James 1 - 6.26.23
Scripture
James 1:2-4 NLT
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”
Observation
James is writing to the 12 tribes of Jewish believers in this passage. He is encouraging them to not let the trials in their lives bring them down. Instead, James urges them to see those trials in their lives as a chance for them to grow in the faith. It’s a chance for them to lean further into God. Its a chance for them to see God’s mighty hand at work in their lives because of their faith in Him. And when they see God’s faithfulness, it will build on their faith, causing them to grow and grow each time troubles arise.
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” -Romans 5:1-5
Application
A faith that cannot be tested, cannot be trusted.
I love the analogy of trials and our faith, and how it relates to exercise and our body’s muscles. You see, when you workout, you are exercising your body’s muscles. Sure, at the time it may bring your body discomfort, and maybe a little pain. It may even cause you to be sore for the next couple of days. But, with the proper rest and nutrition, your body recovers, and becomes stronger, ready to take on the next challenge. 💪🏽
And the same goes with our faith and the trials we face in life. Each trial brings on its own challenge. It can bring us pain and discomfort. It can stretch our faith in ways we didn’t know we can stretch! But know as we go through them, if we give them the proper nutrition, (fully putting our faith in God), we can walk away from these trials stronger and better. We become more mature in our faith. We see and know firsthand of God’s faithfulness! We know that whatever life throws our way, we will not be shaken. We will not shy away from adversity. We will stand strong in our faith because we serve a God who is with us no matter what!
““Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”” -Matthew 7:24-27
Prayer
Father God, thank You for Your faithfulness. Although these trials in life may be discomforting, and may even bring me pain, I know that You are with me. I know if I stand firm, and fully lean in on You, that You will get me through it. You may not always remove me from the difficult situation, but You will always give me the strength to get through it. I know Your intentions sometimes is to refine me through “the fire”,/ life’s difficult situations. I know at the end of the day, the goal is to be more like Jesus. Help me to live strong in my faith so I can be like Him more and more each day. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
-Moses Gaddi
Jeremiah 30 - 6.23.2023
Scripture - Pick one verse that stood out to you.
Jeremiah 30:14-17
All your allies have forgotten you;
they care nothing for you.
I have struck you as an enemy would
and punished you as would the cruel,
because your guilt is so great
and your sins so many.
Why do you cry out over your wound,
your pain that has no cure?
Because of your great guilt and many sins
I have done these things to you.
“‘But all who devour you will be devoured;
all your enemies will go into exile.
Those who plunder you will be plundered;
all who make spoil of you I will despoil.
But I will restore you to health
and heal your wounds,’
declares the Lord,
Observation - What about this verse stands out to you?
The Lord God is speaking to Jeremiah about what will happen to Israel (the nation that represents God’s people). In the verses above God makes it clear that He struck them as an enemy would because of their many sins. He follows up by telling His people not to cry out but also that (He) will make sure that all who devour you will be devoured. And in verse seventeen He says He will restore them to health and heal their wounds. Groovy.
Application - How will you apply this to your life?
I sometimes can’t help but feel that after some serious introspection and intense reaching out to the Lord, that maybe, just maybe, the situation I am in is because of my own wrongdoing, my own bad attitude, my own sin. Today I hang onto your words, Lord. It’s time for me to stop crying out. It’s time to suck it up and move forward. I got what I deserved from my Lord and my creator. I hang on to Your promise. I am a child of Yours. I am a child of God. I am one of God’s people. You will destroy my enemies. I will stop crying out. You will restore me. I will sin no more. You will Heal my wounds.
Prayer - Write out a prayer.
I praise you and I worship my God this morning. my Creator. my Savior. my Lord. my Discipler. my Teacher. my Mentor. my Greatest Ally. I love you for all you have taught me, and pray that you will continue to teach, disciple, and guide me. I repent of my sins. I love you Lord. Bless all of God’s people, Your people this day. In the name of Jesus do I pray. Amen.
-kenneth lee
Hebrews 12 - 6.22.23
Scripture
Hebrews 12:1 NLT
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”
Observation
In this passage, the author uses the analogy of running a race, and comparing it to how we need to live our Christian lives. In a race, our eyes are always focused on the finish line. We keep grinding, we keep running, until we cross that finish line. We strip anything off from our bodies that may slow us down. We strive to do our best, so we can win that race.
And the same thing goes for us in our Christian life. As we run the race of our lives, we must run with our heads up and our eyes focused on Jesus. We need to keep striving each day to be more like Him. We need to strip off/take out anything in our lives that hinders us from completing this goal. And we keep “running” that race until He calls us home.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.”-2 Timothy 4:7-8
Application
What things in my life are slowing me down in this race of life? 🤔
Any athlete at the top of their sport got there with hard work and dedication. They had a strict focus. They made sure to get rid of any distractions in their way that would hinder them from achieving their goal. And just like that athlete, we too need to find the things in our life that is hindering us with our spiritual growth. Is our focus too much on our career? Is it family? Is it the friends we hang out with? Or maybe it’s the music we listen to or the movies we watch? Whatever the case may be, we need to FOCUS!
I love how our church implements the discipline of prayer and fasting. We do it every year in January, and we also implement these times during various parts of the year as well. It’s a great way to hit the “reset” button. It’s a way we can get our focus back on God. We rid ourselves of all the distractions, (television, secular music, social media, and yes, even food), that can slow us down from our spiritual growth, and more importantly, hinder us from our relationship with God. Then we replace those things with spending more time with God by reading His Word and praying. It helps us get our eyes and our focus back on Jesus.
So are we stuck in a rut right now? Did we hit that “wall” in our spiritual life? Do we need our “second wind” so we can get back in the race and cross that finish line? How about we fast and pray. See what breakthroughs can happen when we put our focus back on God.
Prayer
Father God, I pray that I can finish this race strong. I pray that I can hear Your words when I cross the finish line telling me, “Well done my good and faithful servant.” Give me the strength and endurance to continue running. May I keep my eyes focused on You. May I stay on course and help others around me cross that finish line along the way. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 🙏🏽
-Moses Gaddi