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Kenneth Lee 9/29/23 Kenneth Lee 9/29/23

Matthew 27 - 9.29.2023

Scripture - Pick one verse that stood out to you.

Matthew 27:51-53

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

Observation - What about this verse stands out to you?

As I get older my body seems to react more to the events which led up to the death of Jesus Christ. I was reading this morning and I felt my gut and teeth clenching as if in response. Just trying to imagine any human being enduring what Jesus had to go through is enough to make me feel weak but when I read verses 51 to 53 all weakness fled from me and I could only think, ”That is so incredible!”

Application - How will you apply this to your life?

I feel like God was trying to teach me this morning and remind me that when the Lord went through what He went through (I almost don’t like to say crucifixion because it makes me feel so weird)…some truly fantastic and amazing stuff happened as a result – like Him triumphing over sin and death, the veil being torn between us and the Father, the temple now residing in us, as well as a mass resurrection that very same day!

Prayer - Write out a prayer.

Lord, I feel like you highlighted this verse for me today for a reason. May I never forget all that You accomplished, while I read about all that you had to endure to achieve it. I am so grateful that you are more than a Savior, but that you are also a loving Father, and Teacher as well. Help me to continue to chew on this word today. I praise you and I worship you. In the name of Jesus! Amen.

-kenneth lee

Matthew 26 - 9.28.23

Scripture

Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭39‬ ‭NLT

“He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Observation

The night Jesus was going to be betrayed by Judas, Jesus took Peter, James, and John with Him to the olive grove called Gethsemane. Jesus tells them to keep watch while He goes somewhere to pray. It is then the human sides of Jesus cries out to God. Jesus was distressed of His future fate that awaited Him. He knew the physical brutality that His body was going to take. He was so stressed, Scripture said, that Jesus was sweating droplets of blood.

“And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭44‬ ‭

It was then that Jesus asked his Heavenly Father if it was possible to take away this HUGE responsibility that was weighing on him, and lift it from His shoulders. But at the end of Jesus’ prayer, Jesus shows us His great example by putting God’s ways over His own by saying, “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Application

Prayer is about us bending to God’s will, and not God bending to ours.

We are all guilty of it. When we pray and ask God for something, and if our prayer requests aren’t met, we may get mad at God for not getting our way. We may take it as a snub, that God is mad at me. We will allow it to ruin our relationship with Him because we can get so hurt because God doesn’t give us what we want, that we turn away from Him. Sounds kind of childish right?

Now imagine if Jesus acted that way. You think he wanted to get chained, flogged, beaten, and crucified (especially when he was completely innocent and sinless)? What if Jesus decided to say, you know what God, I think what You are asking me to do is unreasonable right now, I think I’m just going to sit this one out. Imagine if that played out. This world will still be dead in our sins. This world will still be in desperate need of a savior.

But thankfully Jesus didn’t act like that. Instead Jesus was humble enough to submit to the Father’s will. He set the example for us by putting aside his needs for the needs of others. His love for this world kept him on that cross so he could fulfill God’s purpose. He was the sacrifice that God needed him to be. And at the end of it all, by putting God’s ways above his own, Jesus was glorified at the right hand of the Father in Heaven, God’s perfect will was fulfilled, and it allowed the world to be saved from their sins.

So the next time I find myself in need, praying for something, I am reminded today of Jesus’ example for us, and will end my prayer with, “not my will, but Your will be done in my life Lord.” Because I know His ways are above my ways. And I know His ways are perfect.

Prayer

Thank You Jesus for leading by example. You came out of the comforts of Heaven to serve, and not be served. It is evident in the way You always submitted to the Father’s will over your own. Please forgive me for the times I try to bend You to do my will, as opposed to me bending to Yours. I pray as I grow each day in my faith, that I can take Your lead and follow Your example. May I seek for God’s will to be done in my life above anything else. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. 🙏🏽

-Moses Gaddi

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!”