1 Kings_17

Scripture1 Kings 17:13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’”ObservationAhab has become king of Israel and was farthest from God and keeping his commands. Then to top it off he married Jezebel :( He set up idols to her god and what the enemy of Elijah. Elijah pronounced a drought and God spoke to him to go east of the Jordan.1 Kings 17:5 So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.But then the brook dried up. Elijah had to move on with nothing to eat or drink.1 Kings 17:7 Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. 8 Then the word of the Lord came to him: 9 “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” 10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”UnderstandingSometimes God asks us to let go of what we have so He can give us more.The widow had nothing left to give. Remember Jesus said that when we give to the least of these we did it unto him.Matthew 25:37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’I can’t help but think that maybe Elijah in that moment was the “least” so that the widow would be able to minister to God, so that God would be able to minister to the widow.ApplicationGod will sustain us through the times of drought if we put our faith in Him.He does not desire that our dry situation should become dead.It’s a natural reaction to want to hold on to the “little” that we have, especially if it's connected to our well being. God wants to give us more if we are willing to do the exchange.1 Kings 17:15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.By faith, she gave the little she had and God supplied her with enough to feed Elijah, her family, and herself until the drought had ended.By faith, she did what was right, to feed Elijah, a man who was thirsty and hungry and asking for help.Holding on to what we have will soon run out.

Trust God, give it to him, and let him sustain you.

 

Deborah Lee

Psalm 127

Scripture

Psalm 127: 1-2

1 Unless the LORD builds the house the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. 2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat — for he grants sleep to those he loves.

 

Observation

 

Solomon continues to bring hope to many who may be experiencing a tough time, but this time he offers it in a practical manner. Additionally, he seems to be calling those who believe to action rather than just observance. He also speaks of God’s character throughout this short chapter.

 

Understanding

 

Without God being at the center of our lives, everything we do is meaningless.

 

As harsh as the understanding of these verses is, it’s as simple as this: without God we are nothing and a nobody. Too often we get caught up in our own ways and actions that we begin to labor in vain. It seems like something we should avoid, yet I know in my own life, I find myself slipping and placing myself at the center of my life instead of my Creator. Just like anything in life, toiling for the sake of God is a choice and a decision we should proudly wear every single day. It is us declaring to the world “If God is not at the center, or if it isn’t from God, then I don’t want it!” This statement not only humbles, but it empowers those who are willing to live it out. Paul says it this way in 1 Corinthians 13:1-2:

1 If I speak in tongues of men or angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that moves mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

God is love and if we are exemplify Him in our daily life we must first hold Him as our unshakable identity, at the core of who we are.

 

Another interesting thing I feel I should note, however, is the fact that this verse also speaks to God’s desire to bless those He loves. I don’t know about you, but a good sleep or nap after a long day is amazing(and according to that second verse God ordained), but it is only because of God that I even have the time to nap or even be tired enough to sleep. Sure, I may have taken that to the extreme, but the point is God loves to bless those who follow after Him with all their heart. Whatever your need, He’ll happily supply it, but this only happens if God is placed at the center of your every action. Rei said it perfectly on Monday, we have already experienced God, but imagine what it would be like to experience His fullness. Imagine how much more we could knowing that the God of the universe lies within us and is who we are.

 

Life Application

 

Toil with a purpose.

 

I don’t want to build a faulty house because I thought my blueprints were better than God’s. In the same way I don’t want to miss out on God’s love and promises because He isn’t the core of my identity. May we live a life that intentionally places God above the world and ourself, may we live according to HIs will alone. Do something because it is what God wants, not because we “think” it is right. He’s already given us a purpose, not it’s time to live it!

 

-Allison Khan

Psalm_126

Scripture

Psalm‬ ‭126:1-4, 6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, LORD, like streams in the Negev....Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.”
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Observation-What does it say?

“The Psalmist sang of a time when God set His people free from their captivity, and they were restored to Jerusalem (aka Zion).” -(Source: enduringword.com)

Understanding-What does it mean?

We’ve been set free from captivity because of Jesus Christ!

When this passage talks about restoring fortunes in verses 1 and 4, it is not talking about material fortunes. It is talking about bringing back the captives and being set free from bondage/slavery.

There are some school of thought that correlate blessing with material wealth. However, how would we explain the beatitudes in Matthew 5? Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom. Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the Kingdom. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you because of Jesus, for great is our reward in heaven.

 

A blessed situation is whatever leads us to run into the arms of our Savior, whether good or bad. Some of my most blessed situations have been the darkest times of my life, because it developed roots in my relationship with Jesus that not even the toughest storms can touch.

Life Application

Pursue TRUE blessing through Jesus Christ and share that blessing with others.

Today, my husband and I paid off the last of our debt this morning, so besides a home mortgage which we recently refinanced down to 15 years, we are debt free! Being debt free allows us to be even more generous with our giving and I’m definitely less stressed when managing our finances.

Even though it is a commendable goal to be debt free and experience financial freedom, being free from captivity to our sin is the greatest gift we have received. God wants to bring back captives from their sin, not so that He can bless us with more material possessions or fortunes. True joy does not come from worldly wealth. True joy is a result of a personal and deepened relationship with Jesus.

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:15-17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

May we pursue what truly matters and share the “wealth” He has given us with others so that they would be wealthy in the Lord as well.

-Michelle Gaddi