John 18
Scripture
John 18:25
“Meanwhile, as Simon Peter was standing by the fire warming himself, they asked him again, “You’re not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it, saying, “No, I am not.”
Observation-What does it say?
Jesus was betrayed, taken prisoner, and was now being held for questioning inside the high priest's courtyard. Peter and another disciple followed suit. Peter was asked by the lady watching the gate if he was one of Jesus' disciples, to which Peter denied (his first denial). Then as Peter tried to blend in with the crowd, while warming himself around the fire, the people asked him if he was one of Jesus' disciples. Peter denied it a second time. Finally, one of the household slaves who was a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off remembered Peter being there in the garden with Jesus. Peter denied it (his third denial of Jesus), and immediately a rooster crowed, just like Jesus said it would.
Understanding-What does it mean?
Jesus' love for us is UNDENIABLE.
As I read this passage, I couldn't help but remember how Peter swore up and down his love for Jesus. Yet here Peter is denying that he even knows Jesus... not once, but THREE TIMES!
Then I thought to myself, "What if someone who claimed to have loved me denied even knowing me?" Would I still have the same love for them as I had before? I know I would be hurt and devastated. I would have probably turned my back on that person in my life. But what does Jesus do? Not only does Jesus still have love for Peter, but he uses Peter as "the rock" on which His church will be built upon.
“Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.”-Matthew 16:18 NLT
Now Peter was not the only one to deny Jesus. I mean, what happened to the rest of the disciples when Jesus was arrested? Yes, that's right...they fled and hid for their lives! But once again Jesus demonstrates His love by not only welcoming them back, but by partnering with all of them to help build and further His Kingdom here on earth. It is a reminder to me that whenever I may feel I have failed Jesus, or feel too ashamed of my wrongdoings, He is always there to welcome me back with a love that is undeniable.
“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.”-Romans 8:38 NLT
Life Application
It's not about where I am at. It is about where I am going.
Too many times we let the enemy convince us of our wrongdoings and shortcomings in life. It causes us to feel too guilty to turn to Jesus. Instead we try to run and hide from Him. What we end up doing is pushing away the One person who is always willing to help us. This undoubtedly will lead to a downward spiral in our lives that can ultimately lead to our destruction.
So why not accept His help and guidance? Jesus is willing to meet us right where we are at in our lives. There may be some disciplinary actions due to our sinful acts, but a father loves those He disciplines. Just remember that Jesus has already paid for our sins. It's up to us to ask for His forgiveness and repent from our sinful ways. From there the sky is the limit to what He can do in our lives as we partner with Him!
Thank You Jesus for Your patience, unfailing love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Help me to not dwell on my past transgressions, which will cause me to run and hide from You. Instead help me to look forward, keep my head up, and focus on You. I pray this in Your name Jesus, Amen.
-Moses Gaddi
Numbers 23 - 9.17.21
Scripture - What stood out?
Number 23:8 NIV
How can I curse
those whom God has not cursed?
How can I denounce
those whom the Lord has not denounced?
Observation - What does it say?
Balaam has been recently humbled by God, God’s angel, and his own faithful donkey. He has learned to - DO WHAT GOD TELLS YOU TO DO!. And he has learned it in a very miraculous way in the previous chapter. As king Balak continues to seek Israel’s ruin, he runs into a very serious roadblock. The very diviner he has hired to set a curse upon Israel aka, God’s people, is being completely controlled by God!
Understanding - What does it mean?
Have you ever needed a bodyguard? I remember having the opportunity to temporarily be one for a Bollywood actress that happened to be in New York City for a few days. As I walked in front of her and my boss walked beside her, nothing and nobody had access to her without going through us first. It was one of the most invigorating experiences of my short lived security career.
God moved in so much power over the nation of Israel.
God moves in such power over all of his people today.
God you are so good at reminding us of how simply powerful you are. That you are able to prevent even words being spoken against your chosen people when you so chose! This is where my faith level needs to be. If you are for me Lord then who can be against me. What greater protector, what greater guard can there be other than You Lord!
Life Application - How can I apply this to my life today?
If God is for me then who can be against me?
God help me to lean into this today. As my life application for today I would like to speak of Your blessing “May God bless you” over somebody, anybody who may appear to be a stranger to me. I seldom use the phrase because I fear what everyone will say. Help me to use wisdom and discernment and guide me Holy Spirit. Let me know when the right time to say it should be. Help me to remain firm in my faith. You are my Covering. You are my Guard. I put my trust in that. In the name of Jesus do I pray, amen.
-kenneth lee
Numbers 22 - 9.16.21
Scripture - What stood out?
Numbers 22:28-31 NIV
Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?”
Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.”
The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?”
“No,” he said.
Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.
Observation - What does it say?
At this point in the story, Balaam the diviner had beaten his faithful donkey three times for three separate transgressions on the way to meet king Balak who desperately wants him to curse the nation of Israel for him. Unbeknownst to Balaam, the donkey had saved his life three times from the angel whom God had sent to kill Balaam for his own transgression against God. In an ironic twist of fate, God uses Balaam’s faithful (and not stubborn!) and spiritually sighted donkey to teach her master a swift and effective lesson in obedience. Obedience of the utmost value and importance, obedience to God.
Understanding - What does it mean?
These next few words are very hard for me to type…
When God tells me to do something, I have to obey.
My stomach twists into knots just thinking about the above statement. It is easy to point out the faults in others. It is also to get lost in the idea that the bible contains a talking donkey. But if you are able to move past that, you end up with a very straightforward story. God told Balaam to wait...and then go with the princely escort in the morning. Instead Balaam used the opportunity as a green light for him to go and reap the rewards for cursing Israel. God knew Balaam’s heart and became angry with him.
When God tells me to do something, I have to obey.
As I attempt to apply Godly principles within my own home I have had several bible verses stand out to the forefront of my mind. They begin with the words, “Judge not that ye be not judged.” I have taken my own life under a microscope (thanks Balaam!) and I choose my words a little more carefully in my own home, and I choose my actions and words a little more carefully everywhere else as a result.
Life Application - How can I apply this to my life today?
Lord, I know there are more areas of my life that I can bring into alignment with you. I say those words with trepidation when I shouldn’t. That part of me that stays attached to worldly ways doesn’t want to let go. Help me Holy Spirit, shed light on the instruction from God I have been hiding from, and do not let my own desires that do not align with God, lead me astray.
In the name of Jesus do I pray, amen.
-kenneth lee