Psalm 103 - 6.3.26

Scripture

Psalm 103:1-2

Praise the Lord, my soul;
    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits—

Observation

When people follow God’s instructions, they reap the blessings that come with those directives. I believe that God’s promises and principles are true and they apply to everyone. And I have observed that even if people don’t know Him, when they follow His principles (giving to the poor, serving others, placing others above themselves, honoring their father and mother, and many more), they receive blessings.

Application

Practicing gratitude is popular in our culture right now. And there is scientific evidence of the physiological benefits of setting aside time to focus on the things you are grateful for, including reduced anxiety, stress, blood pressure and heart rate, better immunity, and improved sleep. (I love when science supports God’s word!)

Practicing gratitude is not a new idea. It is a principle that God designed for us from the beginning of time – to give thanks to our Father. Throughout scripture we are encouraged to bring our praise and worship to God. We are instructed to start our day and end our day with thanksgiving, and to worship in all we do. When we pray, we are taking our needs and wants to God, but ultimately, we are acknowledging His lordship and aligning our hearts with His will. Likewise, when we worship God and thank Him for everything He has done for us, we are refocusing our hearts and minds, aligning our hearts with Him, bolstering our faith by remembering and naming the things He has done and the promises He has made, and accepting His lordship. And in response we come away changed - He fills us with joy, peace, and love.

Prayer

Lord, may I not forget your benefits. May I start and end each day with a song of praise. Thank you for forgiving my sins, for not repaying me as I deserve, thank you for your healing power, thank you for your love and compassion, thank you for giving me good things.

The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
    and his kingdom rules over all.

Praise the Lord, you his angels,
    you mighty ones who do his bidding,
    who obey his word.
Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,
    you his servants who do his will.
Praise the Lord, all his works
    everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the Lord, my soul.

- Debbie Dunn

1 John 2 - 6.2.26

SCRIPTURE: 1 JOHN 2:9 - 11

“Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.”

OBSERVATION:

The Apostle John is writing to the believers he has ministered to and warning about false teachers. The church body was under attack from these false teachers and John was trying to guide and direct them through it all. These specific verses were for both sides - the faithful believers and the false teachers. The false teachers were the ones who were claiming to be “in the light” of God yet had treated others with hate. There’s also the chance some of the true believers were also hating their brothers and sisters who were false teachers. John is showing that if you claim the light of God is within you, and you hate another in the church, you are the one in darkness.

This scripture makes a compelling yet straightforward case of how to treat our brothers and sisters in Christ. Even if they are spreading false teachings, we are told to love them. If we show that kind of love, we are living in the light. On the opposite side, hating others in the Church means we are not fultilling Christ’s commandment in John 13:34 NIV:

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

I remember a message Pastor Levi spoke about which included the darkness he experienced in a Colorado cave. As he shared his memory, it reminded me of the time our family was probably in that exact same cave. We were instructed to turn off our flashlights and then bam - the darkness was incredible. I put my hand up in front of my face and could not see anything. The darkness was almost tangible and eerie. The thought of living in that type of darkness is scary. Not living in the light of Jesus is the scariest of all to me.

APPLICATION

Everything is centered around love - our salvation, faith, and ministry all hinge on the love Christ gave to us. Christ’s love is lived out in action. It’s not just a word to throw around but in how we treat one another and handle conflict. Our life and actions should be seen through and lived out with the lens of Christ’s love.

John 15:12 NIV: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

Love and light are one in the same. If you love one another, you are in the light. If you don’t love, you’re not only living in darkness but you don’t know where you’re going and are blinded. Hate is darkness with no light at all. I can’t imagine living in darkness like that cave. Can you imagine, just for moment, that type of darkness and separation from Christ?

I encourage you to make amends with any brother or sister that you hate. Confess the hate so you don’t live in darkness. Turn your hate into love. Not sure how? Remember Christ showed his love for us all on the cross. Use the same love that Christ showed to you towards others. Put on your Jesus glasses and see the light. Even false teachers in the Church deserve the same love that Christ showed in His death on the cross.

Romans 5:8 - “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

PRAYER

Lord, thank you for your never ending love. When I think of the depth of love that you showed me by dying an awful death, just so I can have eternal life with you, it brings me to tears. Your love is deep. Your love is the light in my life. Forgive me for any time I didn’t show love to a brother or sister - for any reason - because you command us to “love one another as I have loved you.” Let your light and love in my life permeate to others. Being in the darkness, stumbling and not knowing where I’m going is a scary thought. I never want to be in that position. Help me to love the unloveable. Thank you for loving me even when I make mistakes and don’t do what’s right. I love you, Lord. Thank you for loving me. In Jesus name! Amen and Amen!!

- Mary Oberg

1 John 1 - 6.1.26

SCRIPTURE

1 John 1:5-10 

    This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.

    If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word is not in us.

OBSERVATION

The book of 1 John was a letter written to Early Church Believers to warn them of heresies that were being spread during the late first century. The Apostle John directly addresses and opposes the belief of gnosticism, the denial of the humanity of Christ, and antinomianism, the belief that Believers do not have to live holy lives. This passage lays out the gospel message that the blood of Jesus Christ and the sacrifice of His body are what purifies mankind from sin, and gives us fellowship with God and each other. As Romans 3:23 states, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. Every human being is in desperate need of God’s mercy through His Son, Jesus Christ. When we accept Christ’s sacrifice, we are declaring to Him that we have sinned and will no longer walk in sin and darkness.  

APPLICATION

After salvation, we are walking in fellowship with God in the light and following His leading. Although our obedience does not save us, it is the response of the finished work of Christ on the cross. Believers will make mistakes but should not live in sin. As John mentions in a later chapter, that we have an advocate with the Father, who is Jesus, 1 John 2:1. True repentance comes with a change of the heart, but first we must confess where we fall short.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, I thank You for your sacrifice and love for us. I thank You for Your Word and the clarity of who You are, that is revealed through scripture. Thank You for being my advocate when I sin. It was You who lifted me out of darkness and embraced me to be in fellowship with You and the rest of Your children. Help me to live a life that is pleasing to You in obedience, and help me to press in to know You more, Amen.

- Darrence Hamilton