Psalm 84 - 6.14.23

Scripture

Psalm 84: 1-2; 10-12

1 How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! 2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God…….10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. 11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. 12 Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.

Observation

I love worship songs that are based in Scripture! The song” Better is One Day” is based on Psalm 84. The Psalmist is saying that there is no safer place to be than with the Lord God Almighty. Nothing in life compares to being in His presence. Being safe in the loving arms and care of our Heavenly Father is priceless. We have no better advocate and friend than Jesus and no better counselor than the Holy Spirit. 

Application

Spend time with Jesus.

Where and when do you spend uninterrupted time with the Lord?  Where is your secret place where you meet and communicate with Him? In a special prayer closet? In bed first thing in the morning or before you sleep at night? During your commute to work? Outside in your backyard surrounded by nature? 

We must make sure to put aside and guard some uninterrupted time with Jesus. 

Prayer

Dear Lord, 

I pray that we would always seek time with You 1st and may everything else be secondary. Better is one day in Your courts than a thousands elsewhere Lord. Amen. 

Better is One Day (worship)

https://youtu.be/jdE03zRJtxw

-Michelle Gaddi

Hebrews 5 - 6.13.23

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews 5: 8-10  "Though He was God's Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered.  After He was perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him, and He was declared by God a high priest in the order of Melchizedek."

OBSERVATION:  The author of Hebrews is anonymous, but he was a mature Jewish Christian.  He wrote to the Jewish Christian congregation, which was filled with true believers, and some who were uncertain.  The writer explained how Jesus fulfilled the role of the high priest while at the same time changing the nature of the priesthood. 

Aaron was a man called by God to represent the children of Israel before the Father.  Jesus Christ was and is a man called by His Father to bridge the gap between Himself and His people.  Aaron was only a man, but Jesus became the One and only God-man, the incarnate Son of God.  In fact He is God Who became flesh.  (John 1:1,14).

Rather than a fallible human priest, we are able to approach the great high priest Who is seated at the right hand of the Father.  When the saints in the Old Testament offered their sacrifices day after day, year after year, they were trusting God and looking forward to a time when the ultimate perfect sacrifice would take every sin, once and for all.  (Gene Getz Life Essential Study Bible).

APPLICATION:  The blood that Jesus shed on the cross was an atonement for my sins, and His death and resurrection made a way for me to have fellowship with the Father.  When I approach God, it's Jesus Who represents me before the Father.  Every time I communicate through prayer to God, it is always through His Son, Jesus. 

I have been redeemed and forgiven, and I have received eternal life through Jesus, and it's God's perfect will that I am to be a functioning part of His family, taught by His Word and empowered by the Holy Spirit.  

PRAYER:  Thank You Jesus for being willing to leave heaven to die for my sins.  Thank You for Your obedience to the Father.  Fully God, and fully man; the perfect One Who never sinned, and yet You were willing to take ALL my sins upon Yourself when You hung on that cross and died! Thank You for bridging the gap between God and myself.  You replaced the need to sacrifice the blood of animals, and became the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29).  I pray I will follow Your example by being obedient to the Father.  

- Robin Orefice

Jeremiah 21 - 6.12.23

Scripture

Jeremiah‬ ‭21‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT

“Please speak to the Lord for us and ask him to help us. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon is attacking Judah. Perhaps the Lord will be gracious and do a mighty miracle as he has done in the past. Perhaps he will force Nebuchadnezzar to withdraw his armies.”

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Observation

King Zedekiah of Judah sends his priests Pashhur and Zephaniah to speak with Jeremiah. They asked if Jeremiah could speak to God on their behalf because their city was being attacked by the forces of the Babylonians. But you see, a couple of chapters ago, Jeremiah warned the people of Judah what would happen to them if they continued living their sinful lifestyle. Jeremiah told them that God’s wrath would be unleashed upon them, and He would destroy their city. But, the people of Judah refused to listen to Jeremiah then, and only now they come and seek God’s help in this issue. But it is too late. The people of Judah have made their bed, and now they will have to lay in it.

Application

Don’t treat God like some “genie in a bottle”!

That is exactly what the people of Judah are doing here in this passage. All God ever wanted from His chosen people of Israel, and us, is a relationship with them/us. He yearns for us to know Him more, so we can experience His abounding love and grace. He wants to bless us because of our obedience to Him. But why is it that we often can be like the people of Judah here? We want to do things our own way, NOT God’s way. We want to live our lives the way we please, but as soon as we experience turmoil…only then, we cry out to God for help. We can’t treat God like some “genie in a bottle” that we only go to whenever we need something from Him. God wants all of us. He wants our hearts. He wants our devotion. He wants that personal relationship with us that He setup through His Son Jesus. So let’s give God our all. Let’s give Him our best. Let’s see how God will bless us when we do.

“The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”-‭‭Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭27‬-‭28‬

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, I want to first and foremost ask for Your forgiveness for the times I treated You like a “genie in a bottle” or like my own “personal vending machine”. You deserve my best, because You gave me Your best…with Jesus. Thank You Jesus for giving me full access to a Holy God because You died for my sins and made me right in His eyes. I pray that I follow You and grow in my relationship with You. May my life bring You all the glory and honor You deserve. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. 🙏🏽

-Moses Gaddi