Psalm 101 - 7.7.2023
Scripture - Pick one verse that stood out to you.
Psalm 101: 7-8
No one who practices deceit
will dwell in my house;
no one who speaks falsely
will stand in my presence.
Every morning I will put to silence
all the wicked in the land;
I will cut off every evildoer
from the city of the Lord.
Observation - What about this verse stands out to you?
What stood out to me about this verse this morning was how king David’s perspective seems to shift from verse seven to eight. In verse seven he seems to be more focused on what ought to happen in his home. And in verse eight he seems to be more focused on the city of the Lord. On the one hand David is the (a) leader of his house. And on the other hand he is the leader of God’s city.
Application - How will you apply this to your life?
I will continue to read over this scripture. I will pray over it. I will apply this scripture by making sure it is read out loud in our next family meeting. This way our entire household understands that this is the direction our family should be headed in. I believe I should read the entire Psalm for all of our sakes.
Prayer - Write out a prayer.
Lord, I pray for Your wisdom, strength, and Holy Spirit guidance! While I may never have the responsibility to lead one of your cities, I sure know what it feels like to be responsible for a household. Help me to make Your Spirit, Your principles, Your Love, the foundation of our house - Your house.
In the name of Jesus, do I pray. Amen.
-kenneth lee
1 Peter 4 - 7.6.23
Scripture
1 Peter 4:10-11 NLT
“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.”
Observation
In these verses, Peter is encouraging the Church to live their lives in a manner that pleases God. He encourages them to use the spiritual gifts that God has blessed them with, to serve one another, to help build the church, and to bring glory to God.
Application
Don’t just sit on the sidelines. Get in the game!
If this verse has taught me anything, it’s that we all have different gifts and talents given to us by God. Not everyone is gifted in music and singing. Not everyone is gifted in teaching and preaching. But we all have something to offer that can help encourage and build each other up, and help build God’s Church up. So my question to you out there is, “are you using the gifts and talents God has given you to do that?”
One of the best ways we can put our gifts and talents to good use is by signing up for church ministry. Whether it is helping out in kids church, ushering, working the lights and soundboard for the stage, being on stage serving in music ministry, or even leading and teaching a Small Group; the point is that there are plenty of places we can use our gifts and talents to help one another, and build up God’s Church. So don’t just sit on the sidelines. Get in the game! Be part of something that is bigger than ourselves. Be part of the team. Be part of the family. ❤️
Prayer
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”-Matthew 9:36-38
Father God, I know Your heart is for everyone in this world to come to know You. I know that it needs to start in our own homes, and in our city. Help us Lord to use the gifts and talents You blessed us with to help build your Kingdom. Bring us the workers to help us with this mission that You have given us. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 🙏🏽
-Moses Gaddi
1 Peter 3 - 7.5.23
Scripture
1 Peter 3:9, 13-16
9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessings, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing….13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
Observation
Peter is speaking about suffering for doing good. As Christ followers, it is a blessing to suffer for doing good.
“So, then, even in suffering, the Christian is still blessed. When the suffering is for Christ, he is demonstrating his loyalty to Christ and is sharing his sufferings….No man escapes suffering, but for the Christian, suffering cannot touch the things which matter most of all.” (studylight.org)
Application
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).”
One of the greatest testimonies of our Christian faith is how we respond to suffering. We must overcome evil with good. When we overcome evil with good, we don’t give the enemy a foothold.
When things are going well in life, it’s easy to do good, but how about when someone hurts us deeply? How about when people slander us? (Oxford dictionary defines slander as making false and damaging statements about someone.) On a deeper level, how about when the enemy tries to lie to us about the character and goodness of God or about our assurance of salvation, identity in Christ and our hope? I am reminded of Pastor Levi’s sermon last Sunday on putting on the Helmet of Salvation. If you missed it, I highly encourage you to watch it at this link: https://youtu.be/SYq3kBFOSfo
God’s Word says we are blessed when we find ourselves suffering for doing good and must continue to maintain our good behavior in Christ. I admit that this can be very difficult! Jesus suffered, on all levels, worse than anyone who has ever lived, so He understands it well. Run to Him for help.
Prayer
Dear Lord,
I admit that when I suffer for doing good, my first response is to want to repay evil with evil. I pray that even in hardships and suffering, the fruits of the Spirit would still be evident in my life and that I would overcome evil with Your good. Amen.
-Michelle Gaddi