refuge in Him and learn the unforced rhythms of grace?
How can I practice rhythms of grace daily?
Adherence to a daily routine of disciplined practices such as Sabbath, praying, meditating, reading God’s Word, and worshipping—are how Jesus breathes life into our days. They’re not another burden he places on our shoulders, but a narrow way he Himself illuminates, and relieves the burdens we already carry.
Jesus did a lot in His 3 1/2 years of ministry but He was never rushed.
He didn’t go from one miracle to the next.
He had time to preach, teach, heal etc, spend time with His father and eat.
Yes – He did get tired but Jesus lived in those unforced rhythms of grace. He knew what to do and how to do it. He knew who to heal and who to speak to.
Today, in our lives, consider Jesus’ example for us and learn to live in those unforced rhythms of grace.
Go to the Father and recover from your busyness then let it go and learn to live a different way.
This applies to me too.
So this week let’s learn from Jesus, evaluate our priorities ensuring they are truly from God and learn how to walk in the phrase that’s the title of this blog.
Your priorities will change and so will your life.
This is how you live the life God intended for you.
Version 1.0.0
In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit …..
Praying ….
Psalm 91 Names of God Bible
Psalm 91
1 Whoever lives under the shelter of Elyon will remain in the shadow of Shadday. 2 I will say to Yahweh, “You are my Machseh and my Metsuda, my Elohim in whom I trust.”
3 He is the one who will rescue you from hunters’ traps and from deadly plagues. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge. His truth is your shield and armor.
5 You do not need to fear terrors of the night, arrows that fly during the day, 6 plagues that roam the dark, epidemics that strike at noon. 7 They will not come near you, even though a thousand may fall dead beside you or ten thousand at your right side.
8 You only have to look with your eyes to see the punishment of wicked people.
9 You, O Yahweh, are my Machseh!
You have made Elyon your home. 10 No harm will come to you. No sickness will come near your house. 11 He will put his angels in charge of you to protect you in all your ways. 12 They will carry you in their hands so that you never hit your foot against a rock. 13 You will step on lions and cobras. You will trample young lions and snakes.
14 Because you love me, I will rescue you. I will protect you because you know my name. 15 When you call to me, I will answer you. I will be with you when you are in trouble. I will save you and honor you. 16 I will satisfy you with a long life. I will show you how I will save you.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Genesis 50:15-21 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Joseph Forgives His Brothers
15 Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers said, “What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?” 16 So they approached[a] Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this instruction before he died, 17 ‘Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.’ Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 Then his brothers also wept,[b] fell down before him, and said, “We are here as your slaves.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? 20 Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. 21 So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.” In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Joseph brought his father and all his brothers and their families to live in Egypt so that they would have plenty during the years of famine.
Their father, Jacob, died in Egypt, and after they buried him back at home in the land of Canaan, they all returned to Egypt (Genesis 46:1-50:14).
Now Joseph’s brothers began to worry that he still had a grudge against them.
While Jacob was alive, they thought they had a plausible line of defense to keep Joseph from seeking revenge for selling him as a slave, but now they wondered what would happen next – sold into a life of slavery or imprisonment or death .
The brothers sent a message to Joseph, in which they admitted their sins against him and pleaded for forgiveness.
Although they had been living near Joseph for several years now in Egypt, they were still not sure of his feelings toward them for their brazen act of betrayal .
Had he really forgiven them?
Had Joseph thought it through over the years?
Grudges?
Vengeance?
Proportional or disproportional Punishment?
God’s Unconditional Grace?
Joseph wept when he received their message.
Answer? He forgave his brothers, it took years for reconciliation to take shape.
When Joseph’s brothers came to him, he reassured them and helped them to see again that God had intended all of this for good.
Indeed, God was already working out his plan to make their family into a nation that would bring blessing to all others (Genesis 12:1-3).
This was a new, stunning kind of vision revealed by God to help all generations of people to testify to the amazing ways God works in our lives and in his world.
2 Corinthians 5:11-21 Common English Bible
Ministry of reconciliation
11 So we try to persuade people, since we know what it means to fear the Lord. We are well known by God, and I hope that in your heart we are well known by you as well. 12 We aren’t trying to commend ourselves to you again. Instead, we are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us so that you could answer those who take pride in superficial appearance, and not in what is in the heart.
