Proverbs 24 - 7.1.24
Scripture
Proverbs 24:15-16
15 Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous, do not plunder their dwelling place; 16 for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.
Observation
Although King Solomon wrote a bulk of the Proverbs, many scholars believe that Proverbs 22:17-24:34 may have been compiled by King Solomon, but not necessarily written by him.(1) It again compares and contrasts righteousness vs. wickedness. When we choose righteousness, we are under the strength and protection of God. Being under the strength and protection of the Lord is the best place to be. The Proverbs that I chose speaks on the resilience of the righteous (2). The definition of resilience is “the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness (3).”
References: (1)studylight.org, (2)enduringword.com, (3)New Oxford American Dictionary
Application
We are resilient overcomers due to God’s protection and care!
Righteous people have a resilience that the wicked do not. One of the best compliments I had ever received from a non-believing friend was on how I handled hardships and trials. Although she didn’t have faith in the Lord, she noticed a different type of strength that wasn’t based on circumstances; a strength that could only come from a greater power outside of myself! (She continues to be in my prayers so that she and her family could experience the same thing!)
We are able to get back up again through the disciplines of prayer, fasting and being in His Word, but also through the faith and encouragement of other Believers in Christ.
With God on our side, we can conquer anything, no matter the circumstances. Even though we fall 7 times, we can rise and get back up again, as these Proverbs say.
Prayer
Dear Lord,
It is encouraging to know that I have You by my side through the difficulties in life. Even when I fall down, I am able to get back up again. If I can’t pull myself back up, thank You for surrounding me with faith counselors and brothers and sisters in the faith who can give me a hand. Please continue to lift me up and surround me with encouragers who can lift me up in You when I am down. I pray that I would provide the same encouragement to others. Amen.
-Michelle Gaddi
Revelation 5 - 6.28.24
Scripture: Revelation 5:9-14 NIV
”And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.“
Observation:
Jesus is the only one worthy to take the scroll and open it. He also was the only one worthy to pay the price for our sin. He purchased us with his precious blood. It says there will be people from every tribe and every nation. I love that all are included. Jesus selfless act made us a kingdom and priests to serve our God. The word Kingdom implies we will be united under His authority as we reign on earth. What an honor will be bestowed on us in the future.
An incredible picture of praise follows this proclamation, thousands upon thousands of angels praise God. Then, every creature throughout the earth joins in and praises God. What a simple, but beautiful chorus they sing, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power for ever and ever!”
Application:
Jesus is worthy. Starting each day with this as my focus can greatly change the trajectory of my day. Rough times will still come, but I will handle them differently. A marvelous future awaits His people, we will reign with Him. Our day to day lives are stepping stones to prepare us.
Praise is contagious. As one, or thousands, enter in, even more will follow. I want my life to be one that causes other people to acknowledge God and join me in praising Him.
Prayer:
Lord, you are worthy to receive all honor, glory, and praise. Father God, you are a wonderful creator. My mind cannot even fathom the plan you put in place for salvation, your own Son as the sacrificial Lamb. Jesus, you paid it all, full price for me. There is none more worthy than you to open the scroll and reveal God’s plan. Thank you, help me live my life to honor you for stepping in for me and all humanity. May I wake each day putting my focus on honoring you and proclaiming how worthy of praise you are. Amen
- Cindy Howard
Revelation 4 - 06.27.24
SCRIPTURE -Revelation 4:2,5, 8-11 NKJV
“Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a THRONE set in heaven,
and ONE sat on the THRONE . And from the THRONE
proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices.
Seven lamps of fire were burning before the THRONE,
which are the seven Spirits of God.
The four living creatures, each having six wings,
were full of eyes around and within.
And they do not rest day or night, saying:
“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”
Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the THRONE, who lives forever and ever,
the twenty-four elders fall down before HIM who sits on the THRONE
and WORSHIP Him who lives forever and ever,
and cast their crowns before the THRONE, saying:
“You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power;
For YOU created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.””
OBSERVATION
Heaven is a Place of Worship
THRONE is used fourteen times in this one chapter.
It is a key word here in the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
This scene of Worship IS actually happening right now as we read through this book—and Jesus graciously gave John—in his latter and exiled years—an opportunity to be an eyewitness.
There is no possible way for human words to describe what John experienced.
But John does his best to use familiar comparisons to explain the extraordinary Glory and Majesty of Almighty God on His Throne in Heaven.
I am thinking we will have to wait for our opportunity to EXPERIENCE it, to understand the absolute passion of the twenty-four elders
to continually fall down before HIM to give HIM ALL glory, honor, and praise.
APPLICATION
We can have Heaven’s perspective on Worship THROUGH John’s experience.
John’s view from Heaven in Revelation 4 gives us an important reminder.
No matter what may be happening on earth, or how our “feelings” may attempt to sway us—
God IS on HIS THRONE and IS in Complete Control.
Whenever I am tempted to fear OR place my Hope in the outcome of our future in anything other than God Himself—May the LORD -swiftly remind me—
God sits on The THRONE of All Creation—God is Sovereign- over every King, President, National Figure—and more over—
God is Sovereign over every single detail of my (our) life.
God Loves us.
We are Created for Relationship with God and to Make Him Known.
““You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created.””
(Revelation 4:11 NKJV)
Today this simple truth reminds me that God HIMSELF created everything that exists-God Created me.
HE saw me BEFORE I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in HIS book.
Every MOMENT was laid out BEFORE a single day had passed. (Psalm 139:16)
How can I ever fear or doubt…God is WITH me.
“YOU go before me and YOU follow after me.
YOU place your hand of blessing on my head.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!”
(Psalms 139:5-6 NLT)
PRAYER
LORD JESUS,
We were created for YOUR Praise and Pleasure. Created for relationship.
Created to be WITH You eternally. You are intimately acquainted with everything about us. Thank You for Your Goodness which is beyond measure. Thank You for Your Love that is so great we will never fully understand it. Forgive me for the times I fear, or doubt, or worry. YOU have given Your Holy Spirit as a Guarantee of what is to come. YOU are WITH us. May my life be a FULL PRICE living worship and sacrifice for You Lord. Complete Your work in me. All Praise and Honor and Glory belong to YOU LORD who sits on the THRONE.
“He who overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God], I will grant to him the privilege to sit beside Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down beside My Father on His throne.”
(Revelation 3:21 AMP)
In Jesus Name, Amen.
Tina L Kudelka