Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Sep 28: 1 Corinthians 2, Deuteronomy 4, Psalm 18

Sep 29: 1 Corinthians 3, Deuteronomy 5, Psalm 19

Sep 30: 1 Corinthians 4, Deuteronomy 6, Psalm 20

Oct 1:   1 Corinthians 5, Deuteronomy 7, Psalm 21

Oct 2: 1 Corinthians 6, Deuteronomy 8, Psalm 22

Oct 3: 1 Corinthians 7, Deuteronomy 9, Psalm 23

Oct 4: 1 Corinthians 8, Deuteronomy 10, Psalm 24

Oct 5: 1 Corinthians 9, Deuteronomy 11, Psalm 25

Oct 6: 1 Corinthians 10, Deuteronomy 12, Psalm 26

Oct 7: 1 Corinthians 11, Deuteronomy 13, Psalm 27

Oct 8: 1 Corinthians 12, Deuteronomy 14, Psalm 28

Oct 9: 1 Corinthians 13, Deuteronomy 15, Psalm 29

Oct 10: 1 Corinthians 14, Deuteronomy 16, Psalm 30

Oct 11: 1 Corinthians 15, Deuteronomy 17, Psalm 31

Mary Oberg Mary Oberg

Proverbs 9 - 8.19.26

Scripture

Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious! But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead. (Prov 9:17-18)

Observation

Stolen water and food eaten in secret symbolizes sin. The pleasure of sin makes it exciting. The forbidden fruit is enticing. The temptation is strong. The secrecy makes it even more alluring. The Devil will whisper, “No one will know”. But sin brings consequences of death and destruction.

There is no sin that the blood of Jesus cannot wash away, upon true repentance. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). But the consequences often remain. David committed adultery with Bathsheba and got her husband killed. When confronted by Nathan, David repented truly with a broken heart. God forgave him completely. God even redeemed his sin. The Messianic bloodline came through Solomon, the son of David and Bathsheba! David finished well, and fulfilled God’s purpose for him in his generation (Acts 13:36).

However, the consequences of his sin were not erased. As prophet Nathan said, the sword never left his household (2 Sam 12:10). Terrible tragedies followed his family. His son Amnon violated his half-sister. In retaliation, Absalom killed his brother Amnon. David has to run for his life from his own son. Absalom is later killed. Another son Adonijah made himself king, and eventually got executed on his brother Solomon’s orders. This is a classic example of how consequences of sin followed through, even though the sin was forgiven.

Application

When Jesus taught His disciples to pray in the Lord’s Prayer, He instructed them to pray, “Lead us not into temptation” (Matt 6:13). Nobody is immune to temptation. We all face temptation to sin everyday. The forbidden fruit is tempting and looks sweet. But the end of it is destruction.

With every temptation, God provides a way of escape. God will not let us be tempted beyond what we are able to bear (1 Cor 10:13). In David’s case, the way of escape was the news that the woman he fancied was a married woman. When David saw her from the roof, and sent someone to find out who she was, they came back and reported to him, “She is Bathsheba …the wife of Uriah the Hittite” (2 Sam 11:3). David could have backed off, the moment he heard that she was someone’s wife. But David chose to continue to the next step and sin. 

We are tempted when we are dragged away by our own evil desire and enticed, and then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death (James 1:14-15).

 

In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus told his disciples, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation” (Matt 26:41). We need to watch and pray so that we do not fall into temptation. God is able to keep us from stumbling and to present us before his glorious presence without fault (Jude 1:24). When we sin and grieve the Holy Spirit of God, let us listen to the still small voice of the Lord in our hearts, and quickly repent and correct ourselves and come back to right standing with the Lord.