13 If we are crazy, it’s for God’s sake. If we are rational, it’s for your sake. 14 The love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: one died for the sake of all; therefore, all died. 15 He died for the sake of all so that those who are alive should live not for themselves but for the one who died for them and was raised.
16 So then, from this point on we won’t recognize people by human standards. Even though we used to know Christ by human standards, that isn’t how we know him now. 17 So then, if anyone is in Christ, that person is part of the new creation. The old things have gone away, and look, new things have arrived!
18 All of these new things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and who gave us the ministry of reconciliation. 19 In other words, God was reconciling the world to himself through Christ, by not counting people’s sins against them. He has trusted us with this message of reconciliation.
20 So we are ambassadors who represent Christ. God is negotiating with you through us. We beg you as Christ’s representatives, “Be reconciled to God!” 21 God caused the one who didn’t know sin to be sin for our sake so that through him we could become the righteousness of God.
Joseph and his brothers’ reconciliation is the heart of the text we read for today.
While they aren’t roommates at the beginning of their story, they were rivals.
Their actions left indelible marks on each other’s lives.
Today’s reading shows us the pivotal moment where they turn back towards each other, restoring the relationship the brothers had so easily sacrificed in the years before.
At the beginning of the story, it’s not clear that these siblings have been changed for the better either.
It is fascinating that Joseph tells them than the change has been for the good.
Joseph explained he felt God had turned what they intended for evil into good.
You see, in this story, God never says, “Joseph, I’m letting them do bad things to you so that you can one day do good things.”
That happens sometimes in other parts of the Bible.
Here, Joseph found meaning himself in the idea that God could help him work something deeply good out of the deeply troubling things that happened to him and also, the troubling things he did to other people.
In this case, Joseph saw that he had landed in a position that allowed him to save his family.
This act of re-membering , that is, putting the pieces of his life story together in a new way.
This new way points to a redemptive purpose, saving one’s family, and away from vengeance and more unnecessary death and destruction.
Joseph remembers his own story for the better, choosing to walk away from the vengeance that was so close at hand and likely so tempting, and to walk towards reconciliation and renewed relationship.
What stories are you remembering, not to rationalize, hide away the bad things, you did to others, but to find an authentic way towards reconciliation with God?
Psalm 37:3-4 Revised Standard Version
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so you will dwell in the land, and enjoy security. 4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
How are you finding yourself being changed, transformed, both for the better and being changed for good?
This is a season with great potential for destruction and delicious vengeance.
What lessons are you learning from Joseph reconciling with his brother’s that is helping you remember to reconcile a relationship, your relationship, with God?
A cross forms a bridge over the cliff into a bright landscape.
In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit ….
Praying ….
Ephesians 2:11-22 New King James Version
Brought Near by His Blood
11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Christ Our Peace
14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
Christ Our Cornerstone
19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 God’s love was revealed among us[a] in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice[b] for our sins. 11 Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in[c] us and his love is made complete in us.
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
As you scroll through social media, you will notice everyone is talking about manipulation, narcissism, gaslighting, avoidant attachment, and emotional unavailability.
It feels like we are living in a time where the primary relationship skill people learn is how to protect themselves with utmost diligence.
We are trained to look for red flags, to not be “too trusting,” to stay guarded, in control.
And sure, some of that is necessary. But we do not realize that we have become very good at protecting ourselves…and very bad at connecting with each other.
I have been blessed with a couple of “close” friends. It wasn’t always that way, though. There was a time when I didn’t share much about myself with others.
I went to great lengths to hide the “not pretty” part of my life in a figurative Fort Knox strong bank vault, with the bad memories boxed up on the top shelf.
There were things I had learned that you do not talk about.
All of this changed when I started a new season of small group at church.
Within those safe spaces, I learned I could risk sharing my life with others and be fully accepted.
This surprised me.
I realized the vault doors had to be opened, and the memories, one by one, taken off the shelf, boxes opened, and shared with others. What I learned was that friendship is a blessing and absolutely essential to the Christian life.
