Matthew 25 - 9.27.23

Scripture

Matthew 25:23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

Observation

In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the parable of the master who entrusts his wealth to three of his servants while he goes away on a trip. He doesn’t give all three of them the same amount, but instead divvies it up to each according to their ability. Two of the servants took initiative and doubled what the master had entrusted them with. One put it in a hole for safe keeping.

Application

God did not make each of us exactly the same. God gave Carol the gift of evangelizing. He gave Levi the gift of preaching. He gave Robin the gift of intercession. He gave Crystal the gift of hospitality.

“The gifts we receive from God include skills, abilities, family connections, social positions, education, experiences, and more. The point of the parable is that we are to use whatever we have been given for God’s purposes.” Theology of Work Bible Commentary.

Sometimes we might feel inadequate – like we have don’t have any special talents. How can God use us? We don’t know where or how to serve. Sometimes I feel inadequate because I’m not brave – I struggle with praying in public or with sharing Jesus with strangers. But I do have a talent for organization and details. And I have found a way to use those talents.

As we read in the parable, the master was angry at the servant who hid and did nothing. So step out and do something, or to quote Nike: Just Do It! Find a way to serve God and serve others, no matter how small. He says “You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.” Many things might sound scary, but not the next part – “Come and share your master’s happiness!”

Prayer

Lord, thank you for the reminder that even if I don’t feel talented, you still want to use me. You have made each of us unique – our skills, our connections, our experiences - in order to serve you in exactly the way you have designed. Help us to walk in your calling. I know that I want to hear, “Well done faithful servant.”

Matthew 24 - 9.26.23

Scripture

Matthew 24:42

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Observation

This chapter speaks about the End Times and Jesus’ return. It started when His disciples were admiring the buildings around them, but Jesus told them they would pass away. His disciples then asked when this would happen. Jesus explains to His disciples the importance of being ready now, because the day or hour of His return is unknown. Jesus and the angels do not even know when it will happen (Matt. 24:36). At the end of the chapter, He speaks about a wicked servant who was tired of waiting for his Master and started living like his Master would never return.  He started beating his servants, and getting drunk with other drunkards. The master returned at that time and the servant was assigned a place with the hypocrites, where there was weeping and gnashing of teeth (aka hell).

Application

Be Kingdom minded and focused.

“The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:17 NIV

Some heroes of the faith lived by faith until they died, even though they didn’t see or receive the things promised to them. What kept them going was their hope of eternity, knowing that this was their temporary, not permanent home. (You can read more about them in Hebrews 11:13-16).

The promise of Jesus' return will happen. This world is not our home and God always keeps His promises. As we put our hope and faith in the promise of Christ’s return and our eternal home, the struggles of this life pale in comparison. Let us be encouraged to not give up in the faith, not give up doing our Master’s business and living with integrity so that we could hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” It is not worth the fate of hell that the wicked servant received, whom the Master was displeased with when He returned.

Here are more Scriptures on waiting on the Lord that I encourage myself with when growing tired of waiting:

Gal. 6:9- And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Ps. 69:3 I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.

James 5:7-Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.

Lamentations 3:25-The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.

Psalm 27:14-Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

Isaiah 40:31-But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Ps. 130:5-6-I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.

Prayer

Dear Lord, I pray that our faith in You would strengthen as we remember and wait on Your promised return. I pray we would be encouraged to keep pressing forward in obedience, knowing that our home is not here, but in Heaven. Help us to stay faithful and obedient. I pray we would wait on You. Amen.

-Michelle Gaddi

Proverbs 5 - 9.25.23

Scripture

Proverbs‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT

“So now, my sons, listen to me. Never stray from what I am about to say: Stay away from her! Don’t go near the door of her house!”

Observation

King Solomon gives wise fatherly advice to his son: AVOID IMMORAL WOMEN! As tempting as they may be, King Solomon urges his son to stay away from them. Going down that road will lead to public shame-(verse 14), you will lose your honor-(verse 9), strangers will consume your wealth and enjoy everything you worked so hard to attain-(verse 10), and disease will consume your body-(verse 11). Instead, King Solomon urges his son to keep his love and desire for his wife.-(verses 15-19).

Application

Why even try to flirt with temptation? Avoid it at ALL costs!!!

That is basically the point that King Solomon is trying to get across to his son here. He knows the negative consequences that occurs from messing around with an immoral woman; the damage it does to the man and his family. It’s a ripple effect that can damage the family from generations to come and that is why King Solomon urges his son to not even go near the door of an immoral woman’s house. Go to the other side of the street if you need to pass by. Avoid even visiting the area. There is no shame in running from sin. Even Joseph in the Old Testament had to when approached by an immoral woman.

“She kept putting pressure on Joseph day after day, but he refused to sleep with her, and he kept out of her way as much as possible. One day, however, no one else was around when he went in to do his work. She came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, “Come on, sleep with me!” Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house.”-Genesis‬ ‭39‬:‭10‬-‭12‬ ‭

Joseph didn’t even bother to go back and get his cloak. He ran and didn’t even look back and God blessed him even more for doing so. I feel it is something we can all learn from today. Why even put ourselves in tempting situations? Why not set up road blocks in our lives to avoid those situations? If you struggle with alcohol, you wouldn’t want to hang out with friends at a bar would you? If you’re dieting, you wouldn’t want to go on a jog near a McDonald’s 🍟 or Krispy Kreme 🍩? And the same goes here. If there is a person of the opposite sex who is tempting you, why even indulge or get close to that situation? Run away! Avoid it at all costs! Protect your marriage and your family!

Prayer

Father God, may I stay the course, and walk the path You paved for me today. May You protect my eyes, my mind, and my heart from any lustful thoughts. May I be swift of foot to avoid any tempting situations. May I choose to run away from it and run towards You instead. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 🙏🏽

-Moses Gaddi