Proverbs_21

Scripture‭‭

 

Proverbs‬ ‭21:2-3, & 27‬ ‭NLT

 

“People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart. The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices.

 

The sacrifice of an evil person is detestable, especially when it is offered with wrong motives.”

 

 

Observation-What does it say?

 

Another set of proverbs given by King Solomon. In these particular verses he writes of God knowing our true heart and motives behind our actions.

 

 

Understanding-What does it mean?

 

You can’t fool God.

 

I remember when I was still new to my faith. Deep down I thought by me tithing, I can buy God’s favor and protection. I thought if I didn’t give back to God, something bad was going to happen to me. Maybe something breaking down with my car, in my home, or a family sickness. In a sense, some of that can be true. But we all know you can’t buy God’s favor. I mean what was I thinking?! Did I really think that I can buy God to be my personal bodyguard?! You see, although God is my protector, it isn’t because I paid Him to do it.

The same goes for a time when I would hear stories of someone like Pastor Rick Warren, (the author of A Purpose Driven Life and Lead Pastor at Saddleback Church), and how generous he was with his money. I would read stories of no matter how much he would give back, God would bless him with so much more money. I thought to myself, “Maybe if I’m generous like that, God will make me rich too?!” Now although Jesus does call us to be generous with others and our giving, I don’t think it was so that we can become filthy rich. For both scenarios that I stated, I had to ask myself, “What are my true motives behind my actions? “Was I doing these things to receive God’s presence? Or was I doing it to receive His presents?” 🤔

God knew my heart at that time. He knew my selfish ambitions behind my actions. It took the Holy Spirit to get a hold of me and remind me why I should be doing the things God tells me to do. Not because I want something in return, but because I love Him. I love Him because He first loved me.

 

“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”-‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭NLT

 

 

Life Application

 

Give generously what you can with your time or money, with no strings attached.

 

Tis the season! Be giving to someone today. No strings attached. No ulterior motives. Remember what God did for us and still continues to do for us. Remember why we do what we do as His children. Spread the true joy of Christmas to all!

 

-Moses Gaddi

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Jonah 1

Scripture  Jonah 1:3 

But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. Observation-What does it say?  This book was named after the main character and was likely authored by him as well.  At the onset of the story, Jonah is sent by God to the land of Nineveh to share the message of His love and tell them to repent.  Ironically enough, the name Jonah means “dove.”  Throughout the Bible, the dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit and peace.  But, instead of bringing peace to the people of Nineveh, Jonah ran in the opposite direction of God’s calling.  Nineveh was a city, as described in the book of Nahum, who was set against the Lord and plotted evil against the people of Israel.  Even though Jonah was disobedient, God has a way of making sure his plans are carried out.   Understanding-What does it mean?  I will be having my “Virtual Graduation” ceremony tomorrow for my bachelor’s degree.  A degree that is intended to take four years took me a nice even 18 and a half years.  But, college and I have had a funny relationship.  The first time I tried to go full time, I was in a car accident that almost took my life.  The second time I tried to go full time, which was at Bible college, I got in another accident that totaled my truck and broke my mom’s back.  Later on in that semester, I found myself in the hospital in need of “exploratory surgery.”  Exploratory surgery is never a phrase you want to hear.   After finding a career, I tried to go back again, but was interrupted by the birth of my three sons.  As time went on, I began to believe it was never going to be a possibility for me.  Looking at it now, I can see God was taking me on a different path than I was trying to go down.  Much like Jonah, I was trying to do things on my own terms.  But, God had a different way, which included a program he intended, which made me grow in ways I would never have thought possible.  And, also like Jonah, it changed my view of the Gospel message and who God wants to hear the message of His hope. God has a way of making sure His plans are carried out, even when that means major accidents, being swallowed by a giant fish, or even the death of His son.  Because of this, we can find comfort in His words, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9) Life Application  Holy Spirit, help me to have the humility to trust your plans.  Give me the patience to go through the hard times in life. In the good times, help me to give you the glory.  Help me to always remember your love is for all the earth.
-Tyler Galloway

Acts___14

Scripture - What stood out to me?

Acts 14:19-20

19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. 20 But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

Observation - What does it say?

Previously in Iconium Paul and Barnabas learn of a plot to stone them and they flee to Lystra. Unfortunately the Iconium Jews find Paul in Lystra, incite the crowd against him, and stone him. 

Understanding - What does it mean?

We have been asked to read the book of acts with the lens of the Holy Spirit as our filter. So you might be wondering why I felt led to highlight these two verses when I clearly had some amazing other options to choose from in this chapter. My defense lies in this vision I had of Paul when I had finished re-reading chapter 14 five or six times.  I was asking God to highlight some areas for me and I was slowly awestruck. 

He was stoned. He was stoned and then he got up and went back into the city that stoned him. Wait he did what? And the next day he left to go preach in Derbe.

The lack of emotional and spiritual details during this moment in Paul’s life might seem discouraging. What was Paul thinking when he was stoned? What did the group of disciples do when they gathered around him? What was Paul’s spiritual state? Was he mad? Was he sad? These are all questions we might ask. I think that the lack of such details is exactly the point that the author and God is ultimately trying to make here.

Paul was stoned, nearly to death. The disciples responded by gathering around him. Perhaps a small miracle was performed by God. Perhaps not. What did Paul do next? He got up. The next day was business as usual. On to the next city to continue his God given mission. No fanfare. No sob story. Paul and Barnabas sum up their response in part of verse 22, ““We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.” 

I can’t stop seeing Paul shrouded in the Holy Spirit as these events unfold. As he was being stoned he was filled with it. As he was left for dead I see him shrouded still. I picture the disciples glowing as they gathered around him. I see him wrapped in the Spirit as he is revived. And I can’t help but picture him continuing to glow as he moves on to the next town. 

Life Application - How can I apply this today?

In Paul I see a man who was just so devoted to his mission in life. I see a man that constantly stayed connected to the Holy Spirit for as much as possible. That is what I want for my life. I don’t want the Holy Spirit once a week on Sundays or even twice a week. I want it all the time!

Father God, 

Please teach me Lord to live my life like Paul did. I feel like sometimes if a pebble is placed in my path I am grumbling and groaning. Instead would you teach me to live like a man always filled with the Holy Spirit every moment of every day for the rest of my life. For when the stones are thrown I want to simply get up and continue on like Paul did. For your glory. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Your Son,

Kenneth Lee