Psalm 2

Scripture - What stood out?

Psalm 2 12 Kiss his son, or he will be angry    and your way will lead to your destruction,for his wrath can flare up in a moment.    Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Observation - What does it say?David continues to prophesy (with the power of the Holy Spirit in him per Acts 4:24-26 ) Understanding - What does it mean?Do you ever read some of the prophecies that point towards Jesus and ever wonder if the prophets every fully knew what they were saying? There is a part of me that wants to hop into the Delorean, travel back in time and ask king david, “Excuse me, anointed sir? Does the word “son” have a double futuristic meaning in the verse, even a little???”My Jesus filtered interpretation of this verse:Accept Jesus as Lord, or ELSE.Blessed are those who believe in Him.Life Application - How can I apply this to my life today?The truth is... there is an “or else” to all of this: John 9:39 Jesus said,[a] “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”In conjunction with: John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.LORD, I have a really tough time sharing with people that they are sinners and that the path without Jesus leads towards a really really crappy ending. Show me a way to share that particular truth with a touch of your amazing grace!  Thank you for your prophets who paved the way for our Lord, Your Son. Help me Lord to proclaim at the top of my lungs, that Jesus is Lord, worthy to be believed, and the way the truth and the life!

John_13

Scripture

John 13: 34-35

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

Observation-What does it say?

Jesus knows that his time in the world was soon coming to an end, and that he would be retuning to his Father in Heaven. So Jesus spends his last night with his disciples, eating with them, and washing their feet. Jesus was demonstrating to the very end the love he has for them. And now before he leaves them, Jesus instructs them with one final command, to love each other the way he has loved them.

Understanding-What does it mean?

If we as Christ Followers are called to love the way Jesus did, we must love blindly and unconditionally.

As I read this chapter, I am in awe of how loving Jesus is. Jesus knew who He was, where He came from, and where He was going. Still, Jesus had no sense of entitlement about Him. He served humbly all those in need, and willingly laid down His life for all. Jesus especially demonstrated this love the night He washed His disciples feet. I mean here was God in the flesh, and here He was in a lowly servant's position washing His disciples feet. Not only that, but Jesus was still willing to wash the feet of Judas...the one who was going to betray Him! He shared an intimate dinner with Judas, and He washed his feet. He showed the same love to Judas, as He showed to the rest of His disciples. Now that is what I call a blind and unconditional love! How many of us can do that?

“But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”-1 John‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Life Application

 “If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” ‭Matthew‬ ‭5:46-48‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I try to remind myself of this verse every time I find myself heading down the path of anger and revenge towards the "unloveable". I'm not going to lie, but it is something I struggle with. I tend to lean towards cursing my enemy instead of blessing them. It's something I know God is trying to work in and through me as we speak. Doing today's Soul Journal is a great reminder for me that I am far from perfect, and that I need to abide with the Holy Spirit in order to overcome this fault of mine.

Dear Jesus, forgive me for letting anger and pride get in the way of loving those you have called me to love. The grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love You have shown me countless of times is what I know I should be showing others around me. Jesus, I need You. I need Your strength and love to do this. Help me to do this. May You soften my heart to do so. I pray this in the power of Your name Jesus, Amen.

 

 

-Moses Gaddi

 

Proverbs_31

Scripture Proverbs 31:2 NIV “Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb! Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!”

Observation-What does it say? 

 

King Lemuel shares wisdom his mom gave him regarding his role as king. The first 7 verses, she gives advice on ways to protect his role as king. Verses 8-9, she speaks on how to treat the people, especially the poor, needy and those who cannot speak up for themselves. However, a bulk of this chapter, Verses 10-31, his mom gives him advice on the type of woman he should look out for to take as his wife, a wife of virtue and noble character. 

 

Understanding-What does it mean?

 

Listen to the advice of those who love us, protect us and want the best for us, such as our parents, spouses or spiritual parents/mentors. God gave them to us for a reason. 

 

King Lemuel’s mom is protective of her son as evidenced by the advice she gives him in this chapter. She wants to protect his professional life, but most importantly, his personal life. King Lemuel’s life as a king, which is a public influential figure and I’m sure attached with many riches, can be ruined by the wrong choice in wife. Therefore, the wife he chooses needs to be trustworthy, a hard worker, loving and a servant to the people, a good manager of the home, worthy of respect and wise. Most importantly, she must fear the Lord. He cannot only look for the most charming and beautiful woman, because that is fleeting and deceptive. All those good character traits are the fruits of being a Godly woman. 

 

Life Application

 

Seek to be a Godly woman (or man) and attract the same in the process. 

 

What I find interesting about this chapter is that it not only describes what a good woman is like. Many of those traits are equally important for the male as well.  The King has to be trustworthy. He has to be loving, a servant to the people, a good manager of the home, wise, worthy of respect and most importantly have fear and respect for the Lord, allowing the Lord to tell him how to lead as king and lead his family.  I hear many singles (and I admit I did this myself as a single person before growing up a little), have a list of the type of person they want to marry; however, they don’t look at themselves to see if they are the type of person someone else would want to marry. I truly believe we should be the person we want to attract. I’m not talking about having the same likes, dislikes, hobbies, etc. Our differences are what make us unique. Our focus must be on the most important things which matter, which is our character and relationship with Jesus.  Also, for marrieds like myself, this doesn’t end after the ring is on the finger. It continues afterwards as well.

 

Dear Lord, whether we are single, engaged or married, I pray that we would be and continue to be the type of person our future and current mates would want and the type of person our friends would be refreshed to be around. I pray we would be men and women of godly character whose substance doesn’t only go as far as outward appearance, but one who is trustworthy, faithful, hard working, loving, a servant to people, a good manager of our home and finances, wise and worthy of respect. Help us Holy Spirit to live our lives in pursuit of Your fruits as we seek You first in everything we do. Amen. 

 

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.” Proverbs 31:30-31 NIV  

-Michelle Gaddi