1 John 4 - 7.18.23

Scripture

1 John 4:19-21

 "We love because He first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister." 

Observation

In this chapter, John speaks about testing the spirits and how to discern whether they are from God. Is it the authentic Spirit of God?

He then goes on to write about what real love looks like.  Being able to love others originates from God’s love for us. His love for us is not meant to be kept for ourselves, but shared with others, especially our brothers and sisters in the faith.

Application

Love our brothers and sisters in the faith. 

On Sunday, part of Pastor Levi’s sermon addressed how there are people who say they don’t need the church. Their relationship with God is just between them and Him. I have also had people tell me that they love God, but they don’t love people. 

Why would John, through the Holy Spirit, need to encourage us to love our brothers and sisters in the faith? Because let’s be real, sometimes it’s not easy. Sometimes, we get hurt, blindsided or feel betrayed by family members. Some people have been sinned against too. Another example is in Matthew 18:21-22. Peter asked the Lord how many times he should forgive his brother and sister who sins against him. Peter didn’t ask Jesus how many times to forgive the people in the world, but rather his own brothers and sisters in Christ. This just proves that even in the church, we will hurt others and be hurt by others.

Human relationships can be complicated, but no matter how hard it may be, we are called to love AND forgive our brothers and sisters in the Lord. Scripture says that we can say we love God all we want, but we would be liars until we start loving the Church too! 

In a family, there are always ups and downs, yet we do not quit on each other. It’s important to always pray for each other (it’s hard not to love people you pray for), forgive each other, and love/serve each other. 

Prayer

Dear Lord, I don’t want my faith and my relationship with You to be a lie because I refuse to love my own brothers and sisters in the faith. Please help me to always forgive, show mercy and love the way You have FIRST shown me. Amen. 

-Michelle Gaddi

Psalm 107 - 7.17.23

Scripture

Psalms‬ ‭107‬:‭2 NLT

“Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.”

Observation

This is a psalm of of thanksgiving and praise. The psalmist, (most likely David), wants people to know of God’s faithfulness to those who call on His name. The psalmist gives examples throughout this psalm of the many troubles God’s people were in. Some of these troubles were even from their own wrongdoing by rebelling against God. But in God’s grace, when the people cried out to Him for help, He was faithful to rescue them each time. Verses 6, 13, 19, and 28 of this psalm remind us of that because each verse is identical, saying:

“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress.”

So in return, the psalmist implores anyone who has experienced God’s faithfulness and goodness in their lives to tell others just how good and awesome God truly is.

“Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them.”-Psalms‬ ‭107‬:‭8‬ ‭

Application

Share with someone the wonderful things God has done in your life.

We who are Christians have all experienced God’s love and faithfulness in our lives. We all have different backgrounds and different stories to tell. Each are unique in their own way. Each are personal to us. And that is what makes them great! You see, while you may have some people out there who are skeptical about if the Bible is true, or if God is real or not; there is no disputing the physical evidence of what He has done in our own lives. So when we share our stories, it makes God that much more real to those we are sharing our stories with. These stories of ours may be the closest thing to church or hearing the gospel message as they are going to get! So be bold. Let’s share our stories of the great things God has done in our lives. Let people know that what God did for you, He can do for them. He is just a prayer away. 🙏🏽

Prayer

Father God I just want to thank You for Your faithfulness, kindness, and never-ending love for me. Even though I don’t deserve it, You are always there for me time and time again. I pray that I may be bold and courageous when it comes to sharing with others the stories of Your goodness in my life. May You reveal Yourself to them through these stories. May they want to know You more, and want to have that same relationship that I have with You. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 🙏🏽

-Moses Gaddi

Psalm 106 - 7.14.23

Scripture

Psalm 106:7b-8

…they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.
Yet he saved them for his name’s sake,
    to make his mighty power known.

Observation

The Israelites had sinned, they had forgotten what God had done for them, the lost sight of the miracles and didn’t give any thought to how kind God had been to them. The rebelled against God despite all he had done and God would have been justified in destroying them all.

YET, he saved them. Wow.

His reason? “for his name’s sake, to make his mighty power known.” This wasn’t a one-off event for God. Rather, he was making known to the world something about who he is always is and always will be. Namely, what Jesus said about God in Luke 6:35, “he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.”

Application

There are so many appropriate responses to this - praise God and be in awe of his extravagant kindness (like the psalmist here), rejoice in the ways God has demonstrated this kindness to me, share with others about God’s kindness, imitate this kindness by loving my enemies (what Jesus was teaching about in Luke 6). And I’m sure there are even more.

But where I feel drawn today is to reflect on the fact that God has been kind to me for his name’s sake, not because I deserve it. It sounds cliché to say it, but the truth is I am blessed. Like crazy blessed. I have been saved. I have been forgiven. I have a future hope of eternity with God. I have an incredible wife, amazing kids, the best church family and ministry, a beautiful home, always enough food on the table… it’s overwhelming. Especially when I know how much I sinned and rebelled against God, and how I still struggle to get it right. God is so kind, so merciful, so patient with me. And as time goes on, I don’t ever want to lose sight of the fact that it’s all grace.

Prayer

God, you have been so kind to me. Thank you for being the God who is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Not just some ungrateful and wicked people in the Bible, or people out there in the world somewhere, but TO ME. Thank you. May I never lose sight of it, and may it inspire deepest praise and devotion to you. Amen.

 -Levi Thompson