Joel 2

Scripture

Joel 2:12-14 ESV

“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God?”

Observation-What does it say?

Judah was invaded by an army of locusts that destroyed everything-the field, the ground, the grain, trees, etc. (Joel 1:10-12) and ultimately led to famine in the land. The prophet Joel was warning Judah of additional destruction if they do not repent of their evil ways and return to the Lord.

Understanding-What does it mean?

Repentance leads to restored relationship with the Father, but rebellion leads to destruction.

This is another prophecy being given to a nation, revealing what God will do in His righteous anger and holiness if they don't repent and turn from their wicked ways and return to Him. However, it is also a book that highlights how God would respond if they sought His forgiveness and repented from their evil ways. He is a God who is gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love, with the power to leave a blessing instead of a curse (Joel 2: 13-14).

Life Application

God calls His church, His bride to repentance.

Repentance is different than just asking for forgiveness because repentance involves a 180 degree turn from a life of sin. Just as Jesus did not condemn the woman caught in adultery, but rather told her to go and leave her life of sin, (John 8:10-11), He commands us to do the same.

God is very slow to anger, giving us so many warnings before revealing His wrath, but His return is imminent (near). Although no one knows the day or hour of Jesus' return, the Day of the Lord and the Day of Judgment is near. Will we be judged for choosing our own selfish wants and desires or will we be judged and hear Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Well done." 

I learned that there will be 2 types of judgments--one for His children and one for those who closed their hearts to Jesus, which will result in destruction and despair in hell. So, let us not give up in prayer and opportunities to share with our loved ones and those on our PII (prayer, invest, invite) card who do not yet know Jesus. We must also pray for our missionaries who are spreading the Gospel to the unreached parts of the world. 

Dear Jesus, it is true that Your Word is like a double edged sword, convicting us straight to the heart, judging our thoughts and the attitudes of the heart (Heb. 4:12). Writing this honestly convicted me to the point of making my heart hurt. Thank You for the hope and reminder that You will be returning soon to judge the living and the dead. Thank You for Your Son Jesus Christ who made a way for us all to come to You and be freed from the sin that used to bind us. Greater are You who are in us than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4).

May I keep these truths in my heart when I am tempted to stray. I also pray for those in the Church (with a big C) in a season of rebellion. Please draw them back to You in repentance.

Additionally, I pray for continued opportunities and boldness to share Your testimony and my testimony with those who don't yet know the Good News and our brothers and sisters who are currently in the mission fields around the world. Thank You that You are not slow in keeping Your promise, but are patient with us all, not wanting anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance  (2 Peter 3:9). May Your Kingdom come, as we continue to work together as Your hands and feet, shining and sharing Your light in this darkened world. We pray this all in Your name and for Your glory alone Jesus, Amen.

-Michelle Gaddi

Proverbs_6

ScriptureProverbs 6:6Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! Observation - What does it say?Solomon encourages his listeners to observe the ants’ hard working and disciplined behavior and to learn wisdom from it. Understanding - What does it mean?Last summer I had an ant problem. They had been coming in around the sun window by the sink in our kitchen. At first I tried killing them with bleach cleaner, but new ones would come back after it dried. Katie got on Pinterest and looked up solutions. She tried baking soda and powdered sugar which I guess is like poison. Didn't work too well. She tried peppermint essential oil. It only worked a short time and the ants would be back as soon as it dried and the smell dissipated. Then I thought, I'll just figure out where they're coming in and block it off. They were coming in behind the window sill so I got my caulking gun from the garage and caulked it. No more ants... At least for a few hours. All of a sudden they were everywhere again, all over the wall and countertop. They were coming from the other side of the sill where it meets the drywall. So I caulked there. No more ants... At least for a few more hours. Then I found them coming in a little crack in the window. I caulked about 5 different spots and after each one, within a few hours, they just kept finding another way in. I ended up just leaving the caulking gun on the window sill and had come to expect them to find another way in. We had been playing this game almost a week, when finally, after what I hoped would be the last caulking job I saw them coming in from a different place. I exclaimed, "Those little fools!" And in my anger, started squishing them with my finger. Any I could see. In that moment of irrational rage I heard loud and clear in my mind: Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!Woah. Those "little fools" are actually wise. Lol What wisdom can I learn from ants, I thought? Well, they are incredibly persistent. They won't give up. They aren't easily deterred. They keep at it and have no plan B. Just plan A: get in Levi's house and drive him crazy. How big can an ant brain possibly be? I don't know that they have the capacity to think hard about what to do. They know what to do and do it. No excuses. They see no roadblocks, only obstacles they will overcome.  Life ApplicationIf I'm going to apply that wisdom to my life, there can be no, "God will work it out" attitude while I sit here passively." There can be no, "I'm just not feeling very motivated." "I'm too busy." "I'm tired." "God sees all the obstacles the enemy is placing in my way. He'll understand why I'm not going to try hard anymore."What areas have I been a sluggard? Where have I lacked persistence? Discipline? Where have I been making excuses instead of just knowing what's right and doing it?God, forgive me for the ways I’ve lacked discipline and persistence. Please help us to be a people that passionately pursues you and your mission, who don't shrink back and get destroyed by our circumstances, but who believe and overcome. Refuel us where we've been drained by hurt and discouragement and fan the flame of passion within us to know you and make you known. Amen.

 

-Levi Thompson

Matthew___28

Scripture

Matthew 28:16-17 NLT

“Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!”

Observation-What does it say?

As both Marys went to visit Jesus’ tomb, they were greeted by a great earthquake. For an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled back the huge stone that lay in front of the door of the tomb, and showed both Marys that the place where Jesus’ body laid, was now empty! Just like Jesus told them...He would rise again! Jesus is alive! Now the angel told the women to go and tell the disciples that Jesus is alive, and to tell them to head to Galilee, because it is there that they will see him.

So when the disciples arrived in Galilee, they went to the mountain where Jesus told them to go. It was there that they saw him and worshipped him, yet some of them still doubted.

Understanding-What does it mean?

 

Transformation does not happen quickly.

Even after all Jesus has done for them, all He has told them, all that they have seen with their own eyes, they still doubted?! We would like to think that the Resurrection alone would immediately transform these timid disciples into heroes of faith. But this particular verse is a great reminder that transformation does not happen overnight. Even after Jesus’ disciples saw him alive and heard him speak, they still doubted.

Now just when I was going to get down on Jesus’ disciples, I took a look at my own life. I looked back at all that I learned, all that Jesus has done in my life, and all that He has got me through. Yet when one of life’s roadblocks comes my way, what do I do? I find myself anxious, I begin to doubt God’s promises for me. Why?! I believe it’s a growing and maturing process we as Christ Followers all go through. Our lives as Christ Followers is a daily spiritual walk. A walk in which we should all be striving to grow and mature in Christ daily. I believe the “churchy word” for it is sanctification. It is our lifelong process as God’s children to become more like Christ each and every day. And it doesn’t stop either! It is something we all should be doing till the Lord calls us home.

Life Application

I must strive to be a better disciple each and every day, month, and year!

Too often we come across people who say they have been Christians for years and years. Yet they seem to be struggling with the same issues over and over. They tell you that they’ve been a Christian for 10 years, but it seems they’ve been repeating the same grade year after year with no growth. Or they can quote you scripture and know the Bible inside-out. Yet their lives contradict what they should already know. They have the information, but not the transformation in their lives. As Christ Followers we should be all about the transformation. We should be allowing the Holy Spirit to mold us and change us to be more like Jesus each day.

-Moses Gaddi