Joel 2 - 11.15.23
Scripture
“So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, And the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you."
Joel 2:25 (NKJV)
Observation
In Joel 1:4, we see that a great tragedy has happened to Israel. A huge host of locusts descended upon the vegetation destroying it. It started with an attack from the chewing locusts. Whatever was left on the plants, was then consumed by the second set of locusts, the swarming locusts. Then came the crawling locusts, and finally the consuming locusts. Four different species of locust attacked the vegetation and left the land completely bare. Here in Joel 2:25, God promises that He will restore the years that the great army of locusts had destroyed.
Application
Sometimes we look back in regret, and think of the years that were lost and stolen from us - lost in conflict, pain, sickness and attack of the enemy. The Lord is saying to you today, "I will restore to you the years that you have lost". The one who called you is faithful, and he will do it. (1 Thessalonians: 5:24). Remember the story of Jesus walking on the water. The disciples were struggling on a rough sea all night, reaching nowhere. Then Jesus walked on the water, and got into their boat, and "immediately" the boat reached the place where they were headed to. (John 6:21). It was as if they hadn't lost any time at all. That is how our Lord restores.
Prayer
Father, I thank you for your promise that you will restore to me the years that I have lost. Thank you because you are faithful and I can count on your promises, because they will never fail. Thank you for redeeming my past. Thank you because my future is secure in your hands. Thank you because your thoughts for me are higher than my thoughts. The things you have prepared for me are above what any eye can see, or any ear can hear, or any human mind has conceived. (1 Cor 2:9). I trust you. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.
- Asha Chacko George
Joel 1 - 11.14.23
SCRIPTURE: Joel 1:14 "Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God; and cry out to the Lord."
OBSERVATION: Joel was a prophet to the nation of Judah. He urged the people to turn from their sin, and back to God. They had become prosperous, which caused them to take God for granted. They became complacent, and they worshiped idols.
Joel warned them that this kind of lifestyle would inevitably bring God's judgement.
God is sovereign, and He allows things like floods, droughts, pestilence, fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis to send a message to all of us!
Joel called the people to awaken from their complacency, and to acknowledge their sins before it was too late. This prophetic warning; the locust plague, was just a foretaste of the judgement to come if they didn't turn from their sins!
God in His mercy and love sent Joel to declare that if they returned to Him with all of their heart, He would be gracious and compassionate to them by relenting from sending the calamity.
APPLICATION: When we approach God with humility, and ask Him to forgive us, He hears us, forgives us, and heals us! Like Joel, we are able to fast and pray for ourselves, and to intercede for our nation, asking God to forgive us, and to help us turn back to Him.
PRAYER: I ask You Lord to forgive me of my complacency. I pray I will have no other gods before You! I pray that I will allow Your Word to guide my life so that I am able to avoid the devastating effects that sin brings! I thank You for keeping me safe as I abide in You, and ask that You help me to follow wholeheartedly after You, and that my children and grand-children will follow!
- Robin Orefice
Romans 2 - 11.13.23
Scripture
Romans 2:5 NLT
“But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.”
Observation
Paul is calling out all those who sit in judgment—in their thoughts, words, and actions—over the sinfulness of others. He warns them to be careful not to judge others on their sinfulness, when they themselves are sinful. The people should be motivated and inspired to turn away from their sins because of God’s patience and kindness for them. But instead, the people are stubborn and refuse to turn from their sins. They continue to judge others harshly and by doing this, they are bringing God’s judgement and wrath upon themselves. Now I don’t know about you all, but why would anyone want to bring God’s wrath and judgment upon themselves?
“He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness.”-Romans 2:7-8
Application
“The bill comes due.”
It’s a line from one of the Marvel movies that always stood out to me because it is so true. I mean, let’s think about it.🤔 If you have someone who continues to live an unhealthy lifestyle by eating unhealthy foods, smoking, drinking excessively, and not exercising, it’s only a matter of time when their body will break down on them. Whether it’s excessive weight gain, muscle and joint pains, diabetes, heart disease, organ failure, or even cancer… the bill comes due. It’s a price we pay from the choices we make in life and I believe that is the point the Apostle Paul is trying to get across here. If we continue to live our lives selfishly and sinfully, there will come a time when “the bill comes due.” We are all subject to God’s judgment when that time comes. So I guess my question for all of us today is, “what kind of tab am I running up?” Am I willing and able to pay that price when that bill comes? 🤔
“And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.”-Romans 2:16
“For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.”-2 Corinthians 5:10
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
I know my time here on earth is limited. I pray that I make the best of my time. May the time I have be used to glorify You, and point others to Jesus. May my life be about building Your Kingdom and not my own. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
-Moses Gaddi