In friendship, we encourage each other and help each other grow.
I have a friend with a gift for encouragement. He has a great way of encouraging me in the Lord and reminding me of the Lord’s truth not my own. I can come with my hard circumstances and prayer requests and leave with a sense of hope.
In 1 Thessalonians 5, it says, “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 Amplified Bible
9 For God has not destined us to [incur His] wrath [that is, He did not select us to condemn us], but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died [willingly] for us, so that whether we are awake (alive) or asleep (dead) [at Christ’s appearing], we will live together with Him [sharing eternal life]. 11 Therefore encourage and comfort one another and build up one another, just as you are doing.
It is so critically important to encourage each other because life can get chaotic.
We need each other’s help to keep going.
As friends, we also help each other grow.
In Proverbs, it says, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend” (Proverbs 27:17).
We make each other better in Christ.
We help each other in times of need.
John 13:34-35 Amplified Bible
34 I am giving you a new commandment, that you [a]love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too are to love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another.”
1 John 4:11-12“Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.”
As we put our love into action, we show each other trust and the love of Christ.
We confess our sins to each other.
In Galatians 6, Paul says, “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:1-2).
1 John 1:5-9 Amplified Bible
God Is Light
5 This is the message [of God’s promised revelation] which we have heard from Him and now announce to you, that God is Light [He is holy, His message is truthful, He is perfect in righteousness], and in Him there is no darkness at all [no sin, no wickedness, no imperfection]. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness [of sin], we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we [really] walk in the Light [that is, live each and every day in conformity with the precepts of God], as He Himself is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another [He with us, and we with Him], and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin [by erasing the stain of sin, keeping us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations]. 8 If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude ourselves and the truth is not in us. [His word does not live in our hearts.] 9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises], will forgive our sins, cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose].
What I found in surrendering, sharing these hard things with friends is we begin to confront, reality check, fight this battle together—I am no longer by myself in it. It also removes the shame that I feel, which causes me to hide sin.
Coming further into the light, my friends have been waiting and ready to help.
In James, it says,
“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (James 5:16).
When we stop hiding our sin from each other and from God, He can heal us.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
As I’ve continued to learn about friendship, I’ve found that friends help pick each other up.
In Ecclesiastes, it says, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).
The writer continues, “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12).
I pray that you find these things to be true in your friendships as well.
Genesis 2:18-25 Amplified Bible
18 Now the Lord God said, “It is not good (beneficial) for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper [one who balances him—a counterpart who is] [a] suitable and complementary for him.” 19 So the Lord God formed out of the ground every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. 20 And the man gave names to all the livestock, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for Adam there was not found a helper [that was] suitable (a companion) for him. 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam; and while he slept, He took one of his ribs, closed up the flesh at that place. 22 And the rib which the Lord God had taken from the man He made (fashioned, formed) into a woman, and He brought her and presented her to the man. 23 Then Adam said,
“This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.”
24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed or embarrassed.
In Genesis 2 we find a close-up of the first wedding ever celebrated.
It took place in Paradise at the beginning of history, and it was one of the most impressive events ever.
The setting was more beautiful than at any other wedding.
The first bride and groom, Adam and Eve, were surrounded by the unstained, breathtaking beauty of God’s creation.
No modern-day florist or outdoor photographer could begin to capture the beauty of that setting.
Most impressive about that first wedding, though, was God himself conducted the ceremony: “the LORD God made a woman … he brought her to the man.”
This is the Bible’s way of teaching us coming together, being brought together, is from God, established as a creation ordinance.
1 John 1:1-4 Common English Bible
Announcement about the word of life
1 We announce to you what existed from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have seen and our hands handled, about the word of life. 2 The life was revealed, and we have seen, and we testify and announce to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us. 3 What we have seen and heard, we also announce it to you so that you can have fellowship with us. Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that our joy can be complete.
Fellowship was not invented by a human being; it was instituted by God when he created “male and female” (Genesis 1:27) brought Adam and Eve together.
Disciples of Jesus aren’t lost when they are right where God has told them to be.
And God the Father has told us to enjoy fellowship with him and Jesus and with the community of believers.
