Psalm 88

ScripturePsalms 88:13 NLT“O Lord, I cry out to you. I will keep on pleading day by day.” Observation-What does it say?This psalm was written by Heman the Ezrahite. This was a very sad, gloomy, and hopeless psalm. When reading the book of Psalms, the author will write about their despair, but it usually follows with a glimpse of hope. Their hope in God. That God will bring justice to those who wrong them. But this author has lost all sense of hope. Life is pretty much kicking him while he’s down. He seems to have lost everything. He seems to be content knowing that darkness is his closest friend in life. That hope is gone and out the door. Understanding-What does it mean?No God = No hope. Know God = Know hope.As much misery as the author of this Psalm is in, there is one thing, (other than the dark cloud that seems to be hovering over him), in life that he doesn’t quit on...CRYING OUT TO GOD! Although life seems hopeless for him, and he feels God has forgotten him, that doesn’t stop him from calling out to the Lord. In verses 1, 9, and 13 he clearly calls out to God begging for help. I believe it’s because he understands no matter how difficult life can be, or no matter just how much life’s struggles are stacked up against him, as long as God is with him, he has hope. He has a chance.I believe the same goes for us. There are going to be moments in our lives where we feel hopeless, defeated, and alone. But no matter what life’s circumstances bring us, our hope is in Jesus. And we know that with Him, ALL things are possible. We know that Jesus was able to conquer this world. He even conquered death! And it’s with that hope in Him that we hold on to, knowing that with Him by our side, we too can conquer it too. “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.”-1 Peter 1:6-7  Life ApplicationPut your hope in Jesus.“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” -Romans 5:1-5  -Moses Gaddi

Genesis_41

Scripture - What stood out?

Genesis 41:57 Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth. Observation - What does it say?With Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh's dream coming true slowly but surely the entire known world would have to turn to Joseph for salvation.Understanding - What does it mean?I have had part of this Charles Dickens quote stuck in my brain for the past several days (cue the melodramatic movie voice), “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” An apt description for the environment we find ourselves in during Genesis 41. There was a famine yet one nation, under the leadership of one man, under the guidance of the Spirit of God provided hope.  

Over the past several months I have read several books which asked me to look at the similarities between Abraham, Joseph, Moses, and Jesus. And so as I was re-reading this story verse 57 came alive to me in a different way this time. I have often remembered this story for Joseph’s role in redeeming the nation of Israel. Verse 57 however makes it clear - all, the, earth, - came to him for food during the famine. 

 

Although Joseph’s life is filled with tumult and peril we begin to see God’s work manifesting through all of it. I have read this story so many times and I come away always remembering how God looked out for His chosen nation. I mean Jesus would be born from the line of Abraham so they needed to be spared from the famine. That’s pretty important. But the Lord didn’t just stop there. He chose Joseph to feed the whole world! 

 

And now all I seem to be able to see is the foreshadowing that would point to Jesus. I believe that Jesus was most certainly sent to save God’s wayward nation. But there was a greater design at play. Jesus was sent to save the entire world. A savior who came not to save just one nation but all nations who would follow him. Life Application - How can I apply this to my life today?Lord thank you for bringing our old testament alive to me today!For my life application I would like to share my journal entry with one person who would listen to me. Partly to see if they agree with me. But mainly to continue to spread my love for the bible in its entirety on to others. Thank you Lord. In the name of Jesus do I pray. Amen. -kenneth lee 

Galatians__4

Scripture

Galatians 4: 28&31

Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise… Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman.

 

Observation

Paul continues his letter to the Galatians and looks to emphasize who we are in Christ. He speaks of Abraham’s children as a comparison and then furthers this analogy by calling the Galatians themselves “children of promise.” From here, he declares that anyone who believes in Christ and lives for Him is a new and free being.

 

Understanding

You ever thought about the weight that the word promise carries? Here’s how our good friend Miriam-Webster defines promise (n.): a declaration or assurance that one will do a particular thing or that a particular thing will happen. That seems like a lot of words to say that a promise guarantees something, whether it be a service or an event, or even a person. Here Paul calls us “children of promise.” It has a nice ring to it, but the implication is so much more than just “having a nice ring to it.” Keeping a promise often requires an action. We can’t just passively sit and expect our promises to fulfill themselves, but in the same vein our promise was already fulfilled for us.

I came to a shocking realization the other day: I don’t have to do anything to earn the affection of God. I think that’s what Paul is getting at here; yes, you have promises to upkeep but those are simply out of being a good child of God. There’s nothing we can do to make God love or hate us more. We are free to experience the love of God simply by believing in Him. To be honest with you, for a little bit I thought I had to earn it, but I don’t I live in the freedom of being a child of the Most High. I am a child of promise, and rest-assured I will bask in that freedom so generously given to me.

 

Life Application

Something I realize is a deterrent in basking in this freedom though is the opinion of others. To that I say: just because we haven’t experienced God in a certain way yet doesn’t mean He doesn’t operate in that way. My concept of God may sometimes be small, but I know that He isn’t! I know that I know I have experienced God, and because of that I can live in His promises and freedom that He has set before me.

Take a look at your own life and remember the times that you experienced Him in such a tangible way. Hold onto it and use it as a tool in helping others to being children of promise and free in Christ.

-Allison Khan