Psalm 62-12.13.21
Scripture
Psalms 62:11-12 NLT
“God has spoken plainly, and I have heard it many times: Power. O God, belongs to you; unfailing love, O Lord, is yours. Surely you repay all people according to what they have done.”
Observation-What does it say?
In this psalm David writes about waiting and trusting in God above anything else. His enemies surround him. His enemies plot to kill him. Even some of his “friends” are two faced (praising him to his face, yet cursing him in their hearts). But through all of this David finds peace. He cries out to God with all his worries. He trusts in God’s sovereignty and strength. He knows at the end of the day God’s justice will prevail.
Understanding-What does it mean?
You reap what you sow.
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”-Galatians 6:7-10
If God surely repays all people for what they have done (verse 12 of this chapter), what will I be reaping? What kind of seeds am I sowing?
Life Application
What have I done with the name of Jesus?
We all know if God repays us for what we have done, we would all be in trouble.
“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”-Romans 3:23
But thankfully God is so loving and so gracious!
“Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.”-Romans 3:24-26
So what have I done with the name of Jesus? Did I accept it or reject it? Am I sowing the seed of Jesus’ name in people’s hearts? Am I sowing seeds to please my flesh, or sowing seeds to please the Holy Spirit? I pray that we all sow the spiritual seeds necessary to live in God’s peace and blessings.
-Moses Gaddi
Joshua 13 - 12.10.21
Scripture
Joshua 13:1
When Joshua had grown old, the Lord said to him, “You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over…”
Observation
Joshua had led an incredible life thus far. He was Moses’ right hand man and went on to be God’s chosen man to lead Israel into the Promised Land. One king after the next, one city after the next, God delivered the Promised Land into Joshua’s hand. The previous chapter lists 31 kings who fell before him!
After decades of incredible adventure with God, God still had more in store for Joshua.
Understanding – What does it mean?
If there’s breath in your lungs, God isn’t done with you.
Until Jesus comes back, there is still kingdom work to be done. Someone needs to hear that you may consider yourself old, but there is no such thing as retirement in the kingdom! There are still very large areas of land God wants to give you. Even if, like Joshua, you’re “very old,” the adventure isn’t over.
Regardless of your age, God is inviting you to experience more.
In our spiritual journey it’s like we begin climbing a mountain with Jesus. As we climb, we grow in intimacy with him and witness him do great things in us and through us. And after a while we stop and look down and we’re amazed at how far we’ve come. We’re no longer the baby Christian at the bottom. It’s encouraging and awe-inspiring as we reflect on our journey. And our tendency is to set up our lawn chair and look down the mountain at how far God has brought us and reminisce our God stories.
All the while, what is Jesus doing? I would argue that he isn’t in a lawn chair beside us. I believe Jesus is standing right behind us calling us to stand up and he’s beckoning us up the mountain. There’s still a summit up there and so much more he wants to show us along the way!
Life Application
God, I’m just so grateful that with you there’s always more! I’m so grateful for all you’ve done but I never want to become complacent and camp out short of the summit. I ask that you would help me, and anyone reading this, to respond to your invitation to keep climbing with you. Old or young, may you fill us with a spiritual passion and hunger to pursue you and be used by you like never before. Deeper intimacy with you. God encounters. Leading lost people to you. Teaching people to follow you. We say yes to all you have for us! Amen.
Matthew 17:1 12.9.21
SCRIPTURE
“Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John the brother of James, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves.” AMP
OBSERVATION
The disciples have been with Jesus for around Three Years when the declaration is officially made that Jesus IS the Promised Messiah. The only challenge is that along with the many miracles and countless healings, Jesus introduced His Most Important Mission in Coming to earth. The Mission involves Him “being handed over to the Jewish authorities to be killed and on the Third day being raised to Life” (Matthew 16:21).
UNDERSTANDING
When things don’t go the Way you Planned.
While many Jews understood and believed in resurrection, this new Plan Jesus introduced was shocking. First of all, the disciples had NO reference for the kind of resurrection Jesus had planned. The “literal” resurrection of His body that would come to eat with them, minister and encourage them—and as Allison Khan shared in her recent teaching “show them HIS scars”.
Jesus understood their fear and planned an excursion a week later for Peter, James, and John. Jesus led them up a High Mountain-a day’s journey-away from distractions-to have ALONE time to reinforce their sorely needed FAITH. And although the disciples were weary and at nighttime had fallen asleep with no clue what was about to happen—Jesus was ever alert and PRAYING. As Jesus was Praying He allowed His Natural Glory to be Unveiled. In that moment such an illumination as Bright as the Noon day Sun glowed from His face that it awoke the disciples. They Witnessed a Portion of Jesus True Glory and were forever encouraged and changed.
Here is John’s account:
“And the Word (Christ) became flesh, and lived among us; and we [actually] saw His glory, glory as belongs to the [One and] only begotten Son of the Father, [the Son who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, who is] full of grace and truth (absolutely free of deception).” (John 1:14 AMP)
Peter heard News about Jesus Plan That wasn’t what he expected. It also didn’t mesh with his viewpoint of The Messiah being King. Why would a ruler need to be handed over to Jewish authorities to be die? But there was a MUCH Bigger Plan at work that Peter hadn’t grabbed hold of yet. God’s Plan of Salvation to save the World.
LIFE APPLICATION
Peter has always been one of my favorite people in the Bible. I love his passion. And I Love even more that God loves his passion and patiently continues to mold and shape him. Peter eventually not only was completely on board with Jesus Plan-but after Jesus death and resurrection went outside and preached a spirit inspired sermon that led 3,000 people to their salvation in Jesus.
My personal takeaways—when I am struggling with how things “look” in life…
Get alone with Jesus. He is faithful to reveal Himself.
Remember That God’s Plans are The BEST Plans. I can’t always SEE down the road how everything is going to come together. Some things in life will require Faith. and God says it is impossible to please him without Faith.
Remember, Jesus is interceding for us. (Romans 8:34)
Thank You LORD for Your Perfect Plan and Your very Great Love for Us. Thank you that You are a God of details and Know Everything. Build my faith and Trust more and more- and when I’m tempted to get distracted or worried—lead me to the High Mountain to spend ALONE time with You. In Your Holy Name I pray. amen
Tina Kudelka