We are never really lost when we are connected in fellowship with God and with other Christians. We become lost when we think we can go it alone in this world.
God didn’t create us as an island to be alone or to walk out this life by ourselves.
In all sincerity I pray that God will bring you the right people at the right time to empower, inspire, prosper and strengthen the relationships you already have.
In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit ….
Praying ….
Acts 2:42-47 English Standard Version
The Fellowship of the Believers
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe[a] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
15 But He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one is affluent does his life consist of his possessions.” 16 And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. 17 And he began thinking to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and I will store all my grain and my goods there. 19 And I will say to [a] myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years to come; relax, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself!”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night [b]your soul is demanded of you; and as for all that you have prepared, who will own it now?’ 21 Such is the one who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich in relation to God.”
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
The Value of Our Soul
Foolishness and Wickedness of People.
14 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed detestable acts; There is no one who does good.
Psalm 38:5New American Standard Bible
5 My [a]wounds grow foul and fester Because of my foolishness.
Psalm 85:8 New American Standard Bible
8 [a]I will hear what God the Lord will say; For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones; And may they not turn back to [b]foolishness.
A certain ungodly tavern-keeper who liked music decided to attend one of John Wesley’s meetings to hear the singing.
He had resolved however, not to listen to the sermon.
He sat with his head down and fingers in his ears.
But when God wants to speak to a man’s soul, He has His ways.
A fly flew on the man’s nose and when he attempted to drive it away, he heard nine words that changed his life.
He heard Mr. Wesley say,
“He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
From that moment the ungodly tavern-keeper had no rest in his soul.
He returned the next night, listened intently and was converted.
Jesus said in the Gospel of Matthew,
“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:26
Matthew 16:24-26 The Message
24-26 Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me, I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?
The human soul is a priceless treasure; it is the real you.
In fact, the Bible teaches that your soul is more valuable than the whole world!
Yet, far too many people “sell their souls” for what surely are petty bargains, and temporary wealth.
We are far far more than just material beings and science and psychology has proposed; the Bible teaches that we are body, soul and spirit.
We also see that a great price was paid for the soul, but not in an earthly sense.
1 Peter 1:18-19 says,
“you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold,… but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
Jesus Christ allowed himself to die on a cross for your soul.
His death pays the penalty for the sins of those who believe on Him by faith.
But just as the man in this parable neglected and lost his soul.
It is possible for you to lose your soul forever.
I want to share with you 3 reasons why many people lose their soul in the end.
Three reasons why many people lost their souls:
I. WRONG PREPARATION (v. 16-18)
This man’s life was far too busy in pursuing the comforts of this life and not on pursuing God.
The farmer cares was about to BUILD BIGGER BARNS, but God brought in a new perspective.
The farmer won’t live to see them.
In fact, he won’t live to BUILD BIGGER BARNS. He made plans only for this life but not what comes after. God was not in his life. He did not consider God at all.
Jesus wants us to see things in the right perspective.
He told the young man who came to Him:
“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (12:15)
12:24 “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them.”
12:27 “Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labour or spin…” and look how God clothes them.
You can lose your soul if you plan for yourself alone.
You were created to pursue a relationship with God; riches or sin can never satisfy your soul. (Mt. 6:33)
In the parable, God called this man a fool. He had amassed great wealth, but was poor toward God.
“Nothing is wrong in seeking great things. But it is wrong to seek great things for only yourself” – Oswald Sanders
Jesus reminds us of the need to remember God – the Source of all our blessings.
God wants us to invest in things that has eternal value.
We must invest our life – time, talent, knowledge – in the work of His Kingdom.
Lay up “treasures in heaven..” (cf.12:33).
Live life in the light of eternity and we shall be greatly blessed.
All that the farmer has – will not go to him, and will not go with him.
Life without God is meaningless.
Man finds true fulfilment in this world – we want to have “plenty of good things laid up for many years” and then we can “take life easy; eat, drink and be merry” (v.19)
Jesus says true fulfillment can only come through a relationship with our God.
“Security in life does not lie with barns but with God.”
II. WRONG INTENTION (v. 19)
The chairman of the community charity called on a notorious miser.
