Psalm 23-7.7.22
Scripture
Psalms 23:4 NIV
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Observation
David writes about the goodness of God.
Understanding
It can be really difficult to understand the things going on around us. With us now being able to access a near incomprehensible amount of information, it seems everywhere you look you’re confronted with some horrible reality, being exposed to horrific events happening all over the world. On top of that, we have our own valleys of darkness that we traverse, not just the ones we see in the media. The amount of comfort we receive from this verse, knowing that we aren’t alone in these valleys brings us close to God. God doesn’t give us anything to fear. He brings us comfort in the midst of life’s storms, guiding us by the hand through some of reality’s harsh truths.
Life Application
When we face our storms, along with the storms of our world, it’s easy for us to become riddled with fear. But, we must take comfort in the fact that God will never leave us in these dark valleys that make themselves present in our lives. With His staff he brings us back to him, with his rod he defends us, so when we enter the dark valleys in life, we have nothing to fear. When you face a storm, whether it be your own or one brought on by the world, align yourself with God, meditate on his works, be comforted by our wonderful God in prayer and in his word.
-Anakin Cerda
Luke 5-7.6.22
Scripture
Luke 5:31
“Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Observation-What does it say?
In this chapter, Jesus called His first disciples, healed a man with leprosy, forgave and healed a paralyzed man, called Levi and ate with sinners and was questioned by the Pharisees about why His disciples didn’t pray and fast.
Understanding-What does it mean?
The bulk of Jesus’ ministry wasn’t in the Temple. It was outside of the temple, with ordinary people and sinners.
The men that Jesus chose as His disciples were ordinary men with ordinary jobs in the world. The man with leprosy and the paralyzed man whom Jesus healed and touched were not seen or favored, by societal standards. The tax collectors and sinners whom Jesus dined with and the way that His disciples didn’t fast and pray made religious leaders/teachers question Him.
Jesus didn’t care to heal the prideful and those “perfect” in their own eyes. He came to disciple and heal those who recognized their need for Him.
Life Application
Without Jesus, we are nothing. The Lord uses ordinary people like me and you to accomplish His will.
As we’ve been encouraging those in our ITC groups to establish a 3rd place away from our Christian circles (church and ITC group) to reach out, Jesus was the prime example of establishing relationships and always ministering outside of the Temple to people who truly needed Him.
Who is someone “ordinary” that you can reach out to and share the love of Jesus with today? Where is your 3rd place?
-Michelle Gaddi
Luke 4-7.5.22
Scripture
Luke 4:1-12
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”
The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”
The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you
to guard you carefully;
they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Observation
Even during EXTREME testing and trials, Jesus responds to Satan’s tempting with answers from scripture.
Understanding
“He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.” This might be just a bit of an understatement! Satan saw what he thought was an opportunity – a time when Jesus was weak. Jesus wasn’t physically ready for battle. His body was probably on the brink of shutting down. But, he was prepared ahead of time. Did you notice that in every response he references scripture – “It is written.”
When faced with trials and temptation, how do we respond? Are we prepared for those immediate, unexpected temptations that come up when we weren’t expecting them? How about the times when we are overwhelmed with the circumstances going on in our lives and we are tired and weak? Let’s be prayed up and filled up with scripture in advance so we are prepared.
Life Application
A while ago, I was struggling with anxiety. After letting it go on for a while, it was getting worse, not better. I decided to battle it with the word of God. I looked up scriptures, wrote them on sticky notes, and put them in places I would see them every day. I memorized them. I wanted to be prepared for the times when my heart would start racing or when I would wake up in the middle of the night panicking. God’s word is true and in those moments of panic, I needed to remind myself of that. There are still times I need to pray and quote scripture to help calm myself. But Psalms 56:3 says, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”
Let’s get prayed up and filled up with scripture so we are prepared!
-Debbie Dunn