Proverbs_4

Happy Thanksgiving church family!

Scripture

Proverbs 4:5-7

“Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don’t forget my words or turn away from them. Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you. Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.”

Observation-What does it say?

In this chapter Solomon gives some fatherly advice and reminds those who are willing to listen  the importance of gaining wisdom in life. He expresses that wisdom is a life saver. That those who obtain it, will live a righteous life, and glory and honor will be delivered to them. Solomon has seen it all and lived through a lot. Solomon now wants to share the wisdom he was able to obtain through his life experiences, and the wisdom he received from following God.

Understanding-What does it mean?

No one is born with wisdom; God is the One who provides it.

“For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom,” 1 Corinthians 1:25a NIV

The key to getting wisdom is understanding that no one has it to start with. Ultimately it is God who provides us with wisdom. It also means that anyone can acquire wisdom...if you decide to pursue it.  Wisdom also is not something we achieve through one choice we make in life. It is a journey, a series of many steps in life, in which we receive the truth of God's Word, and apply them into our lives each and every day. Jesus often spoke of people who had ears but did not listen. The wise will be the ones who choose to listen wholeheartedly to God's Word, both with their hearts and minds.

“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.”-James 1:22 NLT

Life Application

Ultimate wisdom is within the grasp of our hands. So reach out and obtain it through reading God's Word.

Life is hard enough as it is. So why try to figure it out all on our own?! Why not take advantage of life's "instruction manual"?..The Holy Bible! Whether it is taking the advice from someone who was granted wisdom from God, like Solomon, or following the One who overcame everything the world tried to throw His way, Jesus. The Bible is the key to have access to living a wiser life...a life that will grant you wisdom. Will you choose to follow it?

Thank You God for Your Word and the wisdom it brings. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit that speaks to me through it. Thank You Lord for always having my best interest in mind. May the wisdom You grant me allow me to make the right choices today, and may I share that wisdom to those around me. In Your name Jesus, Amen 

-Moses Gaddi

Matthew___26

Scripture

Matthew‬ ‭26:13‬

“I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”

  

Observation-What does it say?

 

Jesus is in Bethany. He is having dinner at a man named Simon’s house. Then a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume and poured it over Jesus’ head. The disciples were baffled with this action. Why would she waste such an expensive item for that?! The disciples thought she could have at least sold the item for lots of money, then gave the money to the poor. But Jesus told his disciples not to criticize her. This woman had done a beautiful thing for him. Jesus tells his disciples that wherever the gospel is preached in the world, that this woman’s story will be told as well.

 

Understanding-What does it mean?

 

Put value in the right things.

 

This woman gave up something very valuable and gave it to Jesus. Scholars believe the worth of the alabaster jar of perfume she anointed Jesus with was worth about a year’s wages! And this woman didn’t even think twice about using it! It takes true devotion and selflessness to do something like that. But that just shows you how much Jesus means to her. She probably spent her life savings on it and was planning on using it on the day she was to be buried. But instead she gives it freely to Jesus. Wow! I think it would be difficult for anyone to do something like that today. In the world we live in now, the value or cost of something can often times overshadow or distort the moral or meaning of something. The question is, what am I putting my values in?

 

Life Application

 

How much does Jesus mean to me?

 

So...how much does Jesus mean to me? Am I willing to honor Jesus with everything I have? Am I willing to look foolish to others around me because of the love I want to show Jesus? Will my story be told for generations to come because of my devotion to Jesus? 🤔 Something to ponder on as we go out in the world today.  

 

-Moses Gaddi

Matthew__25

Scripture

Matthew 25:37-40 NIV

““Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “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.’”

Observation-What does it say?

Jesus tells 3 parables to illustrate what the Kingdom of Heaven is like. The verses above come from the parable that Jesus explained regarding sheep and goat. He put the sheep (righteous) on his right and the goats on his left. The righteous were rewarded because they loved and did something about the needy, hungry, sick and the imprisoned, which Jesus said was the same as doing it to Him. However, those on his left were not rewarded, but instead punished for neglecting to love in action those who were in need.

Understanding-What does it mean?

There is always action associated with loving people, just like there is always action associated with loving God.

It reminds me of what James said in James 2:15-17-"Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

Also, the people that Jesus points out in this parable are not those who are well off or have their lives together. They are people that society tends to shun. People who are hungry, thirsty, needing shelter, needing clothing; those who are sick and in prison. Those are the people that Jesus points out for us not to neglect.

Life Application

How can I show love to someone today? 

Let's do one practical thing to show love to someone today, whether it is buying a homeless person a meal, being a pen pal and encouragement for someone institutionalized/imprisoned, feeding a hungry child, blessing a family with a gift card or meal who is going through grief, following up on someone's health issue, blessing someone with a fridge full of groceries, taking a friend out to a meal who is struggling, etc. 

There's a lot we can do to practically show love to people, specifically the broken, hurting and needy, which in turn is how we show love to our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Dear Jesus, you didn't hang out with the prestigious and righteous people of your day. You hung out with the broken, the hurting, the sick and the unrighteous sinners. Most importantly, you loved us so much to leave Your throne in Heaven to save us, and You did it in the most humble way. Thank you! May Your heart for people be ours. May we be intentional about loving people, "the least of these", through action and as Pastor says, be more outward focused instead of inward focused. Amen.

 

-Michelle Gaddi