1 Peter 3 - 5.26.26

SCRIPTURE:  1 Peter 3:8-9 “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”

OBSERVATION:  Peter, the author emphasized an important truth that characterizes a genuine Christ-follower; basically someone who loves in thought, word and deed.

APPLICATION:  Believers honor God by doing good, being devoted to one another in love, honoring one another above ourselves, being joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer, sharing with the Lord’s people who are in need, practicing hospitality, AND …blessing those who persecute us.  We are not to curse the evil ones, but to bless them!  And when our enemies are hungry, we are to feed them, and give them a drink when they are thirsty. We as Christ- followers are not to be overcome with evil, but to overcome evil with good.  (Romans 12:9-21).

Forgiveness is also something we’ve been called to do as genuine Christ-followers, but it is not an easy thing to do, especially when we have been wronged, hurt, or sinned against!  BUT… If we love others the way God loves us, we will be willing to forgive, especially since He forgave us when we sinned against Him! 

PRAYER:  Lord, The last thing we feel like doing is blessing our enemies!  Only with Your love in our heart’s are we able to obey this command! When we end up suffering because of someone else’s evil deeds, You have called us to bless them, instead of curse them. That is only possible as we rely on Your love, power and strength!  You have called us to live good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse us of doing wrong, they may see our good deeds and glorify You. I pray Your love will fill my heart to overflowing for others.  I pray You will help me to follow Your example by the way You forgave the ones who wronged You, and the one’s who sinned against You.  Thank You for helping my life to reflect Your love as You fill me with genuine affection for all people. 

- Robin Orefice

Psalm 94 - 5.25.26

Scripture

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭94‬:‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“But the Lord has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.”

Observation

The author of this psalm is crying out to God for justice. The author sees all the wickedness running rampant everywhere. But throughout all the chaos and evil that is going on all around, the psalmist knows that God sees it ALL. And instead of taking matters in his own hands, the psalmist decides to trust in God’s timing and judgment. The psalmist’s faith and confidence is in God. He knows that God will protect His people, and bring judgment upon the wicked.

Application

The Lord my God is the only protection I need.

Many of us out there invest in things that make us feel safe. We install cameras around our house. We will get a HUGE guard dog. We will invest in self-defense classes. Some of us will even buy all sorts of weapons to protect ourselves from possible intruders. And who could blame us?! It’s a crazy world out there! Just turn on the local evening news and you’ll see in the first 10 minutes of watching. But what I love about this psalm here, is that despite the craziness and lawlessness that was going on at the time, the psalmist chooses to trust in God’s divine justice. The psalmist knows that God is in control. He knows God is sovereign over it all. The psalmist knows that God will protect those who trust in Him and obey His ways. 

So, no matter how scary it is out there in this world, take heart! Trust in God’s unfailing love for His people. Let Him be our anchor, our rock that we can lean on. Allow Him to be our impenetrable fortress where we take refuge.

“The Lord will not reject his people; he will not abandon his special possession.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭94‬:‭14‬ ‭

“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭46‬:‭1‬ 

“The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18‬:‭10‬ 

Prayer

Father God, it is in You who I trust. You are my rock, my redeemer, my strength, and my shield. There is nothing too big or too small that You can’t handle. So no matter what comes my way today, I know that You are with me. Thank You for Your faithfulness. Thank You for guiding my path. May You give me the strength to stay the course and stay covered in the blanket of Your protection. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.🙏🏽 

-Moses Gaddi

Psalm 91 - 5.22.26

Scripture: Psalm 91 1-6

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

3 Surely, he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

Observation

This magnificent Psalm is our assurance of God’s protection, comfort and care from Yahweh. God has a secret place for His own and it is a place to live in.

Psalm 27:5 - For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.

Psalm 31:20 - In the shelter of your presence, you hide them from all human intrigues; you keep them safe in your dwelling from accusing tongues.

Psalm 63:7 - Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

There are many followers of Jesus Christ who seem to know very little of the secret place of the Most High or what it is to abide under His shadow.

Application

I have been reading Psalm 91 my whole life. Still to this day when I read it, I feel calm and protected. I spent a good portion of my 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s living with an abusive husband whom I didn’t feel safe with. But I would get alone and dwell in the secret place of the Most High. I would rest under the shadow of His wings. He was my refuge and my fortress.

When Covid overwhelmed the world, I was living alone after losing my second husband Michael to Diabetes. I felt so much fear and anxiety about this sickness, but I would end every night reading Psalm 91 and feeling God’s Peace rest upon me. God was in control and He was watching over me.

I encourage you to find a quiet place to dwell with the Most High. Climb up in His lap and rest under the shadow of His wings. He is waiting for you in His secret place.

Prayer

Dear Lord,

You are such a Magnificent God and you love us so much that you have a special place for us to come rest with you. You will give us Peace, Comfort and Love. I pray for all the Jesus followers to humble themselves and enter in to His secret place, where they can hide from the world and find rest under the shadow of His wings. Amen

- Michelle Craig