“Sir,” said the fund-raiser, “our records show that despite your wealth, you’ve never once given to our drive.”
“Do your records show that I have an elderly mother who was left penniless when my father died?” fumed the tightwad.
“Do your records show that I have a disabled brother who is unable to work?
Do your records show I have a widowed sister with four small children who can barely make ends meet?”
“No, sir,” replied the embarrassed volunteer.
“Our records don’t show those things.”
“Well,” said the miser. “I don’t give to any of them, so why should I give anything to you?”
This man’s heart was filled with pride and self-reliance – He was a self-made man read (verse 19)
There are 2 sins of a man that are bred in the bone: one is self-dependence and the other is self-exultation—Spurgeon
I Timothy 6:17-18
“Tell those who are rich not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone, but their pride and trust should be in the living God who always richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give happily to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them” (Living)
“All day long the wicked covets, but the righteous gives and does not hold back.” Proverbs 21:26 (RSV)
The real issue here is not your possession (rich or poor), the issue here is your focus—self?
The command is general=“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” Hebrews 13:16 (RSV)
The problems today is perhaps, probably, most certainly, definitely…the church is poor because Christians do not give to the Lord???
Illustration: A pastor stood before his church and said,
“I’ve got some good news and some bad news. The good news is that the church has all the money it needs… The bad news is that it’s all still locked inside your wallets.”
Remember this:
“At the close of life, the question will not be how much have you got, but how much have you given. Not how much have you won, but how much have you done. Not how much have you saved, but how much have you sacrificed. Not how much have you honored, but how much have you served.”
Mark 10:35-45 New American Standard Bible
35 [a]James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, *came up to [b]Jesus, saying to Him, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.” 36 And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 37 They said to Him, “[c] Grant that we may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory.” 38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39 They said to Him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. 40 But to sit on My right or on My left is not Mine to give; but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
41 Hearing this, the other ten began to feel indignant with [d]James and John. 42 Calling them to Himself, Jesus *said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles domineer over them; and their [e]people in high position exercise authority over them. 43 But it is not this way among you; rather, whoever wants to become [f]prominent among you shall be your servant; 44 and whoever wants to be first among you shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His [g] life as a ransom for many.”
III. WRONG VISION (v. 20)
This man had made good vision assuming that he would be around to enjoy his wealth – not knowing that that night would be his last. (James 4:13-14)
The pastor was invited to dinner in the home of a very wealthy man in Texas.
After the meal, the host led him to a place where they could get a good view of the surrounding area.
Pointing to the oil wells, he boasted, “Twenty-five years ago I had nothing. Now, as far as you can see, it’s all mine.”
Looking in the opposite direction at his sprawling fields of grain, he said, “That’s all mine.”
Turning east toward huge herds of cattle, he bragged, “They’re all mine.” Then pointing to the west and a beautiful forest, he exclaimed, “That too is all mine.”
He paused, expecting the pastor to compliment him on his great success.
The pastor, placing one hand on the man’s shoulder and pointing heavenward with the other, simply said, “How much do you possess in that direction?”
The man stared blankly for a moment, then hung his head and confessed, “I never thought of that.”
Most of us don’t realize we are just one breath away, one heartbeat away, or one accident away from eternity.
No one is ever prepared for that moment until they have made peace with God…
“We are always complaining that our days are few” – Senecathe Younger
Mark 8:36 – “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
Mark 8:34-37 New American Standard Bible
34 And He summoned the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever wants to save his [a]life will lose it, but whoever loses his [b]life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what does it benefit a person to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? 37 For what could a person give in exchange for his soul?
What if you just heard those words: “Today, you will die.”
Are you ready for that?
Proverbs 9:1-6 New American Standard Bible
Wisdom’s Invitation
9 Wisdom has built her house, She has carved out her seven pillars; 2 She has [a]prepared her food, she has mixed her wine; She has also set her table; 3 She has sent out her attendants, she calls out From the tops of the heights of the city: 4 “Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks [b]understanding she says, 5 “Come, eat of my food And drink of the wine I have mixed. 6 [c]Abandon your foolishness and live, And proceed in the way of understanding.”
Are you ready to give an account for the way you’ve raised or are raising your family?
