1 Peter 1 - 9.30.25
SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 1:3-8
“Praise be to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven from you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
OBSERVATION: In this portion of Scripture, Peter is writing to the Jewish Christians regarding God’s greatest blessings to them. Some had been experiencing persecution for their faith, and Peter wrote to comfort and encourage them, and to challenge them to continue living holy lives. He prayed for God’s grace and peace to be in abundance over them. His encouraging words helped them face opposition.
APPLICATION: As Christ-followers, we will all face opposition and persecution, but thank God for God’s grace and peace that is ours, in abundance, as we go through trials and times of suffering for our faith.
In my own life, as I have grown in my faith, I have experienced feelings of being the outcast. It hasn’t been easy because so many times when I wanted so much to share what God was doing in my life, I knew many of my family members didn’t want to hear it. They just weren’t interested! Thank God for my husband, who has been so kind to sit and listen when I needed to share.
God has been so good to meet me every step that I’ve taken to draw closer to Him. And the things that He’s taught me about Himself have been mind boggling! He’s shown me time and time again that He is the true and living God, and that His Word is faithful. No matter what I have had to face, He has faithfully been there to guide me through as I have called out to Him. Every challenge and trial I have gone through has refined me and strengthened my faith in God! He has NEVER failed me, and He never will!
PRAYER: God, I praise You for Your grace and mercy over my life. Thank You for the countless ways that You have shown up when I have suffered grief and all kinds of trials. You are in the refining business, and as I look back and remember all the many ways You have been faithful to me, it makes me have inexpressible and glorious joy for all the wonderful blessings that I have received from You, and especially the salvation of my soul.
Holy Spirit, I pray You will use me to bring encouragement to the ones who need to find joy and hope in the midst of their trials, and for the ones who are longing for security and hope for their future, I am willing to point them to Jesus.
- Robin Orefice
Psalm 47 - 9.29.25
Scripture
Psalms 47:8 NIV
“God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.”
Observation
This is a psalm written by the descendants of Korah, celebrating God as King, not only over all of Israel, but over ALL the earth. The psalm encourages all to give praise and glory to God by putting their hands together, and shouting for joy! It’s a psalm that looks forward to the day where every tribe and nation, every ruler of every kingdom, will come together and acknowledge God as King.
Application
Christ is King and sits on the throne.
This psalm serves as great reminder that despite the chaos that is going on in this world right now, Jesus Christ remains in control and sits on His Holy Throne. So, we can’t get bent out of shape on who is or isn’t in the White House. Focus on Who sits on the throne in God’s House…and that’s Jesus Christ! Let Him rule and reign in our lives. Let His name be praised throughout all the earth. Let the whole world know that Jesus is coming back again! Are you ready?!
“that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” -Philippians 2:10-11
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You are King! Not only in my life, but over the whole world. May I be bold and courageous to declare that everywhere I go. Give me the words to teach and tell others just how holy and majestic the name of Jesus is. May the whole world be prepared for Your return. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 🙏🏽
-Moses Gaddi
James 2 - 9.26.25
Scripture: James 2:1
My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.
Observation
In the next several verses in James 2: 2-13 we see how to not show favoritism between the rich and poor. When James wrote this, you could easily tell who was rich and who was poor. The design of clothes have changed over the generations. The rich still have nice clean clothes and shoes, but the poor still have dirty clothes, with holes, or mismatched clothes. We still can tell who is rich and who is poor. Do we judge people by what we see? Did not Jesus come to this earth in humble beginnings? He was not born in a palace but in a barn. Did he not come into the city on Palm Sunday on a donkey instead of a horse and chariot?
In James 2:5 it states: “Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?” Psalm 19:18 “But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.”
What I see, God has a heart for the poor. We should have the same love of the poor as Jesus does. Does our attitude towards others align with Jesus?
Application
At church, does a poor or new person sit by themselves, or do we show them love, do we greet them, offer coffee, introduce them to others? Do we ask if they need anything including prayer? Did we invite them back? Did we invite to a small group? A couple weeks ago in pre-service morning prayer Katie challenge us to look around service and make sure no one new sits alone.
We need to be humble and merciful to all. I think this chapter should not only apply to the poor but should apply to our lives when it comes to who we deal with in our politics, our jobs, our education, or social media and so on.
In James 2:13 it states “because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
Prayer
Jesus, you came to us in humble beginnings, and has shown us how to love the poor, as you did, in helping them. Let me not be blind to who is around me or turn my head away. Let me show mercy and not judgment for anybody. Fill my heart with your love and compassion for everybody. Thank you in Jesus’ name Amen.
- Robert Oberg