Prayer

Dear Father, thank you for making me your child. I commit myself to obey you and live a holy life, as you have commanded, “be holy as I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). But Lord, I cannot do this on my own. I need your help. I know that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil 4:13). Help me to watch and pray so that I do not fall into temptation. And when I choose to disobey you and grieve your Spirit in word, thought or deed, please help me to quickly repent and come back to you. Help me to surrender my body as a living sacrifice everyday, and help me to renew my mind with your word every single day. May my life be a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to you (Rom 12:1-2). In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

- Asha Chacko George

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Mary Oberg Mary Oberg

Proverbs 8 - 8.18.26

SCRIPTURE:  Proverbs 8:4-11

“To you, O people, I call out; I raise My voice to all mankind.  You who are simple, gain prudence, you who are foolish, listen, for I have trustworthy things to say; I open My lips to speak what is right.  My mouth speaks what is true, for My lips detest wickedness.  All the words of My mouth are just; none of them are crooked or perverse. To the discerning all of them are right, they are upright to those who have found knowledge.  Choose My instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing compares to her.”

OBSERVATION:  Godly wisdom is available to ALL, and to gain it we are to sincerely and earnestly search for it.  This portion of Scripture compares Godly wisdom to ungodly wisdom.  If we are to discover true meaning and fulfillment in life - now and eternally - we must come to God through faith in the Lord Jesus. To grow in godly wisdom, we must choose the path of honesty and integrity. To fear the Lord is to hate evil; God hates pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.  The satisfaction that wisdom brings lasts forever. 

APPLICATION:  God’s wisdom is available to ALL who call out to Him. “ I raise My voice to all mankind.” (v4).   God doesn’t hold His wisdom back or keep it a secret!  God desires to lavish us with His wisdom WHEN we call out to Him. Those who seek Him, find Him! “Those who find Him find life and receive favor from the Lord”. (v35).   But those who fail to find Him harm themselves; all who hate Him love death!” How important for us to know that God’s wisdom is the foundation on which all life is built.

PRAYER:  Thank You for lavishing us with wisdom as we call out to You Lord. I pray I will be diligent to study the Scriptures and to ask that You enlighten my heart and mind so that I will be able to comprehend and apply Your wisdom to my life.  Thank You for the lasting benefits and rewards that come as I allow Your guidance and strength to help me stay on the path of righteousness, and that I will continue to enjoy Your sustaining grace and favor as I pray and apply Your wisdom daily. 

- Robin Orefice

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Michelle Gaddi Michelle Gaddi

Acts 20 - 8.17.26

Scripture

 

Acts 20:24

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”

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Observation-What does it say?

 

Paul meets with the Ephesian Elders to say his “goodbyes” before he heads off to Jerusalem. He tells them that no matter the circumstances he was in, he didn’t shrink to tell them all that God wanted them to know. Paul is now going to be heading off to Jerusalem. He doesn’t know what awaits him there. But the Holy Spirit does tell him that jail and suffering awaits him in each city he will go to. Paul is not discouraged though. He knows that Jesus has given him a job to do and Paul will not be satisfied until he completes his task given to him by his Lord Jesus Christ. What was his task?.. To multiply Christ Followers everywhere by sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ and the wonderful grace of God!

 

Application

 

Live a life investing in building God’s Kingdom, rather than my own.

 

I am challenged by the way Jesus and Paul lived their lives. They put all their pride aside to fulfill God’s will. They both gave up life’s comforts in order to fulfill God’s will. They both were put through beatings, mockery, and jailings because of it and here I am scared to share His Word with people or sometimes pray in public because I’m afraid others may think I’m weird! So today’s devotion reminds me to think about what Jesus and Paul went through. I’m reminded of what my brothers and sisters in Christ are risking in other parts of the world just by ministering to others. I am reminded that there is no higher calling in life than Jesus’ calling. At the end of the day, when I see Jesus face to face, I know I will be held accountable for the time He has given me on earth, and how I used that time helping others and building His Kingdom.

Prayer

Father God,

I am humbled by the fact that You gave up everything for me. You came down from Your throne and left the comforts of Heaven. You lowered Yourself to become man, flesh and blood, in the form of Jesus Christ. You could have easily used Your kingship and power to rule over this earth, but You chose instead to live a servant’s life and die a sinner’s death. You didn’t have to because You lived a perfect, sinless life. But, You wanted to because of Your great love for me and for the people of this world. For that I am forever grateful. I know there is nothing I can ever do to pay You back. All I can do is to make sure Your story is told and Your love is shown wherever I go. Give me the courage and boldness to do that no matter what I face today. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. 🙏🏽 

-Moses Gaddi

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