Psalm 75 - 10.27.25
Scripture
Psalms 75:2-3 NIV
“You say, “I choose the appointed time; it is I who judge with equity. When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm.”
Observation
In this psalm written by Asaph, he writes of God’s role as a righteous judge, Who is sovereign, and Who exalts the humble and brings down the proud. The psalm is a reminder that despite all the chaos and turmoil in the world, God will bring about His perfect judgment when the time is right.
Application
How will God judge you on Judgement Day?
The Bible describes two future judgments: the Judgment Seat of Christ, and the Great White Throne Judgment. The Judgment Seat of Christ is for believers. They will be judged for their works/ministry that they did to build God’s Kingdom and they will receive rewards for their works/ministry and their endurance in their faith. While the other judgment is known as the Great White Throne Judgment. This judgment is for unbelievers. They will be judged for their evil deeds, their rejection of God, and receive their final punishment.
At the end of the day it’s all about what we decided to do with the name of Jesus. Did we decide to put our faith in Him, follow Him and His ways, and repent from our sins? If so, then you will be clothed in Jesus’ righteousness, and be found not guilty of your sins, and will be judged by God at the Judgement Seat of Christ where we will be rewarded for our faith.
But if you chose to reject God, by rejecting His Son Jesus, you will be judged by your evil deeds at the Great White Throne Judgment. Even if you think you may have lived a morally “good” life, we must remember what the Bible tells us:
“We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.”-Isaiah 64:6
What can I do then to avoid the Great White Throne Judgment?
“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.”-Romans 3:23-26
Prayer
Thank You Jesus for coming to this earth and willingly sacrificing Your life on that cross to pay the debt of all my sins. I know I deserve Your judgment and wrath, but because of Your grace and mercy, You instilled within me that faith to believe in You, and have given me Your free gift of salvation. I pray that I can share with others this free gift by telling them Your story. May Your free gift of salvation be a gift that keeps on giving all year round. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 🙏🏽
-Moses Gaddi
Jeremiah 2 - 10.24.25
Scripture
Jerimiah 2:1-3
“The word of the Lord came to me: “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem:
This is what the Lord says: I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the wilderness, through a land not sown. Israel was holy to the Lord, the firstfruits of his harvest; all who devoured her were held guilty, and disaster overtook them,” declares the Lord.”
Observation
When Jeramiah was writing this letter, Israel was divided into 2 nations, the northern which was Israel and southern which was Judah. Judgement had already come upon Isreal and was taken captive. Jeremiah was in Judah, the southern nation. Judah turned its back on God and He was asking why have you forgotten me. Judah had turned to idol worship. They forgot the God who brought them out of Egypt, from the wilderness to the promised land. God was about to use Judah’s enemies to pass judgement on Judah.
How does this relate to us now? When our country was founded, they based the Government on the word of God. But nearly 250 years later we see the wickedness in many decisions of our government such as abortion, taking the Ten Commandments out of schools, and removing the cross in certain areas, and allowing all types of marriages. Many churches preach a different Gospel that certain sins are not sins, that Scripture was interpreted incorrectly from years ago, or that is not what God meant. The truth is we lost our first love. We don’t read and know the Scriptures like we should. We have churches that focus on entertaining the congregation and do not condemn sin. A person I knew from high school recently post in Facebook “I am marked safe from the rapture.”
Application
It was just last week in our Bible reading in Revelation 2:4-5, God said “you have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”
Jesus wants to be first. He wants our love for him to grow stronger. We see that many have forgotten what it was like to love Christ with their whole heart. How do we start our day? Is Christ first? When is your first prayer of the day? When do you read any of his Word? Do we seek Jesus daily? In Matthew 6:33 it says “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Have we truly surrendered and submitted to Jesus who gave his life for us because he loved us? We have an advantage over the people in Jeremiah’s time. Most of us have access to and can read the Scriptures. Most of us have a phone that can pull up the Bible. Our Pastors have said many times if you need a Bible, DSC can provide one. Psalms 119:103 says “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
People that call themselves followers of Jesus, repent and do the things you did at first. Let us love God, love each other, make disciples, serve, give generously and forgive often. Let us become the Bride of Christ.
