Psalm 101 - 3.20.24

Scripture

I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. (Psalms 101:2, NKJV)

Observation

God cares about the condition of our hearts. He weighs the motives of our hearts (Prov 16:2, 21:2). He cares about the integrity of our hearts, not only when we are in church on Sundays, but everyday all the time. He cares about the state of our hearts when we walk within our homes, when no one else is watching. The first part of this verse talks about living a blameless life. It comes from maintaining a heart of integrity. 

Application

How do I maintain a perfect heart before God? The answer is in the very next verse. “I will set nothing wicked before my eyes” (verse 3). What we feed on will determine the state of our hearts. What are we allowing our eyes to feast on? Are we allowing the world’s filth to enter our hearts? We need to guard what goes into our heart. The writer of Proverbs says we should guard our heart with all diligence, as out of it springs issues of life (Prov 4:23). Jesus taught that all sins originate in the heart (Matthew 15:18-19). We need to feed on God’s word everyday, and allow the Word to wash us (Eph 5:26). We need to renew our mind with God’s word everyday (Rom 12:2). In line with the theme of consecration that we ended our fast with earlier this year, let us make sure that we choose to keep ourselves as pure vessels prepared for special purposes, ready for the Master’s use (2 Tim:2:20,21).

Prayer

Dear Father, thank you for your love for me. Help me to always have a perfect heart before you at all times. Help me to repent of any attitude, any sinful thought pattern or anything in my heart that does not glorify you, and grieves your Spirit. Help me to guard my heart with all diligence. Help me to always have a heart that is pleasing to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

- Asha Chacko George

1 Timothy 4 - 3.19.24

SCRIPTURE:  1 Timothy 4:1-5 “ Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciousness are seared.  They forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods that God created to be received with gratitude by those who believe and know the truth.  For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer.”

OBSERVATION:  Paul dealt with the two false religions that were being taught in Ephesus; abstaining from marriage and abstaining from certain foods.  These false doctrines came from deceitful spirits.  These rules made them appear to be self disciplined and righteous, but these strict disciplines weren’t able to erase their sins! The discipline that was demanded by the false teachers seemed good, and by following these religious rules, it made them appear moral, but religious rules cannot change a person’s heart, only following Jesus can do that!

APPLICATION:  My heart isn’t changed by being a rule follower, but by letting Jesus live in me, so that HE can shape me into what I should be. 

PRAYER:  I pray I will set my heart on things above, and that I will strive to put God’s priorities into practice daily. I pray I will rely on the Holy Spirit to help me program my mind with thoughts that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy, and that I will live a life that is nourished on the truths of God’s Word and is pleasing to Him.   

- Robin Orefice

1 Timothy 3 - 3.18.24

Scripture

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT

”For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?“

Observation

Paul is writing Timothy to instruct him what characteristics to look for when assigning leaders to the church in Ephesus. Here are the requirements found in verses 2-4 as suggested by Paul:

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”So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him.“

It’s a high standard to ask, but then again, we are talking about someone who is supposed to be managing God’s church and shepherding God’s people. A very important task indeed.

Application

Ministry begins at home.

The verse I chose this morning really spoke to me as a reminder that my ministry begins in my own household. Too many times we hear stories of church leaders whose families are broken. Either their marriage ended in divorce, or their kids rebelled and went off the deep end with a life of drug addiction. It hits home with me now because I’m a husband and father who is an Elder at a church. Sometimes leaders can get so caught up in their ministry at church, that they can often neglect their ministry at home to their wife and kids. That’s why I like Paul’s advice here to Timothy, as Timothy prepares to elect church leaders. Paul tells Timothy, (among other things), to look for a man who is faithful to his wife, and has children who respect and obey him. It is important for the man to be able to manage his home in a godly manner if he’s expected to manage God’s church in the same fashion. It kind of reminds me of this verse:

”If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.“ -Luke‬ ‭16‬:‭10‬

If someone can’t even run their own home in a godly ‭manner, what do you expect will happen if that person tries running a church (which is a larger scale of family and home)?🤔

So today I’m reminded that my ministry to my wife and kids are a priority to me. I have to make sure my wife is getting the love and support she needs from me at home. I also need to make sure that my kids are getting the proper love and discipleship from me that they need. I need to make it a point to spend that quality time with them, loving them, and pointing them to Jesus, as we go through life together. I know if I can do that, we will have a healthy and thriving marriage, a blessed and joyful home life, and a church we can call home as we all serve in ministry together. 😊

Prayer

Father God, I thank You for being the foundation and center of my family and home. You have blessed me with a beautiful, God-fearing wife who loves and supports me and our kids. You blessed me with 2 beautiful daughters who I had the privilege of baptizing into Your Family. I pray for Your protection over our home. May You continue to bless us with Your love and provision as we learn and grow in our faith, and serve in ministry together. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 🙏🏽

-Moses Gaddi