Are you ready to give an account for what you’re doing with your talent and abilities?
Are you ready to give an account for the way you’re spending your time and energy?
Are you ready to give an account for what you’ve done with the money and wealth that God has blessed you with?
Are you ready to give an account for the way you’re using your body and managing your appetites?
Some day, there’s going to be a knock at your life’s door.
Death will be waiting outside.
The music will suddenly stop.
The frantic whirling of the dancers will cease.
And you and I must answer the door.
Soon thereafter, what we did with the gift of life will be required of us.
Heb. 9:27 “ It is appointed for a man to die once but after this the judgment.”
Hebrews 9:27-28 New American Standard Bible
27 and just as it is destined for people to die once, and after this comes judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.
A popular musician-songwriter of the early seventies was Jim Croce.
One of his most famous recordings was ‘Time in a Bottle,’ a love song about his desire to save time in a bottle in order to spend it later with someone he loved.
The eerie thing about that piece was that by the time it hit the airwaves, Jim Croce was dead.
When God enters, this farmer realized that there was ONE THING he did not prepare.
He made good plan to store his crop, made good plan to save up for the future, he made plan to enjoy himself.
In fact, he has done many things good but he did not prepare for his own soul.
Death was not in his planning book.
A person does not know when his or her time is coming.
You can avoid being one of those people who lost their souls by:
· Admitting to God you are a sinner (Rom. 3:10 & 23)
· Believing that Jesus died for your sins (1 Peter 3:18)
· Fully Committing your life to Him as Savior and Lord(Acts 4:8-12)
In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit …
Praying …
Proverbs 3:1-12 The Message
Don’t Assume You Know It All
3 1-2 Good friend, don’t forget all I’ve taught you; take to heart my commands. They’ll help you live a long, long time, a long life lived full and well.
3-4 Don’t lose your grip on Love and Loyalty. Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart. Earn a reputation for living well in God’s eyes and the eyes of the people.
5-12 Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline; don’t sulk under his loving correction. It’s the child he loves that God corrects; a father’s delight is behind all this.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, And do not ignore your mother’s teaching; 9 For they are a graceful wreath for your head And necklaces for your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. 11 If they say, “Come with us, Let’s lie in wait for blood, Let’s ambush the innocent without cause; 12 Let’s swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, like those who go down to the pit; 13 We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with plunder; 14 Throw in your lot [a]with us; We will all have one money bag,” 15 My son, do not walk on the way with them. Keep your feet from their path, 16 For their feet run to evil, And they are quick to shed blood. 17 Indeed, it is [b]useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any [c]bird; 18 But they lie in wait for their own blood; They ambush their own lives. 19 Such are the ways of everyone who makes unjust gain; It takes away the life of its possessors.
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
These opening verses from Proverbs remind us how important it is to be wise and careful about the choices we make.
Our current lives and our future lives are gifts from God.
It is up to us to steward, to protect them by listening to His guidance and staying away from things that can hurt us.
As we learn from this part of God’s Word, we will find simple, helpful ideas to keep our hearts and minds safe so we can live in a way that pleases God and gives us hope for the future.
In this writing, we will see how God’s wisdom can help us stay away from temptation and bad influences.
The Bible warns us about hanging around people who try to lead us into doing wrong. It also teaches us to listen to both our parents and God’s instructions.
When we understand, take heed of these warnings and trust in God’s wisdom, we can make better choices and live a happy, meaningful life.
Let’s open our hearts to God’s Word today and ask Him to help us stay safe and wisely follow His way.
Proverbs 1:8-9
You protect your life when you…
1. Heed your parent’s wisdom.
This tells us to listen to our parents’ advice because it helps protect our lives and future.
Spiritually, this shows God’s plan for families and how important it is to respect the authority He has given to them as our parents.
When we follow their guidance, we are choosing prudence, wisdom and safety, which can keep us from making harmful choices.
In everyday life, this means really listening to our parents, respecting what they say, and using their advice when making decisions.
When we do this, we can avoid dangers like bad friends, reckless actions, or wrong choices that may hurt us physically, emotionally, or spiritually.
Practically, this teaches us to be humble and willing to learn from our parents’ experience.
