Psalm 125 - 7.16.26
S - Psalm 125:1-2
“Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore.”
O - Sometimes I can fall into the belief that my trust in the Lord, the faith that I choose to put in trusting Him when it is hard to, is not doing much if I look around and that situation I am CHOOSING to trust in doesn't look much different. Ever been there?
I love when scripture gives us a visual, like this one in these first few verses of Psalm 125: those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion.
For context, Mount Zion was the highest point in Ancient Jerusalem. So I can imagine this visual for those who had seen this mountain, was one of vastness and incomprehensible greatness in sight. When I stand at the bottom of a mountain, I often look up and feel so small. The vastness of mountains often gives me perspective as to how physically small we are in this world, but simultaneously stirs up this strength in me and I sit in awe and wonder in how big the mountain’s creator is. When I think of this passage and its connotation to our lives, I see it as a perspective shift in the moments we fall into discouragement towards the choice to trust in the Lord. I am here to say, your trust in God is bigger than you may believe. I do not say this because I made this truth up to make all of us feel better in a time of discouragement, but this is the word of God and truth of God. Your trust in God is not something miniscule, but it is ultimately big.
Though it may feel small in the moment or when you feel discouraged that what you see is not changing, the word of God says that your choice to trust in God is comparable to Mount Zion. Tall and vast, strong and mighty, and your trust in God is what will be your ultimate protection, your ultimate provision, and your steadfastness that keeps you from being shaken by the wind that comes and storms that pass.
I believe someone reading this needs to be encouraged in that your choice to trust is doing bigger things for you than you may see or you may believe. Continue to choose to trust.
A - Write down the areas you are choosing to trust in God right now, especially the areas that feel harder to trust in Him. Choose to intentionally shift your perspective to that of the Psalmist . . . declare over your trust, this is bigger than I may see.
P - Lord, thank you for bringing strength in my trust in you. No matter how big or small, choosing to trust in you is greater than my eye can see. Bless me with perspective that will help me continue on in choosing to trust you when it doesn't make sense. I love you Lord, thank you for loving me first and having my good at the front of your mind. Amen.
- Tess Schrupp
Exodus 32 - 7.15.26
Scripture: Exodus 32:1
“When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.”
Observation
The people of Israel knew that Moses went up the mountain to talk with God. In fact, just a few chapters earlier in Exodus 24, Moses shared with them everything God had told him from his last trip. And the people replied, “Everything God said, we’ll do. Yes, we’ll obey.” But a short time later, they got tired of waiting and they forgot everything they had promised to do. They thought - we don't need Moses (who they had asked to speak to God on their behalf) - we'll take matters into our own hands.
Application
Was there ever a time you got tired of waiting for God to answer or intervene and you decided to take matters into your own hands? Maybe we didn't trust God to provide, so we took a job that kept us away from fellowship with other believers. Maybe we got tired of waiting for a godly partner and settled for a bad relationship. There are so many times that we justify our actions, when deep down we know that it is not what God wants for us. And like the people of Israel, we pay the consequences.
I'm also struck by how quickly they went from we'll do everything God said to we'll make ourselves a new God. If we don't pursue relationship with God every day, it is amazing how quickly our hearts can become hardened. It seems pretty obvious that God knows what's best for us - far better than we do. And in spite of that we so easily lose faith.
This is where the family of God steps in - to encourage, support, and pray for each other - to hold each other up and strengthen each other's faith.
Hebrews 10:24-2: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together... but encouraging one another.”
Galatians 6:2: “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
Hebrews 3:13: “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”
Prayer
God, I acknowledge your lordship over my life. I know that you have a purpose and plan for me. Continue to strengthen my faith and help me to trust you in all things. Thank you for the many times you have brought others alongside to pray for me, encourage me, and support me. I pray for others who need their faith strengthened today. Speak to them and let them know of your great love for them. Remind them that you are a good father and your plan is better than anything we could ask or imagine. Amen
- Debbie Dunn
Exodus 31 - 7.14.26
SCRIPTURE: Exodus 31: 1-11
Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you: the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent— the table and its articles, the pure gold lampstand and all its accessories, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, the basin with its stand— and also the woven garments, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests, and the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them just as I commanded you.”
OBSERVATION
In this passage, The Lord appointed Bezalel to craft the sacred vessels for the tabernacle, His dwelling place among His people. Not only did the Lord give Bezalel the honorable position, He equipped Bezalel with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding and most importantly filled him with His Spirit to complete the task. Oholiab was also blessed by helping Bezalel, and the Lord blessed others with skill and knowledge. These talents would be essential for the redemption and atonement practices for the Israelites which would draw them closer and usher in the presence of God. The Lord was redeeming His people and partnering with them to achieve His plan.
APPLICATION
1 Peter 4:10-11 says that each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
God has blessed each of us with different talents and gifts to glorify Him and to serve others. Gifts and talents are to be used and not hidden. Jesus will not only appoint us believers, but He will also equip us to serve with the gifts that He has blessed us with. What are our talents and passions? Can we use it to serve God and others in the Body of Christ? If we feel inadequate or not good enough, God can and will equip us if He is calling us. Bezalel and the other craftsmen were not experts at their craft until God blessed him.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we thank You for blessing and equipping us with various gifts and talents. I pray that You can lay it on each of our hearts and draw us closer to You to know what You are calling us to do in Your house. I pray that we can bless others but ultimately serve You with such gifts. Lastly, I want to thank You, Jesus, for blessing me with my brothers and sisters in the Church who have had a great impact on my family an me with their gifts and callings. You have appointed, equipped, blessed and filled them to edify many souls. I pray that You can strengthen us all to partner with You for the work that You have in store, Amen.
- Darrence Hamilton