Prayer
Jesus, you are worthy to be praised daily, the one we should bow down daily, and give glory and honor to. Forgive me when I do not put you first daily. Forgive me when I do not remember my first love. The things that I put ahead of you are idols. Open my eyes to see those things and help me repent of those things. Let me thirst for your living waters. Let me hunger for your daily bread. Thank you, Jesus! In Jesus name, Amen.
- Robert Oberg
Jeremiah 1 - 10.23.25
SCRIPTURE
Jeremiah 1:11-12
Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.” Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word.”
OBSERVATION
Jeremiah’s first lesson in his training as a prophet.
Jeremiah, what do you see? Jeremiah would receive a message to speak, but before he could speak he had to see. And in a simplistic explanation: Quotes of Spurgeon:
“Before you can make an impression upon another person’s heart, you must have an impression made upon your own soul. You must be able to say, concerning the truth, ‘I see it,’ before you can speak it so that your hearers also shall see it.”
AND A branch of an almond tree: Jeremiah saw well. He not only understood that it was a branch but was observant enough to know that it was a branch of an almond tree.
This was young Jeremiah’s first lesson in prophetic observance, and the lesson was simple. “We might have thought that, as a preparation for his prophetical work, he would have seen mysterious wheels full of eyes, or flaming seraphs and cherubs, or the wonderful creatures that were caused to appear in the dreams of Ezekiel and the revelation to John. Instead of this, Jeremiah simply sees ‘a rod of an almond tree;’ and, beloved friends, when you look into the Bible, you will see some very simple things there.”
The significance of the branch of an almond tree was important in two ways. First, the almond was well known as the first tree to bud in the spring. This indicated that God was ready to quickly fulfill His word, just as the almond tree seems ready to bud. Secondly, the Hebrew word for almond tree is close to and derived from the Hebrew word for watchful, and this word is used in God’s response to Jeremiah. “These verses contain a play on words that is lost in English but is vital for the force of the vision. The ‘almond tree’ is saqed and God is ‘watching’ (soqed) over his word to fulfill it.” (Feinberg)
And I love to Google…and there are 30 scriptures in the Bible on branches.
Bible Verses About Branches--Connection to Christ
In our walk of faith, we find reassurance in the notion that we are intimately connected to Christ. Just like a branch cannot survive without the vine, we too draw our strength and sustenance from Jesus. This relationship is vital for our spiritual growth, allowing us to flourish and live fruitful lives. When we recognize this connection to Christ through these biblical teachings, it enriches our understanding and motivates us to take action in our faith journey. We can always rely on the strength that comes from being connected to Him, knowing we are designed to thrive in a close relationship with our Savior.
APPLICATION
Before we can make an impression upon another person’s heart, we must have an impression made upon your own soul. You must be able to say, concerning the truth, ‘I see it,’ before you can speak it so that your hearers also shall see it.” (Spurgeon)
But why of all that the Lord was speaking to Jeremiah to become a prophet would this have such meaning to me? And I have tears..it begins in a one-on-one relationship with Jesus when HE calls us…and it is the simplest things in life where we are the most observant that He works thru us to see others and their struggles and relate it to others so that see that they need the LORD. And then again when reading about a branch the word “rod” is the same as a branch..and there would be another way to look at it. Staffs were made of rods.
PRAYER
Oh Jesus, it is the simplest things in life that hit our souls and draw us closer to you. And it’s the eloquence of your divine word that is embedded in our minds and hearts so that everything we see and do brings forth your wisdom and sharing with someone in need. In a simplistic forum…it’s to be an observer to see others as you do and step in to encourage them, by giving your words to them but in the manner in which you speak to us individually. It’s a personal relationship with you, Jesus, that is the desire of my heart to bring others to know you. Jesus today let me see others as you do and step in with encouraging words and let it be for your glory…and as you always tell me each day…STEP OUT.. JUST GO…GOT IT!!?? Because this is how you speak to me and so I SEE IT. Thank you my Lord Jesus Christ..and always take care of my family and my friends. AMEN!
- Charleen Zakarian