It also reminds us that respecting our parents is a way of showing respect to God, since He put them in our lives to help guide us.
When we obey, honor our parents, we protect ourselves from many problems and open the way for God’s blessings. In the end, honoring our parents is a way of honoring God, helping us stay safe and make good choices for our future.
Proverbs 1:10-15
You protect your life when you…
2. Reject foolish and sinful influences.
The writer of Proverbs warns us not to give in to foolish and sinful influences that try to lure us away.
Spiritually, this shows us that obeying God’s wisdom and rules is the best way to stay safe and live fully.
Sinful influences can lead us away from God’s good path, causing harm to our hearts, minds, and even our bodies.
When we choose to resist these temptations, we are choosing God’s way, which promises protection, guidance, and a life full of purpose.
In everyday life, this means setting boundaries, establish clear limits, avoiding bad peer pressure, and being careful about what influences us, (media, friends, or environments) so we don’t fall into harmful behaviors that could hurt us now or in the future.
To put this into practice, rejecting wrong influences requires us to be rigorously intentional and disciplined.
It helps to read and study the Bible, pray regularly, and stay accountable to mature Christians who can guide us.
It also means choosing friends and activities that encourage us to do what is right, instead of those that tempt us to do wrong.
When we do this, we protect ourselves not just today; but also in the future- Spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
Living this way helps us stay true to God’s plan for our lives, leading us to a safe and meaningful future.
Proverbs 1:16-19
You protect your life when you…
3. Choose wisdom over violence and rebellion.
The writer warns us not to give in to the temptation of violence and rebellion because they only lead to trouble and destruction.
Spiritually, God teaches us to seek wisdom and do what is right instead of fighting or rebelling.
This aligns with God’s desire for us to live peacefully, justly, and to value life.
In practical ways, this means that when we face problems or conflicts, we should respond with patience, prayer, and wise choices instead of trying to get revenge or fighting back.
Doing so helps protect our spiritual life and future, saving us from the harm that rebellion and violence can cause.
To put this into practice, we need to pray, read God’s Word, and ask for advice when we’re unsure what to do.
We should resist the urge to escalate conflicts or handle problems on our own, trusting that God will bring justice in His perfect time.
When we choose wisdom instead of violence or rebellion, we not only protect our physical lives but also keep our hearts healthy spiritually.
This shows we trust God’s plan and love, leading to a more peaceful and secure life that follows God’s purpose for us.
Conclusion:
Our text teaches us that it is very important to protect our lives and future by staying away from temptation and bad choices.
It reminds us to listen carefully to the wisdom of our parents and God’s Word, which help us make good decisions.
When we choose to walk in honesty and wisdom, we can have a life full of purpose, safety, and God’s blessing.
Remember, the decisions, the choices we make today will shape our tomorrow, so we need to stay alert and stay connected to God’s truth.
Now, I want to invite you to respond to God’s call today.
If you feel you need His help, protection, or guidance, open your heart to Him.
Jesus offers balance, forgiveness, fresh starts, strength to live wisely and safely.
In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit …
Praying ….
Psalm 119:9-24 Complete Jewish Bible
ב (Bet)
9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. 10 I seek you with all my heart; don’t let me stray from your mitzvot. 11 I treasure your word in my heart, so that I won’t sin against you. 12 Blessed are you, Adonai! Teach me your laws. 13 I proclaim with my mouth all the rulings you have spoken. 14 I rejoice in the way of your instruction more than in any kind of wealth. 15 I will meditate on your precepts and keep my eyes on your ways. 16 I will find my delight in your regulations. I will not forget your word.
ג (Gimel)
17 Deal generously with your servant; then I will live and observe your word. 18 Open my eyes, so that I will see wonders from your Torah. 19 Though I’m just a wanderer on the earth, don’t hide your mitzvot from me. 20 I am continually consumed with longing for your rulings. 21 You rebuke the proud, the cursed, who stray from your mitzvot. 22 Remove scorn and contempt from me, because I observe your instruction. 23 Even when princes sit and plot against me, your servant meditates on your laws. 24 Also your instructions are my delight; they are my counselors.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 